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Phase 2. Generate New Customers and Demand

In the previous phase we created a new scenario and found the optimal location for our distribution center. In this phase we will:

  • Convert result to a new scenario and analyze the input data
  • Extend the supply chain by adding customers and their demand in Austria and Italy

Let us start with converting the received result to a new GFA scenario.

Convert result to a new scenario

  1. Right-click the Result item and select the Convert to a new scenario option in the pop-up menu.

  2. The Convert result dialog box will open. We will keep the offered name and scenario types. Click OK to convert the result and close the dialog box.

Let us examine the tables of the Chocolate Distribution GFA Result scenario that have been updated with the new data:

  • DCs and Factories — now contains data on the new DC (GFA DC), for which the experiment found the optimized location.

  • Groups — now contains the group of customers (GFA DC group) supplied by the new DC.

  • Locations — now contains the location of the new DC.
  • Sourcing — now contains the sourcing policy describing that the existing customers are supplied by the new GFA DC distribution center.

So we have a functioning supply chain. Now we will add 20 customers to 10 major cities of Austria and Italy.

To save some time we will import the predefined data from this template that you need to fetch.

Add customers and their demand

  1. Click the Add button at the right end of the scenarios ribbon.

  2. Now select Import in the menu that opens over the button.

    The Import dialog box will open.

  3. Select the MS Excel file with the scenario data by clicking the Select file button and navigating to the saved file.
  4. Click the Advanced options toggle button to open the section and modify the import parameters.
  5. Enable Import into existing scenario, then specify the Chocolate Distribution GFA Result scenario in the Select scenario parameter. In this way, we will import the data of the selected MS Excel file into the existing scenario.
  6. Click the Sheets to import drop-down list and check the following table to import:
    • Customers — contains the required 20 customers.
    • Demand — contains the demand data for the new customers.
    • Groups — contains two groups with the new customers (one group per country).
    • Locations — contains locations for the new customers.

    We are importing tables with the predefined data, so we do not need to remove the existing data in the destination scenario to avoid data duplication

  7. Now disable the options: Import experiments, and Override existing project conversion rules.
  8. Click Import to import the data.

When done, you will see all the customers on the map.

With the last step we have completed Phase 2 of this tutorial.

We have extended our supply chain with additional customers in Austria and Italy. We have also added demand for the new customers.

In the third phase we will set up and run the GFA experiment, examine and convert the results to a new scenario.

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