Design Products
The starting point for any business that deals with physical goods is to establish the item. First, you must create a database record for the item, an item card. The item card is a placeholder for critical master data that is used throughout the supply chain as the item is processed. All the rules and values, such as costing method, dimension codes, and substitutions that apply to the item are entered on the item card. After you create the item card, this record controls how the item is processed in business documents by providing information, such as price, sales terms, availability, and planning parameters.
When the item card is completed, you can proceed to other product design tasks, such as defining cross-reference descriptions or substitution items and creating stockkeeping units for items stored in multiple locations.
Items that are assembled or produced within a company require additional product design tasks, which are described in Define Material and Process Structure.
The following table describes a sequence of tasks with links to the topics that describe them. These tasks are listed in the order in which they are generally performed.
| To | See |
|---|---|
Initiate a new item card based on a company-specific data template. |
|
Create the master data record that will hold all rules and values that govern how the product is planned and handled. |
|
Define how the planning system calculates replenishment of the item. |
|
Define if the planning system must calculate production need for lower production BOM levels of the item. |
|
Define how the outbound unit cost of the item is applied to inbound transactions for inventory valuation. |
|
Specify in which unit of measure the item is handled by default. |
|
Specify other units of measure in which the item may be handled. |
|
Write a comment that can be shown on all documents where the item is handled. |
|
Assign one or more default dimensions to the item card that will be included on related document lines and eventually work as a source of analysis of historic transactions. |
|
Attach a picture (.bmp file) of the item. |
|
Define one or more variations of the item that customers may choose from. |
|
Make a cross-reference between the item's number and another item code, such as a barcode. |
|
Specify which other items can be offered to customers if the first item choice is not available. |
|
Create a simplified item card for items that need not be managed as inventory items, such as drop-shipment items, special order items, or internal office supplies. |
|
List codes for product groups to group items by product type, such as chairs. |
|
List codes for item categories, to group items or product groups, such as furniture. |
|
Set up language translations for item descriptions so that foreign vendors and customers can get printed documents in their own language. |
|
Write additional text that can be shown in separate document lines in addition to the item description. |
|
Set up number series and rules for serial/lot numbers and assign item tracking codes to items for item tracking. |
|
Create a hierarchy of items that are sold together as one item, such as a kit. |
|
Define an additional item record that reflects unique rules and values for the item at one location. |
See Also
Other Resources
Create New Vendor Accounts
Purchase Goods
Create New Customer Accounts
Sell Goods
Execute Production