Inventory Locations

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Introduction to Inventory Locations

opentaps uses a warehouse layout model to specify physical storage locations. The model is much like many warehouses used for products,parts, and materials. The opentaps inventory location model consists of these coordinates:

• Warehouse -- the facility in which storage is provided
• Area -- major division of storage area (example, a room or large confined area, A1 to A4)
• Aisle -- major subdivision of storage area (example, an aisle or walk way, I1 to I6)
• Section -- minor part of the subdivision (example, a storage unit or cabinet, S1 to S5)
• Level -- minor part of a section (example, a shelf level in the storage unit, L1 to L4)
• Position -- a specific spot where items are placed (example, a front bin or tub, F,M,B)
• Location SeqID -- the compact system ID is a designation for every unique space where inventory is placed in the warehouse.

Example: Lets define a fictitious inventory storage space, a "Location", in warehouse "WebStoreWarehouse" which is used to supply a pick and pack operation. The physical location is as follows in our warehouse: area-2 (A2), aisle-3 (I3), storage unit-1 (S1), shelf level-2 (L2), position-Middle (M). The location type is "primary" which is equivalent to saying pick/pack.

The system then identifies this "Location" as follows:

• Facility ID = webstorewarehouse
• Location SeqID = A2I3S1L2M
• Type = Pick/Primary

With this Location defined, we can now assign products to be stored there, and use all of the opentaps system functions to manage the product inventory there according to our business processes. For example, "Stock Moves" utilize data about the physical location of each inventory item of the products. Using such product inventory location data works like this:

• First the physical location is defined within the warehouse floor plan,
• Then the product is designated to be stocked in its physical location, and
• Finally the actual inventory is received and stocked into the specified location(s).
• These inventory stocking locations are either primary (for pick and pack operations), or they are bulk locations (for backup stock in bulk packaging).
• Stock Moves and many other functions in opentaps operate with the information just described about product inventory locations.

Next, we will discuss using the system functions to implement inventory locations and management of them.

Locations for Inventory

Inventory locations are managed in the Warehouse application, where you can create new storage locations within a warehouse, search for existing storage locations, see what products are stored at the location and the quantities, and add new products to be stored there.

Refer to Create Locations in Warehouse to create new storage locations.

Refer to Find Locations in Warehouse to search for existing locations

Refer toThe Warehouse Facilities for complete information about configuring the warehouse facility.

Designating the Product Locations

There are several ways offered in opentaps applications to designate the inventory storage location where a specific product stock will be kept. The following methods work as follows:

"Ways to Specify a Product Storage Location"

• Catalog > Product Section > Locations Tab -- Use this product screen to specify the default location for your inventory of that product including the primary and the backup (bulk) locations. Inventory coming in will be routed to these locations via the choices listed on various drop down menus for selecting locations. Below the location is a menu for associating products in each location. “Minimum” is the minimum quantity at a location before a move is triggered, and “move” is the quantity moved each time.

• Warehouse > Configuration Tab > [Locations] -- Use this inventory location screen to specify which products will be stored at this inventory location. Note that this is the same as the [Catalog] > [Product] >> [Locations] screen in the catalog manager.

• Warehouse > Inventory Tab > Receive an Item, or Receive Purchase Order -- when receiving incoming inventory, an inventory item ID for the inbound goods is created with your default storage location preselected, but you can update the location to any that is defined in the warehouse, if there is a need to do so.

Pick Lists and Locations

When Pick Lists are being prepared the system uses its Location data to organize the sequence of items to be Picked. Refer to Configuring Warehouse Locations for more information.

Refer to Finding the Product Inventory for information on find where the product is stored.

Refer to Move Stock for information about how to move some of the product stock in inventory.

Navigation into the Inventory chapter:

Tracking Inventory << Manual pages >> Inventory Valuation

Planning Tab and MRP << Tab pages >> Shipping Tab Processes

Procurement Processes << Section pages >> Shipping Tab Processes

Navigation into the Warehouses chapter:

View Warehouse << Manual pages >> Third Party Inventory/Warehouses

Shipping Tab << Tab pages

Shipping Tab Processes << Section pages >> Warehouses Organization