A method of iterative negotiation for improved production planning between
one or more purchasers and suppliers in a supply chain. The method
includes a purchaser in a supply chain generating a request schedule that
is communicated to a supplier. In response to the request schedule the
supplier generates a commit schedule and communicates it back to the
purchaser. Through the iterative negotiation process (ask-answer) one or
more interpolation constraints are generated based on the supplier's
commit schedules. Upon completion of the ask-answer process purchaser
solves a final advanced planning system (APS) based on said one or more
interpolation constraints and generates a final production plan. The
invention can be employed to integrate the collaboration among purchasers
and suppliers with an advanced planning system for optimizing established
planning objectives (e.g. customer service, short lead times, low
inventory, and prioritized allocation of supply and capacity).