Set up storage dimensions

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Storage inventory dimensions represent the different ways in which items are stored, and retrieved from, inventory. This feature allows you to manage inventory at a detailed level. The type of details that you apply to the creation of storage dimensions depend on your legal entity's needs and expectations. Consider the relevance of each dimension, especially when items have special handling needs.

Different dimensions might include:

  • Dairy foods that must be kept at a cool temperature.

  • Pharmaceutical goods that must be easily identifiable.

  • Ice cream that needs to be kept frozen.

Example

A bicycle legal entity has several facilities that store and manufacture bicycle parts. At each facility, 10-speed sprockets are stored in one bin, and 12-speed sprockets are stored in another bin. However, because bicycle frame sizes are easily determined, they aren't segregated. Adult and children's frames are stored in the same racks. The legal entity wants to ensure that an accurate count of inventory is kept for all parts.

Product information management > Setup > Dimension and variant groups > Storage dimension groups

Screenshot of Storage dimension groups for SiteWH.

The available storage dimensions in Supply Chain Management are:

  • Site

  • Warehouse

  • Location

  • Inventory status

  • License plate

Mandatory

Select the Mandatory slider on the Storage dimension groups page to make the dimension mandatory. A mandatory dimension appears on all journals and transactions, and you need to specify a dimension value when you create an entry.

The following rules apply:

  • Product dimensions are always mandatory.

  • When the multisite functionality is active, the site storage dimension is mandatory.

  • It's optional whether the warehouse storage dimension is mandatory or not.

  • You can't specify the remaining inventory dimensions as mandatory.

Primary stocking

To set up inventory dimensions as primary stocking, on the Storage dimension groups page, select the Primary stocking slider. (If you want it to be secondary stocking, leave the slider clear.)

A primary stocking dimension appears automatically on the On-hand and Reservation pages. This setting affects how the system re-reserves ordered items on physical item receipts. The following rules apply for reserving and updating items:

  • You must specify the dimension when you're physically updating item receipts or issues.

  • When automatic reservation is active, the system reserves items according to the selected dimension if the dimension is also specified for the actual item transaction. Essentially, if the warehouse is specified on a sales order line, and primary stocking is specified, automatic reservation only reserves items at this warehouse.

  • The system doesn't re-reserve ordered reservations on physical receipt. If a sales order line is reserved at warehouse A and location 1, and Warehouse is set to Primary stocking, and Location is set to secondary stocking, the sales order line doesn't automatically re-reserve if the warehouse is changed when you physically update the receipt. If the location changes to 2, the order line automatically re-reserves for location 2.

Blank receipt allowed and Blank issue allowed

Select the Blank receipt allowed or Blank issue allowed checkboxes on the Storage dimension groups page for the following results:

  • Blank receipt - If you don't select the dimension as primary stocking, selecting this checkbox leaves out the specification of the dimension when you update physical receipts. For example, this functionality is useful when you aren't specifying the serial/lot number on input but are doing so for picking and output.

  • Blank issue - If the dimension isn't marked as a product dimension or as primary stocking, selecting this field leaves out the specification of the dimension when you're updating physical issues.

Physical inventory

Select the Physical inventory checkbox on the Storage dimension groups page to specify that the dimension is input to the on-hand inventory when Supply Chain Management checks whether the item is available in inventory or not.

Financial inventory

Select the Financial inventory checkbox on the Storage dimension groups page to indicate that this dimension is part of the financial inventory.

The parameter is significant if you aren't operating with financially negative inventory with the financial update of item issues, such as invoice updating in the Accounts receivable module. The system checks the financial on-hand inventory on item issues according to the same logic described in the unit concerning physical inventory.

The Financial inventory parameter also determines how item consumption is calculated on invoice updating, inventory closing, and cost accounting of the cost value.

Coverage plan by dimension

Select the Coverage plan by dimension checkbox on the Storage dimension groups page to complete the coverage plan for the item individually instead of as a group.

When you select the For purchase price checkbox on the Storage dimension groups page, the search for purchase prices is based on the following rules:

  • Search price for each item, product dimensions, and storage dimensions

  • Search price for each item and product dimensions (storage dimensions are blank)

  • Search price for each item (product dimensions and storage dimensions are blank)

When you select the For sales prices checkbox on the Storage dimension groups page, the search for sales prices is based on the following rules:

  • Search price for each item, product dimensions, and storage dimensions

  • Search price for each item and product dimensions (storage dimensions are blank)

  • Search price for each item (product dimensions and storage dimensions are blank)