Author: Kiu Global

• Overview: 

The push system of inventory control involves forecasting inventory needs to meet customer demand. Companies must predict which products customers will purchase along with determining what quantity of goods will be purchased. The company will in turn produce enough product to meet the forecast demand and sell, or push, the goods to the consumer. Disadvantages of the push inventory control system are that forecasts are often inaccurate as sales can be unpredictable and vary from one year to the next. Another problem with push inventory control systems is that if too much product is left in inventory. This increases the company’s costs for storing these goods. An advantage to the push system is that the company is fairly assured it will have enough product on hand to complete customer orders, preventing the inability to meet customer demand for the product.

A push flow indicates how locations are chained with the other ones. As soon as a given quantity of products is moved in the source location, a chained move is automatically foreseen according to the parameters set on the flow specification (destination location, delay, type of move, journal). It can be triggered automatically or manually.

• Configuration:

Push rules are part of the routes. Go to Inventory ‣ Configuration ‣ Settings and tick Advance routing of products using rules.

• Push rules settings

The push rules are set on the routes. Go to Inventory -> Configuration -> Routes.

In the push rule section, click on Add an item.

Here you can set the conditions of your rule. 

Note: Some warehouse configuration creates rules with push rules already defined

• Stock transfers

The push rule will trigger stock transfer. According to the rule set on your route, you will see that some transfers might be ready and other are waiting

• Overview:

The procurement inventory control system begins with a customer’s order. With this strategy, companies only make enough product to fulfill customer’s orders. One advantage to the system is that there will be no excess of inventory that needs to be stored, thus reducing inventory levels and the cost of carrying and storing goods. However, one major disadvantage to the pull system is that it is highly possible to run into ordering dilemmas, such as a supplier not being able to get a shipment out on time. This leaves the company unable to fulfill the order and contributes to customer dissatisfaction.

An example of a pull inventory control system is the make-to-order. The goal is to keep inventory levels to a minimum by only having enough inventory, not more or less, to meet customer demand. The MTO system eliminates waste by reducing the amount of storage space needed for inventory and the costs of storing goods.

• Configuration:

Procurement rules are part of the routes. Go to the Inventory -> Configuration ->Settings and tick “Advance routing of products using rules“.

• Procurement rules settings:

The procurement rules are set on the routes. Go to Inventory -> Configuration -> Routes. In the Procurement rules section, click on Add an item.

Here you can set the conditions of your rule. There are 3 types of action possibles :

• Move from another location rules
• Manufacturing rules that will trigger the creation of manufacturing orders.
• Buy rules that will trigger the creation of purchase orders.

Note: Some warehouse configuration creates routes with procurement rules already defined

If you work with no stock, or with minimum stock rules, it is better to use the Make To Order route. Combine it with the route Buy or Manufacture and it will trigger automatically the purchase order or the Manufacturing Order when your products are out-of-stock.

A route is a collection of procurement rules and push rules. Kiu BMP can manage advanced push/pull routes configuration, for example:

• Manage product manufacturing chains
• Manage default locations per product
• Define routes within your warehouse according to business needs, such as quality control, after sales services or supplier returns
• Help rental management, by generating automated return moves for rented products

Configuration

Procurement rules are part of the routes. Go to Inventory -> Configuration ->Settings and tick Advance routing of products using rules.

Pre-configured routes

Kiu BMP  has some pre-configured routes for your warehouses. Go to  Inventory -> Configuration ‣ Warehouses. In the Warehouse Configuration tab, Incoming Shipments and Outgoing Shippings options set some routes according to your choices.

Custom Routes

Go to Inventory -> Configuration ‣ Routes.

First, you have to select the places where this route can be selected. You can combine several choices.

Routes applied on warehouses

If you tick Warehouses, you have to choose on which warehouse it will be applied. The route will be set for all transfer in that warehouse that would meet the conditions of the procurement and push rules.

Routes applied on products

If you tick Products, you have to manually set on which product it will be applied.

Open the product on which you want to apply the routes (Inventory ‣ Control ‣ Products). In the Inventory Tab, select the route(s):

Routes applied on Product Category

If you tick Product Categories, you have to manually set on which categories it will be applied.

Open the product on which you want to apply the routes (Configuration ‣ Product Categories). Select the route(s) under the Logistics section :

Routes applied on Sales Order lines

If you tick Sales order lines, you have to manually set the route every time you make a sale order.

In order to make it work, you also have to activate the use of the routes on the sales order.

Go to Sales -> Configuration ->Settings and tick Choose specific routes on sales order lines (advanced).

You can now choose the routes for each lines of your sales orders:

• Configuration: 

To configure the price of your delivery methods, go to the Inventory app, click on Configuration ‣ Delivery ‣ Delivery Methods. You can manually set a price for the shipping: It can be fixed or based on rules.

• Invoice the price set on the sale order

On your sale order, choose the carrier that will be used. Click on Delivery Method to choose the right one.

The price is computed when you save the sale order or when you click on Set price.

To invoice the price of the delivery charge on the sale order, click on Set price, it will add a line with the name of the delivery method as a product. It may vary from the real price.

When you create the invoice, it will take the price set on the sale order.

Kiu BMP can handle various delivery methods, but it is not activated by default. Delivery methods can be used for your sale orders, your deliveries and on your e-commerce. Delivery methods allow you to manage the transport company, the price and the destination. You can even integrate Kiu BMP with external shippers to compute the real price and the packagings.

Configuration:

Go to Inventory -> Configuration -> Delivery methods. Enter the name and set the price, it can be fixed or based on rules

• If the price is fixed, tick Fixed price. You’ll just have to define the price. If you want the delivery to be free above a certain amount, tick the option Free if Order total is more than and set a price.

• If the price varies according to rules, tick Based on Rules. Click on add an item to a pricing rule. Choose a condition based on either the weight, the volume, the price or the quantity.

Finally you can limit the delivery method to a few destinations. The limit can be applied to some countries, states or even zip codes. This feature limits the list of countries on your e-commerce

Delivery Process:

Go to Sales -> Sales -> Sale order. You can now choose the Delivery Method on your sale order. If you want to invoice the price of the delivery charge on the sale order, click on Set price, it will add a line with the name of the delivery method as a product.

Go to Inventory -> Dashboard -> Delivery orders

You can add or change the delivery method on the delivery itself. On the delivery, check the Carrier Information. The carrier is the chosen delivery method.

Periodic Inventory Valuation

In a periodic inventory valuation, goods reception and outgoing shipments have no direct impact in the accounting. At the end of the month or year, the accountant posts one journal entry representing the value of the physical inventory.

At the end of the month/year, your company does a physical inventory or just relies on the inventory in Kiu BMP to value the stock into your books. Then you need to break down the purchase balance into both the inventory and the cost of goods sold using the following formula:

Cost of goods sold (COGS) = Starting inventory value + Purchases – Closing inventory value

Perpetual Inventory Valuation. 

In a perpetual inventory valuation, goods receptions and outgoing shipments are posted in your books in real time. The books are therefore always up-to-date. This mode is dedicated to expert accountants and advanced users only. As opposed to periodic valuation, it requires some extra configuration & testing

Configuration:

• Accounts Receivable/Payable: defined on the partner (Accounting tab)
• Deferred Tax Assets/Liabilities: defined on the tax used on the invoice line
• Revenues: defined on the product category as a default, or specifically to a specific product.
• Expenses: this is where you should set the “Cost of Goods Sold” account. Defined on the product category as a default value, or specifically on the product form.
• Goods Received Not Purchased: to set as Stock Input Account in product’s internal category
• Goods Issued Not Invoiced: to set as Stock Output Account in product’s internal category
• Inventory: to set as Stock Valuation Account in product’s internal category
• Price Difference: to set in product’s internal category or in product form as a specific replacement value

Periodic Inventory Valuation

In a periodic inventory valuation, goods reception and outgoing shipments have no direct impact in the accounting. At the end of the month or year, the accountant posts one journal entry representing the value of the physical inventory.

Perpetual Inventory Valuation

In a perpetual inventory valuation, goods receptions and outgoing shipments are posted in your books in real time. The books are therefore always up-to-date. This mode is dedicated to expert accountants and advanced users only. As opposed to periodic valuation, it requires some extra configuration & testing.

Configuration:

• Accounts Receivable/Payable: defined on the partner (Accounting tab)
• Deferred Tax Assets/Liabilities: defined on the tax used on the invoice line
• Revenues/Expenses: defined by default on product’s internal category; can be also set in product form (Accounting tab) as a replacement value.
• Inventory Variations: to set as Stock Input/Output Account in product’s internal category
• Inventory: to set as Stock Valuation Account in product’s internal category

Every year your inventory valuation has to be recorded in your balance sheet. This implies two main choices:

• The way you compute the cost of your stored items (Standard vs. Average vs. Real Price);
• The way you record the inventory value into your books (periodic vs. Perpetual).

Standard Price means you estimate the cost price based on direct materials, direct labor and manufacturing overhead at the end of a specific period (usually once a year). You enter this cost price in the product form.

The Average Price method recompute the cost price as a receipt order has been processed, based on prices defined in tied purchase orders. The average cost does not change when products leave the warehouse.

From an accounting point of view, this method is mainly justified in case of huge purchase price variations and is quite unusual due to its operational complexity. You actually need a software like Kiu BMP to easily keep this cost up-to-date.

This method is dedicated to advanced users. It requires well established business processes because the order in which you process receipt orders matters in the cost computation.

For Real Price (FIFO, FEFO, etc), the costing is further refined by the removal strategy set on the warehouse location or product’s internal category. The default strategy is FIFO. With such method, your inventory value is computed from the real cost of your stored products and not from the cost price shown in the product form. Whenever you ship items, the cost price is reset to the cost of the last items shipped. This cost price is used to value any product not received from a purchase order 

FIFO is advised if you manage all your workflow into Kiu BMP (Sales, Purchases, Inventory). It suits any kind of users.

Kiu BMP  allows any method. To change it, check Use a ‘Fixed’, ‘Real’ or ‘Average’ price costing method in Purchase settings. Then set the costing method from products’ internal categories. Categories show up in the Inventory tab of the product form.

Whatever the method is, Kiu BMP provides a full inventory valuation in Inventory ‣ Reports ‣ Inventory Valuation .

Lots are useful for products you receive in great quantity and for which a lot number can help in reportings, quality controls, or any other info. Lots will help identify a number of pieces having for instance a production fault. It can be useful for a batch production of clothes or food.

Kiu BMP  has the capacity to manage lots ensuring compliance with the traceability requirements imposed by the majority of industries.

• Configuration:

You need to activate the tracking of lots in the settings. Go to Inventory -> Configuration ‣ Settings, select Track lots or serial numbers

In order to have an advanced management of the lots, you should also select Manage several warehouses, each one composed by several stock locations. Then click on Apply

• Operation types configuration:

You also need to set up how you will manage lots for each operations. Go to Inventory -> Configuration -> Operation types

For each type (receipts, internal transfers, deliveries,…), you can set if you can create new lot numbers or only use existing lot numbers.

• Product configuration:

Go into Inventory Control ‣ Products, and open the product of your choice. Click on Edit, and in the Inventory tab, select Tracking by Lots, then click on Save.

Manage lots:

• Transfer:

In order to process a transfer of a product tracked by lot, you have to input the lot number(s).

Click on the lot icon:

A window will pop-up. Click on Add an item and fill in the lot number and the quantity.

Depending on your operation type configuration, you will be able to fill in new lot numbers, or only use existing ones.

• Inventory adjustment

Inventory of a product tracked by lot can be done in 2 ways:

• Classic inventory by products
• Inventory of a lot

When doing a classic inventory, there is a Serial Number column. If the product has already been assigned with a number, it is already pre-filled.

Click on Add an item if the product has not been inventoried yet. You can easily create lots, just type in a new lot number in the column.

You can also just do the inventory of a lot. In this case, you will have to fill in the Lot number. You can also create a new lot from here. Just type in the number, a window will pop out to link the number to a product.

• Lots traceability:

You can check the lot traceability from Inventory ‣ Inventory Control ‣ Lots/Serial Numbers