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✅ SAP SD – Sales Order Availability Date Determination

🎯 Objective
Understand how SAP calculates the Availability Date in a Sales Order using backward and forward scheduling to ensure reliable delivery promises.

🛠️ What is Availability Date?

TermDescriptionAvailability DateThe earliest date when a material is available for delivery, considering stock and lead times. It is part of ATP (Available to Promise) logic and affects delivery scheduling.

📋 Key Dates in Date Determination

DatePurposeRequested Delivery DateEntered by customerMaterial Availability DateWhen material must be available for pickingLoading DateWhen goods should be loadedGoods Issue DateWhen goods must leave the warehouseAvailability DateCalculated by system based on ATP check and scheduling logic

✅ How Availability Date is Determined in Sales Order

SAP uses backward scheduling first:

StepWhat Happens1️⃣Start with Requested Delivery Date (customer input)2️⃣Subtract Transit Time (from Route) → gets Goods Issue Date3️⃣Subtract Loading & Pick/Pack Time (from Shipping Point)4️⃣Result = Material Availability Date

• If stock is available by that date → system confirms requested delivery
• If not available, SAP triggers forward scheduling to find the earliest feasible date

🛠️ Configuration Involved

Config ItemLocationTransit Time (Route)SPRO → Logistics Execution → Shipping → RoutesLoading/Pick Pack TimeShipping Point Configuration (OVXD)Schedule Line CategoryT-Code VOV6 (Enables availability check and date proposal)ATP Check SettingsT-Code OVZ9 (Scope of Check) + Material Master (Checking Group)

🔥 Example

Customer wants delivery on May 20.

• Transit Time: 2 days
• Loading Time: 1 day
• Picking Time: 1 day

SAP calculates:
Material Availability Date = May 16

✅ Summary Table

ConceptExampleRequested Delivery Date20-MayTransit Time (Route)2 DaysLoading + Picking Time2 DaysAvailability Date Result16-MayScheduling MethodBackward (→ Forward if needed)

🎯 Key Takeaway
The Availability Date in SAP SD sales orders is calculated through backward scheduling, starting from the Requested Delivery Date, considering transit, loading, and picking times. If stock is not available, forward scheduling finds the next possible date.