Inventory Overview

The Inventory module provides complete visibility into inventory availability, movements, valuation, and planning across all storage locations.

The Inventory Overview page serves as the central inventory dashboard in Numera, allowing users to monitor current stock levels, future inventory availability, inventory valuation, and inventory distribution across locations and batches.

This page introduces the core inventory concepts used throughout Numera and explains how to use the Inventory Overview screen for inventory analysis and planning.

Overview

The Inventory module helps businesses:

• Track inventory across locations
• Monitor stock availability
• Plan inventory replenishment
• Manage inventory reservations
• Track inventory by batch
• Analyze inventory trends
• Calculate inventory valuation
• Support purchasing and sales operations

Inventory Concepts

Locations

Locations represent physical facilities where inventory is stored.

Examples include:

• Warehouses
• Retail Stores
• Distribution Centers
• Production Facilities
• Consignment Locations

Inventory quantities are maintained independently for each location.

Stock Keeping Units (SKU)

A Stock Keeping Unit (SKU) is the unique inventory identifier used to track an item.

In the current version of Numera:

• Each inventory item has a single SKU
• The SKU is maintained in the Item Master
• Inventory balances are tracked by SKU and Location

Batch Management

Batch Management allows inventory to be grouped into traceable inventory lots.

Typical batch information includes:

• Batch Number
• Production Date
• Expiry Date
• Supplier Batch Reference

Benefits include:

• Product traceability
• Expiration tracking
• Regulatory compliance
• Quality control

Understanding Inventory Availability

Inventory availability in Numera is divided into several categories.

Understanding these categories helps businesses make informed purchasing, sales, and planning decisions.

Physical Stock

Physical Stock represents inventory currently available in storage locations.

Also referred to as:

• Stock on Hand
• Current Inventory
• Actual Inventory

This represents the quantity physically available in the warehouse.

Allocated Stock

Allocated Stock represents inventory reserved for customer demand.

Examples include:

• Confirmed Outbound Orders
• Pending Deliveries
• Other inventory reservations

Allocated inventory remains physically present but is no longer freely available for sale.

Planned Stock

Planned Stock represents expected future inventory.

Examples include:

• Confirmed Inbound Orders
• Pending Inbound Deliveries
• Expected supplier receipts

Planned stock contributes to inventory planning and ATP calculations.

Available to Promise (ATP)

Available to Promise represents inventory that can still be committed to customers.

ATP considers:

• Physical Stock
• Allocated Stock
• Planned Stock

Inventory Overview Screen

Purpose

The Inventory Overview screen provides a consolidated view of inventory across all locations and time periods.

Users can:

• View inventory balances
• Analyze inventory history
• Monitor future inventory availability
• Review inventory projections
• Analyze inventory by location
• Review batch inventory
• Support replenishment decisions

Current Inventory View

Users can analyze inventory as of today.

Available information includes:

• Physical Stock
• Allocated Stock
• Planned Stock
• Available to Promise
• Inventory Value
• Inventory by Location

Historical Inventory Analysis

Users can review inventory balances from previous dates.

Examples include:

• End of month inventory
• Historical inventory snapshots
• Trend analysis
• Inventory investigations

This helps businesses understand how inventory levels changed over time.

Future Inventory Projections

Numera can project future inventory availability.

Projected inventory takes into consideration:

• Current Physical Stock
• Planned Inbound Inventory
• Reserved Outbound Inventory

Availability Date

When reviewing future inventory availability, users can specify an Availability Date.

Examples:

• Today
• Next Week
• End of Month
• Future Planning Date

Numera calculates projected inventory balances based on transactions expected before the selected date.

Inventory Stock Chart

Visual Inventory Planning

The Inventory Overview screen includes a Stock Chart to visualize inventory trends and availability.

The chart helps users understand:

• Current inventory levels
• Future inventory projections
• Inventory shortages
• Replenishment requirements

Chart Lines

Physical Stock is displayed as a blue line and represents actual inventory quantities.

Available Stock is displayed as a green line and represents inventory available for future commitments.

Safety Stock and Reorder Planning

Items may optionally have planning parameters configured.

Safety Stock

Safety Stock represents the minimum recommended inventory level.

It helps protect against:

• Supplier delays
• Unexpected demand
• Inventory shortages

Reorder Point

The Reorder Point represents the inventory level at which replenishment should be initiated.

Inventory Planning Visualization

When configured, Safety Stock and Reorder Point levels may be displayed on the Stock Chart.

This allows planners to visually identify:

• Upcoming shortages
• Replenishment requirements
• Inventory risks

Inventory by Location

Users can view inventory separately for each location.

Benefits include:

• Better inventory visibility
• Improved replenishment planning
• Faster stock transfers
• Better operational decisions

Inventory by Batch

For batch-managed inventory, users can review stock balances by batch.

Available information may include:

• Batch Number
• Quantity Available
• Production Date
• Expiry Date
• Location

Batch Maintenance

Users can maintain batch master data directly from the Inventory Overview screen.

Examples:

• Update expiry dates
• Update production dates
• Review batch references
• Analyze batch availability

Inventory Valuation

Inventory valuation determines the financial value assigned to inventory.

Numera supports multiple valuation methods.

FIFO

First In, First Out.

Inventory is valued using the oldest available inventory first.

Weighted Average Cost

Inventory is valued using the current average inventory cost.

Standard Cost

A fixed purchase cost is used for inventory valuation.

Typically used when Inventory Management is not active and Accounting relies on standard purchase prices.

Inventory Overview Use Cases

• Inventory Planning - Determine whether sufficient inventory will be available for future demand.
• Replenishment Decisions - Identify items approaching reorder points.
• Purchasing Analysis - Review planned inbound inventory from suppliers.
• Sales Availability Checks - Verify ATP before committing inventory to customers.
• Inventory Audits - Investigate historical inventory balances and inventory movements.

Best Practices

Related Documentation

Key Concepts

• Inventory is tracked by SKU and Location.
• Locations represent physical storage facilities.
• Batch Management provides inventory traceability.
• Physical Stock represents inventory on hand.
• Allocated Stock represents reserved inventory.
• Planned Stock represents expected inventory.
• ATP represents inventory available for future commitments.
• Inventory projections support future planning.
• Availability Date allows future inventory analysis.
• Inventory valuation supports FIFO, Weighted Average, and Standard Cost methods.
• Inventory Overview provides real-time and historical inventory visibility.