Continuous, Recurring, and Manual Purchasing

The ordering method defines when a replenishment decision can be acted on and how far the current order must protect demand. Choose it from how the business actually buys, not from how often a forecast can run.

Use continuous review when

• The supplier accepts orders whenever stock reaches the trigger.
• Frequent small purchases are operationally practical.
• There is no fixed factory, container, or review calendar.
• The default lead-time-plus-safety protection is suitable.

Setup

1. Keep the Ordering Profile on Order anytime (Continuous review), or leave a rule on its continuous default.
2. Set lead time, safety stock, target coverage, supply counting, and order constraints on the Planning Rule.
3. Run a forecast and review Buy Timing = Continuous - buy now when the trigger is crossed.

Use recurring review when

• A vendor is reviewed every week, month, quarter, or other fixed interval.
• Orders are consolidated for a factory, freight lane, or container.
• The team must prepare the order before the actual review date.
• The current order must cover demand until the following order can arrive.

Setup

1. Create an Ordering Profile with Review on a schedule.
2. Set Interval Count, Interval Unit, Anchor Date, and Preparation Window Days.
3. Use One-off Next Review Override only for a temporary calendar change.
4. Link the profile to a Planning Rule whose vendor, category, product, and warehouse scope matches the intended items.
5. Verify Cadence Summary, Next Review, Following Review, and Protection Period Preview.

Protection period

For periodic purchasing, required coverage extends through lead time + interval until the following review + safety days. A 45-day lead time, 30-day review interval, and 30-day safety policy protects 105 days before deducting stock and eligible dated supply.

Use manual dates when

• The next two supplier windows are known but do not follow a stable recurrence.
• Buying depends on trade shows, production slots, negotiated sailings, or seasonal openings.
• The planner needs direct control over the next and following review dates.

Setup

1. Choose Manual next order date.
2. Enter Manual Next Review Date.
3. Enter Manual Following Review Date.
4. Set Preparation Window Days.
5. Verify both dates on the Planning Rule and Action Line.

How work appears

• Expedite now: current stock is projected to fail before a normal receipt.
• Due now: the scheduled review date has arrived.
• Prepare: work is inside the pre-review preparation window.
• Scheduled later: the line has a valid future date but is not yet due.
• Covered: stock and timely incoming supply protect the cycle.
• Horizon blocked: the forecast does not cover the complete protection period.

Vendor and container review

Use Vendor Order Review to group planned lines by vendor, Ordering Profile, and review date. Review quantities across the full vendor order before RFQ creation, then use Purchase Schedule Profiles when the final buy should be delivered in batches.

Troubleshooting a low periodic quantity

1. Confirm the intended Ordering Profile is linked to the selected Planning Rule.
2. Check that a more specific rule did not win.
3. Verify lead time, interval, safety days, and protection through date.
4. Review timely incoming PO/RFQ and transfer quantities.
5. Check whether the forecast horizon is sufficient.
6. Review planner overrides and schedule lines.
7. Use How Calculated to reconcile gross need, available supply, transfer contribution, and rounding.