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Block or unblock lots

This article explains how to automatically block and unblock inventory lots (serial numbers and packages) using workflows and result-specific controls.

There are two main approaches for lot blocking:

  • Workflow-Based Blocking: Block lots,serial numbers and pacakges using workflows.
  • Result-Based Blocking: Document-specific blocking based on quality inspection results.

Both approaches help ensure that noncompliant inventory isn't used inappropriately, while allowing flexible quality control processes.

Workflow-based lot blocking

Workflow-based blocking creates or modifies Lot No. Information Card pages to completely block lots for all transactions (except warehouse operations when configured). You access Lot No. Information Card pages from the Lot No. Information List page. Similar for Serial No. Information Card and Package No. Informatuion Card.

Set up a block-on-fail workflow

The following procedure describes the key settings for a workflow that blocks lots when quality inspections fail.

  1. Select Search (Alt+Q) in the upper-right corner, enter Workflows, and then choose the related link.

  2. Create a new workflow. For example, name it "Block Lot Example."

  3. Configure a workflow step, as follows:

    1. In the When Event field, choose A Quality Inspection is finished.
    2. In the On Condition field, add a filter for the Result Code field, and then set FAIL as the filter value.
    3. In the Then Response field, choose Block Lot in the Inspection. This setting creates a lot information card with the status Blocked.

Set up block-on-creation, and unblock on pass workflows

The following procedures describe the key settings for workflows that block lots immediately when inspections are created, and unblock them when inspections pass.

Block on inspection creation

  1. Create a new workflow. For example, name it "Block Lot on Creation."

  2. In the When Event field, choose A Quality Inspection is Created.

  3. In the Then Response field, choose Block lot in the inspection.

    The result is that all lots are blocked immediately when inspections are created.

Unblock on pass

  1. Create a new workflow. For example, name it "Unblock on Pass."
  2. In the When Event field, choose A Quality Inspection is Finished.
  3. In the On Condition field, add a filter for the Result Code field, and then set Pass as the filter value.
  4. In the Then Response field, choose Unblock Lot in the Inspection.

Result-based document blocking

Result-based blocking provides granular, document-specific controls based on the current grade of quality inspection. Unlike complete lot blocking, this approach lets you block specific transaction types while permitting others, based on the inspection result.

The following list describes how Business Central evaluates results:

  • Multiple inspections for the same lot might have different results. The Quality inspection selection criteria field on the Quality Management Setup page specifies which inspections to consider when evaluating whether to block a document-specific transaction.
  • Result priorities determine which controls take precedence. Higher priority results override lower priority results.

Examples of result configurations

An inspection's result and status are separate. For example, an inspection can have the result FAIL or PASS while its status is still Open. The inspection becomes Finished only when you finish it.

For each transaction type, configure one of the following restrictions on the inspection result:

Restriction Open inspection Finished inspection
Block Blocked Blocked
Allow finished only Blocked Allowed
Allow Allowed Allowed

Allow finished only is useful when you want to permit an operation only after the inspection is formally completed, regardless of whether it passed or failed. For example, you can prevent the sale of a failed lot but allow it to be transferred to a quarantine location after the failure is confirmed.

The following table shows a configuration for this policy:

Result Finish Allowed Sales Transfer
INPROGRESS Do Not Allow Finish Block Block
FAIL Allow Finish Block Allow finished only
PASS Allow Finish Allow Allow

With this configuration, the restrictions change as the inspection progresses:

Current inspection Sales Transfer
Open, INPROGRESS Blocked Blocked
Open, FAIL Blocked Blocked
Finished, FAIL Blocked Allowed, for example, to move the lot to quarantine
Finished, PASS Allowed Allowed

On the Quality Management Setup page, set Quality inspection selection criteria to Only the newest inspection/re-inspection if the latest inspection should determine the restrictions. For example, if the original inspection is finished with a PASS result but its latest re-inspection is open with an INPROGRESS result, the open re-inspection is selected and blocks sales and transfers. Finished-only selection criteria ignore the open re-inspection and can therefore apply the older PASS result instead.

To learn more about quality inspection results, go to Configure quality inspection results.

Purchase Receipt Inspections without Warehouse Handling
Purchase Receipt Inspections with Warehouse Handling
Configuring Workflows
Processing Non-Compliant Items
Quality Management Overview

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