Firm Planned Orders
Application component: Material Requirements Planning
App type: SAP GUI
Description:   The system adapts the quantities and dates of procurement proposals that are created automatically in the planning run to suit the requirements situation if the situation has changed in the next planning run. If you want to prevent the system from adapting them automatically, you can firm the procurement proposals. Firmed procurement proposals are no longer changed by the planning run. They can only be changed manually .  You can firm all types of procurement proposals: planned orders purchase requisitions Delivery schedules (schedule lines).  Note The system flags firmed procurement proposals with a star in the stock/requirements list and the MRP list. 
Key features:   Firming by Manual Changes   Procurement proposals that have been created or changed manually are given a firming indicator automatically by the system. You can cancel the firming by deleting the firming indicator at any time. You can also set the firming indicator manually, without changing the procurement proposal.  Firming with the Planning Time Fence   Order proposals that lie within a defined planning time fence are firmed for the planning run if they are set to an MRP type with the appropriate firming type . The firming indicator is not set and they are only firm as long as they lie within the planning time fence.  For schedule lines in the planning time fence, you can firm only the quantities that have already been transferred and not the current quantities. Transferred schedule lines are schedule lines that have been sent to the vendor by telecommunications and have been confirmed.  Firming with the Manual Firming Date   The manual firming date lengthens, if necessary, the planning time fence up to the date entered. This has the advantage over the planning time fence that you can firm procurement proposals for materials with an MRP type that contains no firming type .  Display and Change the Firming Indicator   Planned orders and purchase requisitions   You can display the firming indicator for planned orders and purchase requisitions when you access the detail dialog box for a procurement proposal by double-clicking on the procurement proposal in the stock/requirements list or MRP list. You can change the firming indicator by choosing  in the detail dialog box and accessing the screen for the respective procurement proposal.  Delivery schedules (schedule lines).   You can display the firming indicator for schedule lines by positioning the cursor on the schedule lines in the stock/requirements list or MRP list and choosing  . The screen for the schedule lines appears. You cannot, however, change the firming indicator there. You can only change it from the planning result. To do this, double-click on the schedule lines in the planning result.  
Material Planner - External Procurement: (is an add-on role to the Material Planner)
Ensures the availability of materials for production supply plans and monitors and adjusts material supplies procured externally. Collaborates internally with production planners and externally with suppliers.

Production Planner : 
Plans, monitors and adjusts material supplies produced internally and ensures material availability for sales order fulfillment and production supply. Collaborates internally with customer care and other production planners.