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 TB
    SE["East pulp supplier<br/><small>Supplier: source of raw material</small>"] -->|pulp| ME["East mill<br/><small>Plant: transforms materials</small>"]
    SS["South pulp supplier<br/><small>Supplier: source of raw material</small>"] -->|pulp| MS["South mill<br/><small>Plant: transforms materials</small>"]
    ME -->|eligible materials| DE["East DC<br/><small>Distribution center:<br/>receives and redistributes</small>"]
    ME -->|10 explicit finished goods| MS
    ME -->|eligible materials| DI["Inland DC<br/><small>Distribution center:<br/>receives and redistributes</small>"]
    MS -->|eligible materials| DI
    DE -->|eligible materials| C["Central / Coastal /<br/>East regions<br/><small>Demand points:<br/>aggregate customers by channel</small>"]
    DI -->|eligible materials| C

Names identify scenario locations; each subnote explains the node's role. A region represents aggregated demand and is not a physical DC. The final box summarizes six demand points: three regions with two channels each. Arrows represent transportation lanes enabled in the network version; their labels identify the materials allowed to flow through them.

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

Checkpoint: a new Download should return MALHA_PADRAO_V2 with both default origins blank.

2. Create transportation lanes

X09-transportation-lanes.xlsx

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

Checkpoint: the Download should return 12 permissions: MP_CELULOSE appears on the two supplier-to-plant lanes, while the 10 finished goods, including PA_COPIA_A4 and PA_PREMIUM_A4, appear on the FABRICA_LESTE → FABRICA_SUL 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.