Bill of Distribution (BOD)

Definition
Hierarchically structured network of locations predefining the distribution routes for
products within Extended Service Parts Planning (eSPP).

Use
The bill of distribution (BOD) specifies how a product is further distributed within your
enterprise following inward delivery from the supplier before being passed on to the
customer. Because the distribution routes are firmly predefined by the BOD, you can
use the latter to carry out Extended Service Parts Planning without a time-consuming
source determination process.

BODs are product-specific. To specify the products to which a bill of distribution is to

apply, you must assign products to the BOD.

You can create, change, delete, or display BODs on the SAP Easy Access screen,
under Logistics Extended Service Parts Planning Environment Master Data Bill
of Distribution Maintain and Display Bill of Distribution. You maintain a BOD in the
same way as you maintain a hierarchy. For more information, see SAP APO Master
Data Hierarchy Maintain Hierarchy.

Structure
The BOD is a hierarchy whose individual nodes consist of locations of type plant and
distribution center as well as MRP area for storage locations. The BOD has a maximum
number of levels that is predefined by the underlying BOD hierarchy structure.

Entry Location

The node of the uppermost level of a BOD is the entry location. The product arrives
from the supplier at this point. A BOD can have several entry locations with or without
subordinate (child) locations, which exist independently alongside each other.

Child Location and Parent Location

The product is distributed from the entry location to the locations of the next lower level.
Subordinate locations are termed child locations, superordinate locations parent
locations. The locations of middle levels are always simultaneously parent and child
locations.

The locations of the lowest level of a BOD are child locations only, not parent locations.
From here, products are not distributed further but passed on directly to customers.

It is possible for products to be passed on to customers directly from locations of the

middle levels or even of locations on the entry level, too. Such locations are termed
virtual child locations. When you add a bill of distribution to a location, you can set the
relevant indicator.

There can be no multiple assignment of locations within a BOD.

Sub-BOD

A sub-BOD is an extract of a BOD. A sub-BOD consists of just one parent location and
its child locations.

Flexible BOD

Flexible BOD simplifies the maintenance of BODs and their assignment to products in
Extended Service Parts Planning. For more information, see Flexible Bill of Distribution.

Integration
As with all hierarchies, a BOD is based on a hierarchy structure that must be defined in
Customizing. This hierarchy structure must also be defined as a BOD hierarchy
structure. For more information, see Define BOD Hierarchy Structure.

Transportation lanes must have been created for the distribution routes between parent
and child locations defined by the BOD.
Example
BOD with Three Levels