We have implemented a simple unit of measure solution that will hopefully satisfy most of the problems customers are having. The main issue is this: some parts come in packages, are sold as individual items, but when ordered they must be ordered by package. The order quantity for these parts should be the number of packages ordered instead of the number of individual items ordered. For example, a part comes in a box of 10, therefore the package qty is 10 and you have to order 5 boxes. The manufacturer/supplier specifies this part is ordered by the package, not in multiples of the package quantity.
There is a field on the first screen of the parts inventory update program, Order by Each/Package. The default value for this new field is E (if there is anything other than P, the value is assumed to be E). There are help boxes on the unit of measure fields that hopefully make sense.
You would order by the Package
The min pkg order is 5
In the Order Update/Modify program, when editing a detail line and the part is ordered by package, the Pkgs Ordered field is open for editing and the Units Ordered field is blocked. Also, the Cost Each field is relabeled Cost Each Pkg, and the value is the cost of each package instead of each individual item. When printing the Manufacturer PO, the QTY column for parts ordered by package will be the number of packages ordered instead of the number of individual items ordered.
This would be 10
This would be 1
All the order export programs use these fields. These fields are Order by Package/Each and the Package Qty. Basically, the new fields are read from the order file. If the part is ordered by package, the qty ordered is divided by the package qty before it is written to the exported file.
Also, when importing an order, the part file needs to be read and if the part is ordered by package, the qty ordered is multiplied by the package qty before the order is written to the ordr.dat file. And of course, any program that writes new order records will write these new fields as well, which are copy directly from the parts file.
This feature can also be used to solve other needs. Let’s say there’s a part that doesn’t even have a package qty on the price book, but is usually never sold as one unit. For example, you order a drum of oil that has 55 gallons. You could set the package qty to 55 and the order by each/package to package. In the update inventory from price book program, if the part is ordered by package and the price book package qty is 1, the cost, list and weight from the price book will be divided by the package qty found on the part. The main idea is this: the on-hand qty should always be in the same unit of measure as how you most commonly sell the part.
Inv Sell Unit of measure
'This is descriptive and it is the method that you would sell the item. The on hand quantity should always be in the same unit of measure as this field. The pricing should also be in this unit of measure.
The same principle applies to pound. Decide if you are going to sell in decimal, enter your UOM descriptions and package information. Each field gives you a description of what to do in the help popup. If the part is in a price book the cost and price will automatically divide for you. Otherwise, you will need to manually adjust as you UOM selling cost/price needs to be.