General |
The General tab enables you to specify how parts inventories, pricing, and transfers are managed.
The Parts options section of this tab specifies general information about parts setup. Unless otherwise indicated, these fields are required.
Manage parts ordering and Economic Order Quantity (EOQ) values
Method of managing parts and EOQ. This field has a list box.
Note: Because the quantity out for rebuild on external rebuild purchase orders does not directly affect quantity on order, you can change this option from CENTRALLY or BY LOCATION to ENTERPRISE even if there are open external rebuild purchase orders.
ENTERPRISE: Purchase order activity, EOQ, and reorder points are tracked by the specified supplied-by location. Part reorders are recommended when the current stock at the location plus the quantity already on order at the location is below the specified reorder point for the part.
Note: If you select ENTERPRISE, the Reordering, Parts Order Management, Part Orders, and Quick Orders screens on the Purchasing menu are grayed out.
Upon upgrade, your system will notify you if it requires a conversion to the supported ENTERPRISE method of management. While the legacy configurations are still allowed for this version, those utilizing CENTRALLY or BY LOCATION must receive a temporary license key to gain access to the legacy purchasing methods.
CENTRALLY: Purchase order activity, EOQ, and reorder points are tracked centrally. Part reorders are recommended when the total of current stock at ALL locations plus the quantity already on order is below the reorder point for the part.
BY LOCATION: Purchase order activity, EOQ, and reorder points are tracked separately for each individual stocking location of each part. Part reorders at a location are recommended when the current stock at that location plus the quantity already on order at that location is below the reorder point for the part at that location.
Note: If this field specifies BY LOCATION, location level access control is applied to the Data -> Parts Activity -> Stock Status Upgrade screen.
If you are using Release 6.0 or any subsequent release and select either CENTRALLY or BY LOCATION, the Data -> Enterprise Purchasing menu will be grayed out.
Tip: Consider this item carefully when you set up the part's inventory. Once you enter purchase orders, changing this item will be somewhat difficult. Refer to the following topics:
Criteria for managing CENTRALLY or BY LOCATION or ENTERPRISE
Changing the value in the Manage parts ordering and Economic Order Quantity (EOQ) values field
Base supplied by location ID
Identifier of the supplied-by location. If ENTERPRISE was specified in the Manage parts ordering and Economic Order Quantity (EOQ) values field, a location ID is required. This field has a list box. The location name displays to the right of the ID.
In Enterprise Purchasing, the supplied-by location ID is specified on the Inventory tab of the Data -> Setup -> Organization Structure -> Locations -> Primary Information screen.
Inventory pricing method
Method used to price the inventory. This field has a list box:
AVERAGE: Average inventory pricing. This is the default.
Under the FIFO and LIFO methods:
The next oldest or next newest lot is used, as required, if the quantity issued or transferred out exceeds the quantity of that lot. The unit price for the entire transaction is the total value of the transaction (applying each lot unit price to the quantity used from that lot) divided by the total quantity.
Adjustments that involve a unit price other than the current lot unit price are prohibited.
Information about recorded part lots displays on the Lots tab of the Data -> Parts Items -> Location Information screen.
Refer to How to implement a parts inventory pricing method.
Start FIFO/LIFO inventory
If this field has a check, initial lot information is created for each part in inventory. The information is used for the FIFO or LIFO inventory pricing method. Any existing lot information for parts currently in inventory is deleted and a new single lot is created for each part at each location. When a new lot is created, the current quantity on hand, the value of the current stock, and the unit issue price are used. Any subsequent lots created contain information relevant to one receipt lot for a part at a location.
Note: If you change the inventory pricing method from AVERAGE to either FIFO or LIFO, you must place a check in this field. If you change between FIFO and LIFO, do not place a check in this field.
See How to implement a parts inventory pricing method.
Default stock status for new parts added automatically to inventory
Note: This field applies only if the Manage parts ordering and Economic Order Quantity (EOQ) values field specifies CENTRALLY. For the comparable field when BY LOCATION or ENTERPRISE is specified, go to the Inventory tab on the Data -> Setup -> Organization Structure -> Locations -> Primary Information screen.
Default stock status for new parts added automatically to inventory. This field has a list box. When a new part primary record is created, this stock status value defaults to the value chosen here.
STOCKED: The part's inventory is actively managed and included on reorder lists and automatically generated purchase orders.
ON DEMAND - PROMOTABLE: The part's inventory is not managed, but reorders are permitted. The part is automatically promoted to STOCKED if and when it satisfies the criteria for promotion. Refer to the Criteria for conversion of parts from ON DEMAND - PROMOTABLE to STOCKED field on the Stock Promotion tab of this screen.
ON DEMAND - NOT PROMOTABLE: The part's inventory is not managed and the part is not promoted to STOCKED. Reorders are permitted.
PROHIBITED: Reorders are prohibited.
This information is used when there is a check in the Verified valid part ID field on the Line Items tab of the Data -> Purchasing -> Quick Orders screen.
Default product category for new parts entered in Part Primary
Default product category for new parts entered on the Basic Info tab of the Data -> Parts Items -> Primary Information screen. This field has a list box. The product category description displays below the ID. This field is optional.
Note: If this product category is set up to support automatic part numbering, the part ID defaults as well.
Default replenishment method
The default replenishment method. The options are:
Inventory Month based on the Stock Status
If this code is set to WARN or ALWAYS, the Parts Primary and Parts Location Primary screens will validate that the part's inventory month is allowed for the stock status.
Inventory adjustment reason code for automatic adjustments
The code for the reason the inventory count is adjusted automatically. This field has a list box of active codes. The reason code description displays below the ID. This field is optional.
This code is used when automatic inventory adjustment transactions are processed from the Data -> Parts Activity -> Inventory Counts screen to conform inventory levels to counts.
For such transactions, this code displays in the Reason code field on the Data -> Parts Activity -> Adjustments screen. You can use it for reporting purposes with the Query/Report Generator , Web Modules Reporting, or any other reporting tool sold separately (such as Microsoft Access) that can attach to the database. Refer to the related documentation for these products.
Require bin ID for parts at each stocking location ID
If this field has a check, information is required in the Bin location field on the Basic Info tab of the Data -> Parts Items -> Location Information screen. Only applies to parts with a status of STOCKED.
Tip: Part location records that are added automatically or moved to a status of STOCKED must be updated on the Part Location screen to receive this validation.
Automatic cross-references between part IDs and VMRS codes
If this field has a check, a two-way cross reference is automatically defined between a part ID/suffix and its American Trucking Association’s (ATA's) Vehicle Maintenance Reporting Standards (VMRS) code.
The Basic Info tab of the Data -> Parts Items -> Primary Information screen specifies ATA VMRS codes associated with part ID/suffixes. If you insert or change a value in the VMRS code field on that screen and there is a check in this field, two entries in the Parts Cross-reference (RPT_MAIN) table are automatically created or updated as follows:
System part ID/suffix to VMRS code
VMRS code to system part ID/suffix
Do not build cross-reference between old and new ID of renumbered part
If this field has a check, a cross-reference will not be created between the old and new IDs of a renumbered part. For example, when this option is active, you can renumber a part without a cross-reference to the same ID with a new suffix and a cross-reference will not be created.
Automatically replace cross-reference part ID entry with stock part ID
If this field has a check, a stock part ID is automatically substituted when a cross-referenced part is entered. If this field is blank, you are prompted to choose a stock part ID from a choice list.
Note: This field defaults to automatic substitution (the field has a check), because that is how cross-reference functionality worked in earlier releases.
Automatically build inventory serialized part records through transactions
If this field has a check, serialized part records are automatically created during issue processing. Defaults to checked so that you can build your serialized parts data using the part issue transactions you enter.
If this field is blank, any additional serialized part data in stock or installed on vehicles must be entered manually on the Data -> Part Items -> Serialized Parts screen.
Allow update of manufacturer data on Parts - Primary Information screen if not managing ordering and EOQ values CENTRALLY
If this field has a check and you manage ordering and EOQ values either BY LOCATION or ENTERPRISE, you may update the manufacturer name and manufacturer part number on the Purchasing Info tab of the Data -> Parts Items -> Primary Information screen. If this field is blank, the fields on the Purchasing Info tab are accessible only if you manage CENTRALLY.
Do not consider stock location of serialized parts
If this field has a check, serialized parts are returned to and issued from one inventory location. Quantity on hand is not verified against the quantity at the location. When a serialized part is issued, its location does not have to match the issue location. When a serialized part is returned to a vendor using the Parts Activity -> Receipts screen, its location does not have to match the receipt location.
Note: Quantity on hand must be greater than quantity issued unless there is a check in the Allow issues from stock with insufficient inventory field on the Inventory - More Info tab of the Data -> Setup -> Organization Structure -> Locations -> Primary Information screen. For internal rebuilds, quantity on hand must be greater than rebuild quantity issued regardless of where the parts are being rebuilt.
Do not allow part transfers when part record does not exist at receiving location
If this field has a check, parts may not be transferred to a receiving location if the part ID and suffix are not defined at that location.