Setting Minimum and Maximum Stocking Levels for New Products

Until a new product accrues enough demand history for the system to begin forecasting demand, you can enter estimated minimum and maximum stocking levels for the product. You can also set an expiration date, after which the system stops using estimated stocking levels for suggested purchasing. On this date, the system begins forecasting demand using the accumulated demand history and established order points and line points.

Note: You can set a minimum-only order point for a product to make sure the system uses the largest line point available.

The following procedure is a manual process for a single product. Use the Mass Load program to enter minimum and maximum levels for all the products in a buy line.

To set minimum and maximum levels for suggested purchasing of a new product:

  1. From the Files menu, select Product to display the Product Maintenance screen.

  2. Display a product record needing minimum and maximum stocking levels.

  3. Use the Inven hot key to display the Primary Inventory Maintenance screen.

  4. Use the User Controls hot key to display the User Inventory Controls screen.

  5. Use the Hrchy hot key to select the branch to receive the demand history.

Note: Use the Find hot key as necessary to locate a branch that is in the list, but not in the viewable area. Use Alt-Insert to add a branch or territory to the list. The new branch or territory inherits the settings of the previous entry. Use Alt-Delete to remove a branch or territory from the list.

  1. Complete the following fields:

Field

Description

Min

Enter the estimated minimum quantity to stock.

  • Enter 0 (zero) if the branch does not stock the item.

  • Purchasing branches use this quantity in place of a calculated order point until the expiration date.

  • When the Respect Item Min/Max For Suggested Transfers control maintenance record is set to "Y" child branches use this quantity in place of a calculated transfer point until the expiration date.

  • Enter the actual quantity that should ever be stored at the child branch when using this field with the Calc Dmnd field.

Note: You can set a minimum-only order point for a product to make sure the system uses the largest line point available.

Max

Enter the estimated maximum quantity to stock.

  • Enter 0 (zero) if the branch does not stock the item.

  • Purchasing branches use this quantity in place of a calculated line point until the expiration date.

  • When the Respect Item Min/Max For Suggested Transfers control maintenance record is set to "Y" child branches use this quantity in place of a calculated surplus point until the expiration date.

  • Enter the actual quantity that should ever be stored at the child branch when using this field with the Calc Dmnd field.

Exp Date

The date after which the system no longer uses the values in the Min and Max fields. We recommend that you use six months.

Calc Dmnd

Indicates whether to calculate demand for dependent selling branches.

  1. Enter service stock parameters, if needed.

  2. Press Esc to save changes and return to the previous screen.

  3. Exit Product Maintenance for changes to appear on this screen.

See Also:

Adding Demand from Dependent Selling Branches to Purchasing Branches

Forecasting Overview

Adding Demand History to Products