Understanding Serialized Inventory and Lot Tracking
If you have a license to use Serialized Inventory and Lot Tracking, you can assign serial numbers and/or lot numbers to items when you process transaction in Inventory Control.
You use the serial numbers and lot numbers to track items from their receipt in inventory to their sale to customers and beyond.
Upgrading from a Previous Version
Users from previous version of Serialized Inventory and Lot Tracking were able to generate serial and lot numbers as needed while performing various different transactions. This functionality is not available in version 5.6, as you need to use the Serial/Lot Reconciliations form to create new serial and lot numbers.
Using Bar Code Readers
When using bar code readers to enter serial numbers, program the scanner to add a carriage return at the end. When entering multiple serial numbers during transactions, you will have to place your cursor on a blank line in the detail grid of the respective form. For instance, if you leave the cursor in the Next Serial Number field and scan a bar code, you will be required to click Add before the number appears in the detail grid.
Settings and Options for Serialized and Lotted Inventory Items
An item is considered "serialized" if the Serial Number checkbox is selected in the I/C Items form, and "lotted" if the Lot Number checkbox is selected. Once an item is defined as serialized or lotted (or both), numbers will need to be assigned when processing transactions involving the item. But before this happens, the format of lot and serial numbers must be defined by adding mask structures.
While the Items form is used to manage options on an item-by-item basis, the Options form is used to define global settings which apply to all serialized and lotted items.
The Serials tab on the Options form has the Allow Serial Quantity To Be Different From The Quantity In The Entries setting, which determines whether it is mandatory or optional that all serialized items in a transaction be assigned a serial number before the transaction can be saved. A similar option exists for lot quantities as well on the Lots tab. There are other settings you can define on the Options form, some which will affect other Sage applications that process transactions involving serialized or lotted inventory items.
High value items will often have warranties available to customers and quality guarantees from vendors. As such you should also set up warranty and contract codes that can be applied to serialized/lotted item.
Note: If you upgraded to version 5.6 from a previous Sage Inventory Control version, most of your settings should have been imported during conversion of serialized/lotted inventory data. Use the Serials tab and Lots tab on the Items form to ensure the data has been converted properly for your serialized and lotted items.
Transactions that Require the Assignment of Serial and/or Lot Numbers
You will be prompted to assign numbers to serialized and/or lotted items when processing transactions in Inventory Control.
Serial/Lot Number Maintenance and Reporting
Once you begin processing basic transactions involving serialized/lotted items, you may need to perform the following maintenance tasks.
Use the following reports and Inquiries to determine the status of the serial and lot numbers in your system.