Inventory Management

Track stock levels, locations, and inventory changes

Overview

Inventory Management in Backbone MRP provides real-time visibility into stock levels across all company locations. Accessed from the Part Editor, the inventory views show current quantities, expected changes from open orders and purchase orders, and a complete change history for audit and analysis.

Stocking Locations

Track inventory at multiple company locations and warehouses.

Current Levels

View real-time on-hand quantities by location and unit of measure.

Expected Changes

See projected inventory movements from open orders and purchase orders.

Change History

Full audit trail of all inventory transactions and adjustments.

Part Inventory View

The inventory view is accessed from the Part Editor by clicking the "Inventory" tab. It shows current stock levels for the selected part across all stocking locations.

Stocking Units

Use the Stocking Units dropdown at the top of the view to select the unit of measure for displaying quantities. This allows you to view the same inventory in different units (e.g., Each, Pound, Foot) based on configured conversion factors.

Stocking Locations Table

Column Description
Company Location The warehouse or facility where the part is stocked
Qty Current on-hand quantity at this location
Qty U/M Unit of measure for the displayed quantity

Available Actions

  • Remove Location(s): Right-click on a stocking location to remove it from this part's inventory tracking
Caution: Removing a stocking location only removes the location assignment for this part. It does not delete the location from the system.

Expected Inventory Changes

The Expected Changes view shows projected inventory movements based on open transactions in the system. This helps you plan for upcoming demand and ensure adequate stock levels.

Sources of Expected Changes

Source Effect Description
Open Sales Orders Decrease Quantities committed to customer orders awaiting shipment
Open Purchase Orders Increase Quantities on order from vendors awaiting receipt
Assembly Orders Decrease (components) / Increase (assemblies) Component consumption and assembly production
Planning Tip: Review expected changes regularly to identify potential shortages and trigger purchase orders before stock runs out.

Inventory Change Log

The Change Log provides a complete history of all inventory transactions for the selected part. Every receipt, shipment, adjustment, and transfer is recorded with timestamps for full traceability.

Transaction Types

Type Description Impact
Receipt Parts received from a vendor purchase order Increases on-hand quantity
Shipment Parts shipped to a customer Decreases on-hand quantity
Adjustment Manual corrections to inventory counts Increases or decreases quantity
Transfer Movement between stocking locations No net change to total inventory

Part Activity View

The Part Activity view provides a comprehensive timeline of all activity related to a part, including sales orders, purchase orders, shipments, and inventory movements. Access it from the Part Editor's "Activity" tab.

Activity Information

  • Sales Orders: Customer orders containing this part
  • Purchase Orders: Vendor orders for this part
  • Shipments: Deliveries of this part to customers
  • Receipts: Incoming deliveries from vendors
  • Inventory Transactions: All stock-level changes

Managing Inventory

Viewing Inventory for a Part

  1. Open the Part Editor for the desired part
  2. Click the "Inventory" tab
  3. View current quantities by location
  4. Use the Stocking Units dropdown to change the display unit

Understanding Unit Conversions

Parts may be stocked in one unit but sold or purchased in another. Backbone MRP uses conversion factors configured in the part record to display inventory in the selected unit of measure. For example, a part stocked in pounds can be viewed in kilograms using the configured conversion factor.

Best Practices

Accuracy

  • Regular Cycle Counts: Periodically verify physical inventory against system quantities
  • Prompt Transactions: Record receipts and shipments promptly to keep inventory data current
  • Adjustment Documentation: Always note the reason for manual inventory adjustments

Planning

  • Monitor Expected Changes: Review projected inventory movements to anticipate shortages
  • Stocking Location Accuracy: Keep stocking locations up to date as warehouse layouts change
  • Unit Consistency: Use consistent units of measure within each part family