I just got a request to figure out if we can track our packaging boxes in Epicor.
Has anyone done this, efficiently?
Right now we’re thinking of having laminated sheets, where the packers can scan a bar code in Customer Shipment Entry. Unfortunately, I can’t figure out an easy way to issue the right box as they’re packaging the order.
I thought maybe I could add a line to the pack for the box, but Epicor wants to associate it with a sales order line and release. The salespeople wouldn’t know, and the shippers decide on box sizes based on what’s in the tote as it makes it to the shipping station.
On the header there is a box for Package. We use that and added a UD field to record the count. The drawback with this is if you use more than one type of box for one order.
This does not reduce the count in inventory, but the issue can be managed by a BPM.
Is there any way to track the boxes, so they consume inventory (and issue PO suggestions)? This got started when we ran out of a certain size box which has a long lead time for purchasing…
Not sure getting that granular is the best way to go with stuff like boxes.
Somewhere between doing nothing and deducting the inventory a box at a time as they’re used in shipping might be the correct solution.
We have some ‘overstock’ locations for boxes and other items we do not want/care/need to deduct one by one. These items get quantity adjusted out when they get pulled from the ‘overstock’ location.
Guy at packing station 3 is running low on Box-A? Go get a bundle of Box-A from an overstock location, quantity adjust out the bundle quantity, and give it to packing station 3.
This lets you monitor inventory levels and set minimums that will kick off purchase suggestions, etc.
There are two ways to handle that. We have added a UD field on the header to record the number used. With this field we have created a report that is used to issue the packages used at the end of the day to record consumption.
You can also automate the consumption by creating a method directive on the pack being marked shipped.
@Vinaykamboj - Thanks. How does the method directive consume the packaging materials? Does it do a Qty Adjustment with minus the # of boxes used, cross linking a box partnum to the package code?
@SueLowden - Thanks for the idea! We do have AMM, and have looked into PCID, but I didn’t see how that would account for packaging material inventory. How would that work?
As part of the configuration you define the inventory item that is to be consumed on shipment of a type of PCID (i.e. the shipping box) then you “pick the stock” into a PCID that is then shipped - this automatically depletes the stock of the shipping box and the contents as an ADJ-QTY with a specific reason code automatically assigned (again setup as part of the configuration)
Expanding this further you could use the same functionality for the Totes that you mention - pick orders into a Tote then split into separate PCIDs for shipment or merge multiple totes into a single PCID for shipment
