What does the Stock Control module do?
The Stock Control module records the quantity and location of both raw material and finished parts.
Key features
- Records the quantity and location of every container of raw materials and finished parts.
- Supports structured stores locations on many sites.
- Uses barcodes for reliable data collection.
- Tracks transfers of stock between containers.
- Supports trial kitting of raw materials.
- Performs stock valuations.
- Handles consignment stock.
- Supports stock takes.
- Supports trial kitting of raw materials.
- Supports available to promise of finished parts.
Is it suitable for my business?
The Stock Control module is intended for use by manufacturers. It has very strong facilities for material traceability. It is definitely not suited to a distribution business.
Stores locations
You can set up any number of warehouses and stores locations. These can be structured as you need, for example a warehouse can contain a number of bays, each bay can contain a number of racks, and each rack can contain many locations. You can associate an address with a warehouse to indicate that it is on another site. You can print barcoded labels for each location, so that you can use mobile devices to record stock movements between location.
Raw material movements
When raw material is delivered by a supplier, the Purchase order processing module allocates a unique tin number to each carton, pallet, or bundle of material. The receiver of the goods records into which stores location they have been put. The Stock Control module allows you to split these tins and transfer them to other locations while still keeping track of the certificate of conformance of the material concerned. The module will show you the lineage of the material in any stores location back to its original delivery. This ensures that raw material traceability is maintained, and allows you to quarantine defective material quickly and easily.
Raw material issues
When raw material is issued to a tin of manufactured parts the module records the tin to which it has been issued. Thus you can trace from a tin of parts back to the raw material. The module can report on variances between the amount of raw material planned for a works order, and the amount actually issued.
Trial kitting
The module will answer questions of the form “Is there enough raw material in stock to make quantity n of part number m?”. This is particularly useful when a customer wants a part produced with a very short lead time.
Tin completion
When each tin of parts on a works order finishes its final operation, the Stock Control module is used to record the exact number of parts in the tin, and to put the tin into stock. The module will link with counting scales to count small parts. The tin ticket is retained with each tin in the stores, ready for use in building despatch notes.
Stock movements
If you need to move parts around within your stores the Stock Control module allows you to record these movements.
If you need to move parts to another warehouse at a different address, you can build a stock movement note by scanning the tickets of the tins you wish to move. This then provides paperwork for the transport contractor. At the receiving end the tins can be scanned again to confirm receipt if required.
Stock checks
The module supports stock checks by printing a list of what it thinks is in each stores location. It allows you to enter corrections after you have physically checked the stock.
Because stock is managed at container level, you do not have to stop production to carry out a stock take.
We can provide hand-held data collection terminals with built-in bar-code scanners to facilitate stock checks.
Stock valuations
If you use the Purchase order processing module, the Stock Control module will use the purchase prices of your stock to calculate its value on either a first in first out basis, or on a replacement cost basis.
Manufactured stock can be valued at standard cost, selling price or actual cost.
Consignment stock
The system treats consignment stock held at a customer’s plant, but owned by you, as stock in an off-site warehouse.
In situations where the customer expects you to maintain stock levels on his behalf, the system provides a tool to create stock sales order lines based on the historic usage of each part by that customer. It provides you with a clear view of how much stock you have at your factory and in the customer’s consignment stores.
When you despatch parts to consignment stock you build a stock movement note by scanning the tickets of the tins you are despatching. Once the stock movement note has been saved, the system moves the stock to the consignment stores.
When the customer tells you how much stock of each part he has used, you can key this into the system, which will then produce a despatch note and sales invoice.
You can print carton labels with the correct consignment stores location and customer stores location if required.
Stillages
If you handle parts in reusable stillages you can record all your stillages in the stock control system. A stillage acts like a moveable stores location. You can put tins into a stillage which in turn is in a stores location. When you change the location of the stillage all the tins in it move with it.
Pallets
The system treats pallets as disposable stores locations. While a pallet is in stock it acts like a moveable stores location. When you despatch a pallet, all the tins on it are automatically despatched and the pallet disappears from stock. The system will print bar-coded pallet labels if required.
Reports
The module produces reports of current stock quantity and value by part, customer, and location.