12. Load the supply network¶

The network defines which locations can supply one another, with which lead time, and for which materials. It connects suppliers, plants, distribution centers, and demand points. It does not replace the production model: a lane permits a flow, but does not prove that a material was produced or purchased.

Prerequisites are the locations and materials from chapter 2 and, for the manufactured finished good, the production structure from chapter 11.

Tutorial flows¶

flowchart LR
    SE[SUPPLIER_PULP_EAST] -->|RAW_PULP| ME[MILL_EAST]
    SS[SUPPLIER_PULP_SOUTH] -->|RAW_PULP| MS[MILL_SOUTH]
    ME -->|all eligible materials| DE[DC_EAST]
    ME -->|10 explicit finished goods| MS
    ME -->|all eligible materials| DI[DC_INLAND]
    MS -->|all eligible materials| DI
    DE -->|all eligible materials| C[Central / Coastal / East]
    DI -->|all eligible materials| C

Load order¶

Open the network topics¶

Hover over Data and click Operations > Data Operations in the flyout.

On the open page, select Master Data > Supply Network > Transportation Network. The Topic column lists the three topics in load order.

For each topic: select Download, click Download as XLSX, open the file, then return to the same topic, select Import, choose the file, and run the import.

The images locate the controls in the first topic. The steps below state the exact topic for each file.

1. Create the network version¶

X08-supply-network-version.xlsx

PathImportExcel fileFields

Master Data > Supply Network > Supply Network > Supply Network Version.

Select Import, choose 08-supply-network-version.xlsx, and click Import Supply Network Version.

Field	Meaning	Tutorial value
Supply Network Version Id	Code that identifies and links every network record.	STANDARD_NETWORK_V2
Supply Network Version Description	Recognizable version name.	Tutorial local-first supply network
Default Origin Location for Clients	Origin used when a client has no explicit supply path.	blank
Default Origin Location for Raw Materials	Automatic origin for materials without explicit supply.	blank
Default Origin Location for Raw Materials Lead Time Days	Lead time of the default raw-material origin.	blank

Keep the default raw-material origin blank. Before all production is modeled, setting it could make an incomplete finished good appear purchasable.

Checkpoint: a new Download should return STANDARD_NETWORK_V2 with both default origins blank.

2. Create transportation lanes¶

X09-transportation-lanes.xlsx

PathImportExcel fileFields

Master Data > Supply Network > Supply Network > Transportation Lane.

The catalog screen above shows Transportation Lane in the Topic column.

Select Import, choose 09-transportation-lanes.xlsx, and run the import for the selected topic. The controls use the same layout shown for Supply Network Version; confirm the topic title before loading.

Field	Meaning	Tutorial value
Supply Network Version Id	Version to which the lane belongs.	STANDARD_NETWORK_V2
Origin Location Id	Location that ships the material.	supplier, plant, or DC
Destination Location Id	Location that receives the material.	plant, DC, or region
Priority (0 = largest priority)	Lane preference order.	1 or 2
Lead Time (Days)	Flow time in days.	1, 2, 30, or 60
Enable ... for Discontinued Materials	Allows discontinued materials on the lane.	false
Enable ... for Materials not yet launched	Allows materials that have not launched.	false
Enable ... for All Materials	Allows any eligible material without an allowlist.	false when explicit permission is required; true on the other lanes
Multiple Minimum Transfer Lot Size UOM Id	Unit of the lot parameters.	blank
Minimum Transfer Lot Size	Smallest transferable lot.	blank
Multiple Transfer	Multiple used to form transfers.	blank
Active	Determines whether the lane can be used.	true

Checkpoint: the Download should return 18 origin-destination pairs, all active and linked to the same version. The two supplier-to-plant lanes and the plant-to-plant lane must keep Allow All Materials = false.

3. Enable materials by lane¶

X10-transportation-lane-materials.xlsx

PathImportExcel fileFields

Master Data > Supply Network > Supply Network > Transportation Lane - Material Level.

The catalog screen above shows Transportation Lane - Material Level in the Topic column.

Select Import, choose 10-transportation-lane-materials.xlsx, and run the import for the selected topic. Confirm Transportation Lane - Material Level in the title before loading.

Field	Meaning	Tutorial value
Supply Network Version Id	Network version.	STANDARD_NETWORK_V2
Origin Location Id	Origin of the registered lane.	matches the lane
Destination Location Id	Destination of the registered lane.	matches the lane
Material Id	Material authorized to use the lane.	RAW_PULP or one of the 10 finished goods
Priority	Preference for this material-lane combination.	1
Lead Time (Days)	Material-specific lead time.	matches the lane
Multiple Minimum Transfer Lot Size UOM Id	Unit of the lot parameters.	blank
Minimum Transfer Lot Size	Smallest material lot on the lane.	blank
Multiple Transfer	Transfer multiple.	blank
Active	Determines whether the permission is active.	true

Checkpoint: the Download should return 12 permissions: RAW_PULP appears on the two supplier-to-plant lanes, while the 10 finished goods, including FG_COPY_A4 and FG_PREMIUM_A4, appear on the MILL_EAST → MILL_SOUTH transfer.

Community model boundaries¶

The network uses lead time, priority, lot constraints, status, and material enablement. It does not represent maps, distance, fleets, freight cost, or economic network design.

Completion criterion¶

Complete the chapter when the three Downloads reproduce the version, 18 lanes, and 12 explicit permissions without missing references.

Return to production data, or continue with the inventory policy.