A re-order category is held on the Description tab of each part on the stock file, and is used to maintain stock levels. By periodically checking the available stock levels and comparing them against the re-order categories, optimum stock levels are maintained. Standard functionality exists that allows you to create and maintain re-order categories for each franchise.
Warning: Any levels maintained against the re-order category override the levels held against the product group the next time Month End is run.
To access re-order categories:
The STOCK MANAGEMENT menu is displayed.
Select the Miscellaneous options option and click OK.
The SM MISCELLANEOUS OPTIONS menu is displayed.
Select the Re-order categories option.
The Re-order categories form is displayed.
The Re-order categories form is displayed when you select the Re-order categories option from the SM MISCELLANEOUS OPTIONS menu. From this form you can create and maintain re-order categories.
Franchise: Enter the up-to three-character franchise code.
Reorder category: Enter the single character alpha reorder category code in the range A-Z, e.g. A = fast moving, B = medium moving, C = slow moving, O = obsolete, etc.
Tip: Click the Ellipsis button
to select the required combination of franchise code/reorder category.
Description: An up-to thirty-character description that describes the parts held in this re-order category, e.g. Slow, Medium, Fast.
Classification mode: This field determines whether or not the system automatically calculates when a part moves to a different re-order category (e.g. Slow to Medium) and updates the re-order category. There are two modes:
- 1: Automatic
- 2: Manual
Min forecast dmd qty: The minimum number of parts forecast to be sold in this category during the period.
Max forecast dmd qty: The maximum number of parts forecast to be sold in this category during the period. Leave the field set at 0.00 (zero) if you do not want to set an upper limit.
Min average cost: The minimum average cost for parts in this category during the period. Leave the field set at 0.00 (zero) if you do not want to set a lower limit.
Max average cost: The maximum average cost for parts in this category during the period. Leave the field set at 0.00 (zero) if you do not want to set an upper limit.
Default lead time: The number of days lead time for parts in this re-order category. This value is used by the Generate Max/Min Levels program to calculate the minimum stock level for each part in this re-order category, if the lead time on the part record is zero. Increasing this value increases both the minimum and maximum levels. A default lead time is held on four different records on the Autoline system. For a full description of the order of preference in which the system accesses records, refer to the topic Max/Min Calculation.
Note: The Default lead time, Days between orders and Safety coefficient all influence the result of the maximum and minimum levels generated. Any changes will take effect the next time the Generate Max/Min Levels program is run.
Days between orders: This value is used by the Generate Max/Min Levels program to calculate the maximum stock level for each part in this re-order category. Increasing this value alone increases the maximum level, leaving the minimum level as it is currently. A days between orders value is held on three different records on the Autoline system. For a full description of the order of preference in which the system accesses records, refer to the topic Max/Min Calculation.
Safety coefficient: The safety coefficient assigned to the re-order category. The value influences the maximum and minimum levels created by the Generate Max/Min Levels program. In general, the higher the coefficient used, the higher the resulting maximum and minimum level, thus increasing the stock order. Any value entered here overrides the safety coefficient entered against the product group. For a full description of the order of preference in which the system accesses records, refer to the topic Max/Min Calculation.
Minimum request: The minimum number of requests that cause a part to move to obsolete. EG: Assume the field Max obsolete periods in the system parameters is set to 12, then the total requests of a part over 12 months (Max obsolete periods) is compared with the value Minimum request. If the number of requests is equal to or less than this parameter then the part line is deemed to be potentially obsolete.
Minimum month no movement: This value is used to ask the question, "Is the accumulative total of units (History) including negatives, equal to or greater than 1 over the number of periods held in this parameter?" If the result is less than 1, then the part is deemed to be obsolete. If this value is set to zero, then a default of 3 periods is used.
Note: If the part line fails one of the two tests in the above two parameters, then the part will move to the obsolete category, however the standard tests are also performed using the stock management obsolescent parameters. Although highly unlikely, it is possible for the part to fail one of the above two tests and still remain in a moving category.
