The Supply Chain Planning Challenge
Traditional material requirements planning can depend on highly accurate inventory, forecasts, lead times, and bills of material. Establishing and maintaining that level of data quality can take significant time, while daily operational requirements continue to change.
MSS takes a tactical and responsive approach. It works with the supply and demand information available in IFS today, allowing planners to create an immediate plan and adjust allocations as transactions, priorities, and availability change.
The result: A practical daily supply plan that supports execution without waiting for a lengthy planning implementation or perfect data conditions.
How MSS Works
MSS uses soft allocation to match available supply with current demand. Configurable business rules determine how supply should be prioritized, allocated, and presented to planners.
The plan can be refreshed as IFS transactions occur, giving users an up-to-date view of supply commitments, shortages, and shipping priorities.
Read Current Supply & Demand
MSS evaluates inventory, expected supply, orders, project demand, and other relevant IFS requirements.
Apply Allocation Rules
Supply is assigned using the organization’s selected priorities, time fences, sequencing, and coverage rules.
Publish the Daily Plan
Planners receive a current pegging, fulfillment, and shipping plan that can be executed and adjusted throughout the day.
Configurable Business Rules
Select the allocation approach that reflects your supply chain priorities and operating model.
First In, First Out
Allocate available items in receipt sequence to fulfill demand in a controlled and consistent order.
Time Fenced
Limit allocation to defined planning windows to control timing and prevent unrealistic commitments.
Gap Fill
Identify and fill gaps within the supply plan to increase demand coverage and reduce avoidable shortages.
Priority Based
Allocate supply according to customer, order, project, or operational priority so critical demand is addressed first.
Seamlessly Integrated With IFS
MSS operates within the IFS environment and extends existing supply chain functionality without separating planners from the data, transactions, and screens they already use.
Operates through the standard IFS user experience.
Adds pegging, allocation, and shipping status visibility to relevant IFS screens.
Provides direct navigation to related demand, supply, inventory, project, and order records.
Works with existing IFS projects, customer orders, purchasing, and inventory processes.
Extends core IFS capabilities without replacing the underlying platform.
Industries & Use Cases
MSS is designed for organizations with dynamic supply chains that require frequent allocation decisions and clear daily execution priorities.
Manufacturing
Match production requirements with component supply and improve shop floor inventory allocation.
Distribution & Logistics
Allocate warehouse inventory to daily orders and improve fulfillment and shipment planning.
Transportation
Match vehicle, asset, or capacity availability with current operational demand.
Project Manufacturing
Allocate component supply to project requirements and maintain visibility of project-specific inventory commitments.
High-Volume Distribution
Process large daily order volumes with rapid supply allocation and shorter planning cycles.
Multi-Site Operations
Coordinate allocation across locations, support inter-site transfers, and apply consistent planning rules.
Why RutterKey for MSS
MSS is designed to address the tactical planning gap between strategic supply chain planning and daily operational execution. It combines practical allocation methods with native IFS functionality and long-term product support.
Built for IFS
MSS works within the IFS user experience and uses the platform’s established data, navigation, and extensibility capabilities.
Focused on a Clear Planning Gap
The accelerator supplements strategic planning with practical daily demand and supply allocation.
Proven Soft Allocation Approach
Apply established allocation concepts to manufacturing, distribution, logistics, and project-based supply chains.
Faster Time to Value
Create useful tactical plans using the data available today without waiting for a lengthy planning transformation.
Extensibility Built In
Configure business rules, add fields, and extend the solution using IFS APIs and clean-core development principles.
Ongoing Support
Receive continued maintenance and improvement as IFS capabilities and operational requirements evolve.