Characteristic Based Planning with mySAP SCM - Practical APO Guide

In this review of Characteristic Based Planning with mySAP SCM, the book is presented as a practical reference for planners and IT implementers who need to bring product and batch attributes into supply chain planning. The biggest reason to buy is its clear walkthrough from business case to implementation, making complex APO functionality approachable for teams that must model characteristics in industries like automotive, pharmaceuticals, and engineering. This review focuses on how the book connects planning scenarios to concrete process chains and implementation considerations.

Key Features

• End-to-end explanation: The book describes processes and scenarios from the business case down to implementation, helping readers understand the full lifecycle of a characteristic-based planning initiative.
• APO-focused guidance: It highlights the specific APO functionalities available for planning with characteristics, so implementers can align system capabilities with business requirements.
• Industry relevance: Examples and discussion reflect industries where attributes matter, such as automotive, pharmaceutical, mill, and food sectors, making the content applicable to real-world needs.
• Design and configuration advice: The authors offer help for the basic design of the implementation, guiding choices that affect data modeling and planning accuracy.
• Process chain clarity: Clear treatment of process chains and scenarios assists planners in visualizing how characteristic-driven rules feed into planning runs and decisions.

Who It's For

Characteristic Based Planning with mySAP SCM is aimed at supply chain planners, APO consultants, solution architects, and IT leads who must integrate product and batch attributes into planning processes. It suits professionals in engineering, automotive, pharmaceuticals, and food industries where product characteristics directly affect availability and production planning.

It is less suitable for readers seeking a high-level business strategy book with no technical detail or for beginners who need a general introduction to SAP ERP before tackling APO-specific configuration. Users without responsibility for APO or characteristic modeling may find the material more technical than necessary.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Practical linkage from business case to implementation helps teams plan projects with clear milestones and decisions.
• APO-centric coverage means readers learn which system functions support characteristic-driven planning.
• Industry-focused examples make applicability clear for regulated or specification-driven sectors.

Cons

• The book assumes some familiarity with SAP and APO terminology, so absolute beginners will need supplementary background.

Specifications

Our Verdict

For teams implementing characteristic-driven planning in APO, this book is a practical, implementation-minded resource that connects business scenarios to process chains and configuration choices. It delivers good value for practitioners who need concrete guidance on modeling attributes within supply chain planning, though readers should have basic SAP familiarity to get the most from it.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does this book explain APO functionalities?
Yes, it highlights the APO functions relevant to planning with characteristics and links them to implementation decisions.

Is it suitable for nontechnical managers?
It is useful for managers to understand project implications, but technical readers will gain more practical configuration guidance.

Which industries benefit most?
Industries with product or batch attributes-automotive, pharmaceutical, food, mill, and engineering-will find the examples most applicable.