Serial and Lot Inventory with Multiple Units of Measure
When you use Multiple Units of Measure with the Serialized Inventory or Lot Tracking features, you have more flexibility on sales and purchases. You can purchase, stock, sell and conduct inventory transactions for items in different units of measure.
Your purchase units for a serial or lot item might differ from the stock units. Also, your stock units might differ from the sale units for a serial or lot item. You can set the units of measure individually for the purchase, stock, and sale of each serial or lot item.
For example, a food distributor tracks goods by assigning a lot number and expiration date to a perishable product, item #4567. This lot numbered product is ordered from the vendor by the truckload. It is stocked at a central warehouse by the pallet. It is sold to customers as single box units. By designating a purchase unit truck, stock unit pallet, and sale unit box, you can accurately use units and quantities on individual transactions.
To use Multiple Units of Measure, first you set up a Units Type and define each unit for that type. For example, you can set up a Units Type called Perishable. Then, set up Perishable units of Truck, Pallet, and Box. You assign a base unit and define each unit in terms of the base. For example, if your base unit is Box, you can define the unit Pallet as 144 boxes.
For more information about setting up units of measure, see Setting Up Units of Measure.
Note the following details when working with units of measure for lot or serial items on transactions and records:
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Serial Numbered Items
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When selecting stock units, purchase units, and sale units on transactions, serial numbered items are not able to use fractional quantities.
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The base unit must be the smallest unit of measure.
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Important:
When you enter transactions that include serial numbered items and enter a quantity in non-base units, note the following. You must enter serial numbers in a quantity equivalent to the quantity in base units.
For example, you are receiving 1 pallet of a serialized item and a pallet is comprised of 10 base units. You must enter 10 serial numbers on the receipt.
Another example:
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A purchasing manager creates a vendor bill for 1 case of serialized inventory.
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A case has a conversion rate of 6.
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The base unit is Each.
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For this transaction, the number of serial numbers required is 6 because the quantity of serial numbers must match quantity of items in base units.
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Lot Numbered Items
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Units types you use for inventory items can also be used for lot numbered items.
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The base unit does not have to be the smallest unit of measure.
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When selecting stock units, purchase units, and sale units on transactions, lot numbered items are able to use fractional quantities.
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On transactions, you must enter lot numbers in a quantity equal to the quantity of units on the transaction. This is true regardless of the unit type being used on the transaction.
For example, you are receiving 1 pallet of a lot numbered item and a pallet is comprised of 10 base units. You must enter 1 lot number on the receipt.
Another example:
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A purchasing manager creates a vendor bill for 2 cases of lot numbered inventory.
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A case has a conversion rate of 6.
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The base unit is Each.
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The entire case belongs to one single lot.
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For this transaction, the following image shows that the quantity entered for the lot in the serial/lot numbers field is 2.
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Serial Numbered Items and Lot Numbered Items
After you set up units of measure on an item, you can edit the units, but not the units type.
You can add line items to the following transactions using units of measure:
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Enter Purchase Orders
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Enter Vendor Return Authorization
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Write Checks
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Use Credit Card
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Bill Purchase Orders
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Create Opportunities
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Prepare Estimates
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Enter Sales Order
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Create Invoices
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Adjust Inventory
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Transfer Inventory
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Distribute Inventory
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Issue Credit Memo
Note:On some transactions that allow units to be changed, only units that qualify appear in the units list.
The following transactions display units of measure that cannot be changed:
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Receive Purchase Order: displays units selected on purchase order
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Fulfill Sales Orders: displays units selected on sales order
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Adjust Inventory Worksheet: displays default base units
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Replenish Location: displays base units
Purchase Transactions
You can enter purchase transactions with lot and serial numbered items that designate units of measure other than stock units. This is useful when your vendor sells items in units that are different from units you use to stock items in the warehouse.
Item Purchases
When you enter a purchase order that includes a lot numbered or serialized item, the units appear on the transaction line with the item. The unit of measure that appears by default is the purchase unit defined on the item record.
You can edit the selection in the Units field, if necessary. The available units of measure are based on the available units on units type page.
Item Receipts
When you enter an item receipt that includes a lot numbered or serialized item, the units appear on the transaction line with the item. When you receive lot or serial numbered items, the receipt unit is always derived from the unit selection on the originating purchase order. The unit of measure displayed is for reference and cannot be changed.
Other Purchase Transactions
Note the following when you enter a vendor return, write a check, enter a credit card transaction, or bill a purchase order. If the form includes a lot numbered item, the unit of measure that appears by default is the purchase unit defined on the item record. You can edit the selection in the Units field, if necessary.
Sales, Fulfillment, and Billing Transactions
You can enter transactions with lot and serial numbered items that designate units of measure other than stock units. This is useful if your customer buys the items in units that are different from the units you use to stock items in the warehouse.
For example, most of your customers buy item #4567 by the box. But, one customer buys it by the pallet. You can enter a sales order for that customer a sell in pallet quantities instead of boxes.
Sales Transactions
Note the following when you enter a sales order, opportunity, or quote that includes a lot numbered or serialized item. You can set the unit of measure on the transaction line. Select any unit defined on the Units of Measure page.
Fulfillments
Note the following when you enter an item fulfillment that includes a lot or serial numbered item. The fulfillment unit is always derived from the unit selection on the originating sales order. The unit displays is for reference. You cannot change the unit of measure displayed on the transaction line.
Billing and Credits
Note the following when you enter an invoice or credit memo for a lot or serial numbered item. You can set the unit of measure on the transaction line, and choose from all available units of measure.
Inventory Transactions
You can enter inventory transactions with lot and serial numbered items that designate units of measure other than stock units. This is useful if you adjust inventory to store defective items using units different from the regular stock units you use in the warehouse. You can view the unit of measure for lot and serial items when you enter an inventory adjustment with the adjustment worksheet.
Inventory Adjustments and Transfers
Note the following when you enter an inventory adjustment or transfer that includes a lot or serial numbered item. You can set the unit of measure on the transaction line, and choose from all available units of measure. When you enter an inventory adjustment worksheet or inventory distribution, the transaction displays only base units for lot and serial numbered items. This is also true when you replenish a location.
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