PeopleSoft Mobile Inventory Management 9.1 PeopleBook

Counting Par Locations Using a Mobile Device

This chapter provides an overview of mobile par location inventory counts using PeopleSoft Mobile Inventory Management and discusses how to:

Define installation options and user preferences for mobile par location counts.
Perform par location counts using mobile devices.
Perform par location ad hoc counts using mobile devices.

Understanding Mobile Par Location Counts

The par location functions in PeopleSoft Inventory enable you to establish stock locations that can be replenished without tracking item on-hand quantities and material movement transactions. The par locations might be stockrooms in a warehouse or on a hospital floor, supply closets, exchange carts, moving carts that contain items, automated point-of-service dispensing machines, or trucks that are equipped with the supplies for handling service calls. You can use mobile devices to conduct periodic inventory counts to determine replenishment needs for each par location.

The following diagram illustrates the par location counting process when using mobile devices and PeopleSoft Mobile Inventory Management:

The sequence of events in the par location count using PeopleSoft Mobile Inventory Management is:

The par locations should be defined in the PeopleSoft Inventory business unit including the items in each par location, the optimal quantity for each item, and how each item should be replenished.
Use your mobile devices to count the par locations.

Based on your setup for the par location in PeopleSoft Inventory, you can:
1. Enter the current item quantity in the par location (count quantity) or enter the quantity needed in the par location (requested quantity).
2. Count just the items that you choose or those items that are required to be counted.
3. Accept or adjust an estimated count quantity that can be displayed to save input steps or conduct a blind count by entering each item quantity in a blank field. The default count quantity is calculated by the Calculate Average Usage process in PeopleSoft Inventory.
In PeopleSoft Inventory, run the Create Par Replenishment Requests process to generate orders for items that fall below optimal quantity levels. Based on your par location setup, this process replenishes the par locations using material stock requests, requisitions, or purchase orders.

See Managing Par Inventory.

PeopleSoft Mobile Inventory provides two separate task flows to enter count quantities for par locations as shown in the next example:

Par count task flows include:

The Par Count task flow that enforces the Count Required check box for each item within the par location. If it is necessary to count all required items in the par location, then use the Par Count task flow. The Count Required check box is defined for each item on the Define Par Location - Line page in PeopleSoft Inventory (Inventory, Replenish Par Locations, Define Par Location, Line). If the Count Required check box is selected, then you must enter a value in the Qty field for this item or an error occurs when you save this page.
The Par Count Ad Hoc task flow that does not use the Count Required check box. It is used only for informational purposes. The Par Count Ad Hoc task flow enables you to count one or more items within a par location without counting all required items in the location.

Both task flows options display the same input screen.

To count par locations using the Par Count page and a mobile device:

On the PeopleSoft Mobile Inventory main menu, select the Par Count task flow or the Par Count Ad Hoc task flow.
On the Par Count page or the Par Count Ad Hoc, verify the Unit field is the correct inventory business unit.
Scan or enter the par location in the Location field.
Click the Fetch button or tab out of the Location field.
Enter the item quantities in the Qty column.
Click the Save button.

Additional Fields Available for Mobile Par Location Counts

The following fields from the PeopleSoft Inventory system can be displayed on the par count pages on the mobile device if you customize your display. The fields are shown with the pages on which they appear in the PeopleSoft system and are provided through the web service.

The par location group defined on the par location (Define Par Location - Header page).
The item's count order and optimal quantity within the par location (Define Par Location - Line page).
The compartment ID where the item is located within the par location (Define Par Location - Line page).
The item's average usage within the par location (Define Par Location - Line Details page).
The count status of the par location count ID (the header level of the Count Par Location Levels page).
The Sufficient Stock, Last User ID, and Last Changed fields of the par location count ID (the line level of the Count Par Location Levels page).

Defining Installation Options and User Preferences for Mobile Par Location Counts

Within PeopleSoft Inventory, you define parameters to determine how PeopleSoft Mobile Inventory Management performs on mobile devices. These parameters include settings and default values defined at an installation level and a user ID level. The following PeopleSoft pages are used to define parameters for the par counts on a mobile device.

This section discusses how to:

Define installation options for par counts.
Define user preferences for par counts.

Pages Used to Define Installation Options and User Preferences for Mobile Par Location Counts

Page Name	Definition Name	Navigation	Usage
Setup Component Interfaces	MIN_CMPINTFC	Set Up Financials/Supply Chain, Product Related, Inventory Mobile, Setup Component Interfaces	Define the component interface for the Par Count mobile page and the Par Count Ad Hoc mobile page. See Setting Up PeopleSoft Mobile Inventory Management.
Setup Mobile Services	MIN_SERVICES	Set Up Financials/Supply Chain, Product Related, Inventory Mobile, Setup Mobile Services	Identify and setup the PeopleSoft Integration Broker services to be used with the Par Count mobile page and the Par Count Ad Hoc mobile page. See Setting Up PeopleSoft Mobile Inventory Management.
Installation Options – Mobile Inventory	INSTALLATION_MIN	Set Up Financials/Supply Chain. Install, Installation Options, Mobile Inventory, and select the Par Count task flow	At the system level, define options to determine what features are available on the mobile devices and how the mobile page should appear. For the par count pages, use the value of Par Count in the Task Flow field.
User Preferences – Mobile Inventory	MIN_USER_TASK_OPT	Set Up Financials/Supply Chain, Common Definitions, User Preferences, Define User Preferences. Mobile Inventory, and select the Par Count task flow	For the individual user, define options to determine what features are available on the mobile devices and how the mobile page should appear. This page is optional; the Mobile Inventory Installation page is used when a user ID does not have this page defined or when the Use Installation Values check box is selected.
Define User Preferences - Overall Preferences	OPR_DEF_TABLE_FS1	Set Up Financials/Supply Chain, Common Definitions, User Preferences, Define User Preferences, Overall Preferences	Create par locations to be used by the Par Count page in PeopleSoft Mobile Inventory Management. In addition, this page defines the default value for the Default Quantity Option (count quantity or request quantity) in the Options table of the mobile Par Count page.
Define Par Location - Header	CART_HEADER_INV	Inventory, Replenish Par Locations, Define Par Location	Create par locations to be used by the Par Count page in PeopleSoft Mobile Inventory Management. In addition, this page defines the default value for the Default Quantity Option (count quantity or request quantity) in the Options table of the mobile Par Count page.
Define Par Location - Line	CART_REPLEN_OPT	Inventory, Replenish Par Locations, Define Par Location, Line	Identify each item located in a par location. Settings for each item that are displayed in the mobile device include unit of measure and the Count Required check box. The Count Required check box is not used in the Par Count Ad Hoc task flow.
Define Par Location - Line Details	CART_TEMPLATE_INV	Inventory, Replenish Par Locations, Define Par Location, Line Details	Displays the average usage quantity for each item in the par location. This value can be displayed in the Par Count page and the Par Count by Item page.
Calculate Average Usage	CART_USAGE_REQ_INV	Inventory, Replenish Par Locations, Calculate Average Usage	This process calculates the average usage for items in a par location. The average usage quantity can be displayed on the mobile device by default or by clicking the Use Average button on the Par Count page.

Defining Mobile Inventory Management Installation Options for Par Counts

Access the Installation Options - Mobile Inventory page (Set Up Financials/Supply Chain, Install, Installation Options, Mobile Inventory, and select the Par Count task flow).

The installation options defined on this page apply to the Par Count and Par Count Ad Hoc task flows. If needed, you can change these default settings on the mobile device.

Task Flow	Identifies the Mobile Inventory Management task flow that uses the settings on this page. Enter the value of Par Count to define installation-level options for the Par Count and Par Count Ad Hoc pages for mobile devices
Rows Displayed	Enter the maximum number of items to display on the Par Count page. You can scroll through additional rows of data on Par Count pages by using the Next link.
Initial Display Mode	Select to define the initial display setting for par count pages. Initial display values include: All Items: Select to initially display par count pages with all items in the search. You can then scroll the list using the Next and Previous buttons. Single Item: Select to initially display par count pages with a single item.
Alternate Item Display	Select an option that indicates how an item, alternate item, or both are displayed when an alternate item is specified for the transaction. Options include: Alternate Only, Alternate as Primary, Item Only, and Item as Primary. For more information about alternate items: See Setting Up Alternative Item Identifiers.
Expert Mode	Select to enable users to have quick access to data and quicker data entry. By not displaying certain fields, the system has to perform minimal page updates resulting in faster processing. Values that are not displayed when entering item data include the item description, unit of measure, search prompts for items and compartments. The system does not verify the item and compartment until you click the Count button. The purpose of this mode is to enable you quick data entry with minimal page updates.
Display Lookups	Select to display the Lookup icon for the Business Unit and Location fields on the Par Count and Par Count Ad Hoc mobile pages. The Lookup icon enables you to view a list of values and select one.
Display Description	Select to display the item descriptions on par count and par count ad hoc pages on a mobile device.
Collapse Header	Select to indicate that the header should be collapsed after you fetch the initial values. The header is initially expanded on the Par Count and Par Count Ad Hoc pages.
Display Filter Related Fields	Select this check box to display the Filter field and Filter button on the Par Count and Par Count Ad Hoc pages. Deselect this check box to remove the filter functionality from the pages.
Display Prior Entry Caption	Select to display your last count transaction in the Prior Entry box at the bottom of the mobile count page.
Display Show/Hide in tables	Select to display the Show and Hide links for par count pages. The options make it possible for you to expand and collapse extra line information in count pages.
Suppress Unique Compartments	Select to remove the Compartment field from the page in this specific circumstance when all items in a location appear in only one compartment each, including a blank compartment, there is not a need to prompt for a compartment on the Item Entry page.
Filter All Alternate Items	Select to indicate that you want the system to search through all possible alternate items when filtering a table. If an alternate item identifier is entered in the Filter field, the item ID (MASTER_ITEM_TBL) that matches the alternate is shown in the table. Deselect to indicate that the system should not use alternate item identifiers to filter the table. This can improve system performance for the task flow.

See Using the Mobile Inventory Installation Page.

Defining Mobile Inventory Management User Preferences for Par Counts

Access the User Preferences - Mobile Inventory page (Set Up Financials/Supply Chain, Common Definitions, User Preferences, Define User Preferences. Mobile Inventory, and select the Par Count task flow).

Use this page to establish individual user preferences for display options on the Par Count and Par Count Ad Hoc mobile pages. The values you define are applied to mobile pages for the specified user and override installation options settings.

Note. You do not have to add a task flow using this page as long as the flow is defined for installation options.

The values on this page are the same as those on the installation options page. Select the Use Installation Values check box to apply the values from the Installation Options – Mobile Inventory page for the Par Count task flow. When you click the check box, the display options on this page are no longer available.

Performing Par Location Counts Using Mobile Devices

This section discusses how to:

Enter Par Count page information and define page options.
Enter item counts for a par location.
Enter a count for a single item.

Pages Used to Perform Par Location Counts Using Mobile Devices

Use these page to perform par location counts.

Page Name	Navigation	Usage
Par Count	Mobile Inventory, Par Count	Enter Par Count page information and define page options.
Par Count - Item Entry	Mobile Inventory, Par Count, enter the par location, and click the Fetch button Click the Enter Items link on the Par Count page.	Enter item counts for a par location. Note. This page appears automatically when the Display All option is selected. Enter a count for a single item

Entering Par Count Page Information and Defining Page Options

Access the Par Count page (Mobile Inventory, Par Count).

Use your mobile device to count par locations within a PeopleSoft Inventory business unit.

Header	Click to collapse and expand header details.
Unit	Displays the PeopleSoft Inventory business unit where the item stock is located. A default value displays in this field based on your user login ID. This is a required field.
Location	Scan or enter the PeopleSoft Inventory par location. This is a required field.
Fetch	Click to initiate a search for the business unit and par location combination. The results are displayed below in the Details table. The fetch is also initiated when you tab out of the Location field.
Lookup icon	Click the Lookup icon to access the Lookup page where you can search for field values. On the Par Count page, the Lookup icon enables you to search for business units and par locations.
Count ID	Displays the par count ID. The system populates the field when you enter a location and click the Fetch button. For more information about the field: See Entering Item Counts for a Par Location.
Options	Click to view display and processing options for par count pages. You can click the Options link at any time to update optional settings, regardless of the transaction you are performing. After updating the options, and clicking the Return button, the system navigates to the page from which you selected the Options link.

Options

Access the Par Count – Options page (click the Options link on the Par Count page).

Use this page to change processing and display options for par counts. The settings on this page default from the Installation Options - Mobile Inventory or the User Preferences - Mobile Inventory page for the task flow. Most fields can be changed for the session.

Note. Selections that you make on the Options page are immediately applied when you access the Par Count Item Entry or Display All pages. When you navigate away from a Par Count page and return to the page, the system replaces the setting with the option settings defined in the PeopleSoft system-defined settings.

Quantity Option	Identify the item quantity that you will enter for this par location. The default value for this field comes from the Define Par Location - Header page in the PeopleSoft Inventory system: (Inventory, Replenish Par Locations, Define Par Location, Header). You can change the option using this field. Field values are: Count: Enter the current item quantity in the par location Request: Enter the quantity needed in the par location to meet the optimal quantity for this item.
Display Option	Select a display option to limit or expand the number of items viewed in the Options table. The options are: All: Display all items that are stored in the par location. Included: Display only items that are included in the current count ID. Excluded: Display only items in the location that are not yet included in the current count ID.
Rows to Display	Displays the number of rows the system will display when you select to display all items. This value is set using PeopleSoft system installation options and user preferences.
Initial Display	Indicates whether a single item will be displayed or all items will be displayed when you complete a search. Values include: All Items: Select to initially display par count pages with all items in the search. You can then scroll the list using the Next and Previous buttons. Single Item: Select to display par count pages with a single item.
Display Alternate	Select an option that indicates how an item, alternate item, or both are displayed when an alternate item is specified. Options include: Alternate Only, Alternate as Primary, Item Only, and Item as Primary. For more information about alternate items: See Setting Up Alternative Item Identifiers.
Expert Mode	Select to have quick access to data and quicker data entry. By not displaying certain fields, the system has to perform minimal page updates resulting in faster processing. Values that are not displayed when entering item data include the item description, unit of measure, search prompts for items and compartments.
Display Lookups	Select to display the Lookup icon for the Business Unit and Location fields on the mobile Par Count page. The Lookup icon enables you to view a list of values and select one.
Display Description	Select to display the item descriptions on par count pages.
Collapse Headers	Select to indicate that the header should be collapsed after you fetch the initial values. The header is initially expanded on the Par Count page, but you can change the setting.
Display Filter	Indicates whether the Filter field and Filter button appear on the Par Count page. Deselect this check box to remove the filter functionality from the page.
Display Prior Entry Caption	Select or deselect this check box to indicate whether to display the last updated transaction for this par count page.
Display Show/Hide in tables	Select to display the Show and Hide links for par count pages. The options make it possible for you to expand and collapse additional line information in count pages. Depending on the mobile device and its settings, the Show and Hide value can appear as an Expand icon (right arrow) or Collapse icon (down arrow).
Suppress Unique Compartments	Select this check box to remove the Cpmt (compartment) field from the page in the specific circumstance when all items in a location appear in only one compartment each, including a blank compartment. There will not be a need to prompt for a compartment on the Item Entry page.
Filter All Alternate Items	Displays the option selected on the Installation Options - Mobile Inventory page or the User Preferences - Mobile Inventory page. If this option is selected, then the system searches through all possible alternate item identifiers when filtering a table. If an alternate item identifier is entered in the Filter field, then the item ID that matches the alternate is displayed in the table. If this option is not selected, then alternate item identifiers cannot be used to filter the table.
Return	Click to return to the Par Count page to continue with the transaction or search that you were performing when you accessed the Options table. The selections that you make are applied immediately to the page that you are using.
Cancel	Click to cancel the page. The system returns to the Par Count page and does not record any of the selections that you made.

Entering Item Counts for a Par Location

Access the Par Count - Display All page (Mobile Inventory, Par Count).

Use the Par Count – Display All page to count multiple items for a par location count.

Note. You can use the Display All page or Item Entry page to perform par counts. The page that you access depends on whether you select to display a single item or all items in the Detail Display check box for par count options. When you are working with multiple items, the Enter Items link is available. When you are working with a single item, the Display All link is available.

The items are automatically selected for counting when you are creating a new count ID; however, you can select to not include the item in the count. After entering a count location and clicking the Fetch button, you can begin the count transaction.

Expand icon	Click to expand the business unit and location value for additional information. The header information is displayed in this format as an example: (US015 \ COR - 1.) After you click the Expand icon, the Header value appears with the Collapse icon (down arrow). Note. When you initially access the page, the header is expanded. If you selected the Collapse Headers check box for Ad Hoc options, the header will collapse after you fetch a business unit and location. The Expand icon then becomes available for use.
Collapse icon	Click to collapse the header. You can also click the Header link to collapse the additional header information.
Header	Click to collapse the business unit and location information. You can use fields within the header to define and perform searches for another par location
Unit	Displays the PeopleSoft Inventory business unit entered on the Par Count page. This field is located in the expanded header.
Location	Displays the par location entered on the Par Count page. A description of the location appears below the location if you have selected to display the description. This field is located in the expanded header.
Count ID	Displays the par count ID. The system populates the field when you enter a location and click the Fetch button. This field is located in the expanded header. The field indicates if the system is creating a new count or updating an existing count. When the value of the Count ID field is NEXT, then a new count is created when you click the Save button on this page. If a count ID exists in this field, then an existing count file has already been created by entries saved within the Mobile Inventory Management pages or by the Create Par Location File process in the PeopleSoft Inventory system.
Options	Click to make changes to the Par Count page display options. After updating the options, you can return to this page.
Enter Items	Click the to access the Par Count – Item Entry page where you can enter the count quantity for an individual item within the par location. This page helps facilitate the entry of a large number of items within a par location. Note. The Display All link appears instead of the Enter Items link when you select to enter a single item to the par location count. See Entering a Count for a Single Item.
Filter (field and button)	Use the Filter feature to limit your existing search results (items in the group box below) to rows that meet your criteria. This feature reduces the original search results to a smaller number of rows so that you can focus on an area of interest. The filter options are available if you selected the Display Filters check box as an option. Use the Filter field to enter a value to compare to the existing search results. Filter criteria includes item ID, item description, unit of measure, compartment ID, manufacturer ID, and manufacturer item ID. Click the Filter button to apply your filter value to the existing search results and display only the rows that match your filter. The filter feature is also initiated when you tab out of the Filter field. For example, if you enter compartment A5, then the search results are reduced to display only the items located in compartment A5 of the par location. If the Filter All Alternate Items check box is selected on the Options page, then the system also uses the alternate item identifier as search criteria. The item ID that is associated with the alternate item provided determines the rows that appear in the table. Note. The Filter feature is applied to the existing fetch results and does not perform another search on data in the PeopleSoft Inventory system. Note. After a filter has been applied, any future actions are performed on the filtered results not the original search results. For example, if you use the filter to reduce the search population from 10 rows to 7 rows and then the Use Average button, only 7 rows are populated with the average count.
Clear	Click to restore your original search results after applying a filter. This button removes the filter and displays all search rows. In some cases, there might be reduced number of rows displayed due to an error condition, such as the display of count required items. When you click the Clear button, the system returns all rows to the display. Note. The Clear button does not perform another search on data.
Save	Click to save your entries on this page. If there is not a value in the Count ID field, then when you save this page, the system creates a new ID. Note. Depending on the number of count items on the page, the Save button might only appear at the bottom of this page. If you have to scroll down the page, another Save button appears for your convenience. The lower Save button performs the same as this button. When you save a count, counts for the items that have been included in the count are updated in the PeopleSoft Inventory system. The system sets all items in a par location count to be included in the count. When you click Save, and you have not counted an item, the system provides you a list of uncounted items. Any count required items that do not have a quantity associated with them and do not have not have Include check box selected will cause an error. You can enter a zero (0) quantity for the count. You must enter quantities for listed items before you can save the transaction. The Par Count Ad Hoc task flow does not have this requirement.
Expand Collapse	Click to show or hide additional count information about the item row. This is the item within the par location. Use the fields in this group box to scan or enter data about one item within the par location. Additional information and selections include: Include check box: Select this check box to include this item in the count. You can include as many items as needed. The initial setting for the field is selected. You can deselect the Include check box and the system will not include the item in the count when you click the Save button. If an item is set to Count Required, then the Include check box must be set or an error appears when you save the count. Basically, the Count Required check box ensures that an item is included in the count. The Cpmt (compartment ID) within the par location where the item is stored. This is a display only description. The manufacturer ID and manufacturer item ID. Count Required check box: If this check box is selected, then you must enter a value in the Qty field for this item or an error occurs when you save this page. Zero is an acceptable value in the Qty field. The Count Required check box defaults from the Define Par Location - Line page in PeopleSoft Inventory (Inventory, Replenish Par Locations, Define Par Location, Line). The check box cannot be changed on this page. Note. The Count Required check box is not enforced when you use the Par Count Ad Hoc menu, enabling you to count single items without counting all required items.
Item	Displays the PeopleSoft Inventory item ID and item description. To remove the item description, select the Options link and deselect the Display Descriptions check box.
Qty (quantity)	Enter or review the quantity for this item within the par location. The unit of measure for the item quantity is displayed below this field. This is a required field. Based on your entry in the Quantity Option field, the Qty field displays the current item quantity in the par location (count quantity) or the quantity needed in the par location to meet the optimal quantity for this item (requested quantity). If the count quantity is used, then this field can be populated with the average par location count calculated by the Calculate Average Usage process in PeopleSoft Inventory. This saves input time by reducing the number of items that require an entry on the mobile device. Note. The item's unit of measure appears next to the Qty field.

Entering a Count for a Single Item

Access the Par Count - Item Entry page (click the Enter Items link on the Par Count page)

You use the Par Count - Item Entry page to add individual items and counts to a par location count. The page enables you to scan or enter the par location count data using one item at a time. This method is useful when you have a large number of items within the par location and the Par Count page would require you to scroll through many items to find the one you are currently counting.

Also the page enables you to scan the item ID, enter the item quantity, click the Count button, and then move on to the next item. This method requires no searching through lists of items within the par location. Fields and links on this page are similar to those on the Par Count - Display All page.

To count par locations using the Par Count - Item Entry page:

On the Par Count page, verify the Unit field is the correct inventory business unit.
Scan or enter the par location in the Location field.
Click the Fetch button.
Scan or enter the item ID.
Enter or review the quantity for this item within the par location.
Click the Count button.
Scan or enter the next item and repeat the above steps until all items are counted.
When all items have been entered, click the Save button.

Display All	Click the Display All link to return to the Par Count page where you can view and maintain count information for multiple items within the par location.
Item	Scan or enter the PeopleSoft Inventory item ID to be counted. You can use the Lookup icon to locate items that are available in the count ID for this location. After you enter the item, the system displays the item description, count information, and the Count button. After entering an alternate identifier in this field, the system may change the value depending on the option selected in the Alternate Item Display field on the Options page for the task flow. See Setting Up Alternative Item Identifiers.
Qty (quantity)	Enter or review the quantity for this item within the par location. Based on your entry in the Quantity Option field on the Par Count page, the Qty field displays the current item quantity in the par location (count quantity) or the quantity needed in the par location to meet the optimal quantity for this item (requested quantity). If the count quantity is used, then this field can be populated with the average par location count calculated by the Calculate Average Usage process in PeopleSoft Inventory. This saves input time by reducing the number of items that require an entry on the mobile device.
Count	Click to complete the entry of an item count. The item information is moved to the Prior Entry table and the Item Information table is available to enter another item's quantity. The system automatically activates the Count button. After you enter the count and tab out of the field, the system automatically performs the count. You do not have to click the button.
Save	Click the Save button to save your entries on this page. If there is not a count ID, then saving this page creates a new ID. When you click the Save button, the system saves the count ID in the PeopleSoft Inventory system.
Prior Entry	Displays the last item that was counted. As you count more items, the system updates this section with the last counted item. You can define whether the Prior Entry table appears using the Options link and deselecting the Display Prior Entry Caption check box.
Modify (within the Prior Entry group box)	Click the Modify button to change information about the last count displayed in the Prior Entry group box.

Performing Par Location Ad Hoc Counts on Mobile Devices

This section discusses how to perform par location ad hoc counts.

Note. The transactions, fields, and values on the par count ad hoc count pages are similar to the ones for par count pages.

You use the Par Count Ad Hoc pages the same as the Par Count pages to perform par location count transactions. The Par Count Ad Hoc menu option does not adhere to the rule provided by the Count Required check box for the Par Count page. This enables you to count a single item in a location even though multiple items might be required. Ad hoc counts also make it possible for an administrator to force one user to count certain items while another user may not be required to do so.