Allocation buffers

You can use allocation buffers to allocate free, (unallocated) inventory if insufficient inventory is present.

When you create an allocation buffer, free on hand inventory for a warehouse, item and, if present, an effectivity unit, is allocated to a specification. The inventory is then consumable for outbound order lines whose specification characteristics match those of the allocation buffer. Outbound order lines, advice lines, shipment lines, and so on, created in the outbound and shipment procedures obtain the specification characteristics of the demand order from which they originate.

You can only create allocation buffers if the following applies:

  • The Usa scorte non allocate check box is selected in the Pegging domanda - Termini e condizioni (tctrm1165m000) session.
  • Unallocated inventory is available.

Calculating available unallocated inventory

LN calculates the available unallocated inventory as follows:

{A - (B + C + D)} + E = F
If F > G, G = unallocated available inventory
H - I = G
Symbol Value of field in Scorte per Mag., Art. e Codice identificativo configurazione (whwmd2516m000) session:
A Scorte in giacenza
B Scorte bloccate
C Impegnate
D Quantità allocata definitivamente
E Scorte impegnate in corso di elaborazione
F Intermediate result
H Scorte in giacenza field of the Scorte per Mag., Art. e Codice identificativo configurazione (whwmd2516m000) session
I In giacenza field in the Scorte per Specifiche (whwmd2519m000) session
Note: 

Allocation buffers are generated based on a number group and series defined in the Parametri Pianificazione scorte (whinp0100m000) session.

The committed inventory C and the location allocated inventory D can overlap, because if outbound advice is created for committed inventory, this advised committed inventory is listed as both committed and location allocated inventory. If C and D were subtracted from A to calculate F, the calculated free inventory F would be lower than the actual free inventory. Therefore, the inventory committed in process E is added to balance the result.

If F is more than the difference between the Scorte in giacenza field of the Scorte per Mag., Art. e Codice identificativo configurazione (whwmd2516m000) session and the In giacenza field in the Scorte per Specifiche (whwmd2519m000) session, the result is adjusted to this difference.

Creating allocation buffers

Allocation buffers are created:

You can view allocation buffers in the Impegni scorte (whinp2100m000) session.

Creating allocation buffers in Pianificazione aziendale

During an order planning run, Pianificazione aziendale can create allocation buffers to allocate inventory to a demand order.

To allocate inventory:

  1. LN checks whether unallocated inventory is available for the item, warehouse, and specification of the demand order.

  2. If no, no allocation takes place.

  3. If yes, LN looks for allocation buffers without outbound advice whose specification characteristics match those of the demand order.

  4. If found, the quantity of the existing allocation buffer is increased with the quantity required for the demand order and the quantity of the unallocated inventory is reduced by the demand order quantity.

  5. If not found, LN creates a new allocation buffer with a specification whose characteristics are identical to those of the demand order. The quantity of the new allocation buffer matches the demand order quantity.

    In the Scorte per Specifiche (whwmd2519m000) session, the following fields are increased with the new allocation buffer quantity:

    • In buffer di allocazione
    • In giacenza

Creating allocation buffers at sales order line entry

Allocation buffers can be created as follows from the Righe ordini di vendita (tdsls4101m000) session, or the Righe consegna pianificata ordine di vendita (tdsls4101m100) session:

  • Manually from the stock shortage menu

    When an inventory shortage occurs on the order line, the Menu scorte mancanti (tdsls4830s000) session is started. Select Crea buffer di allocazione to create an allocation buffer in the Creazione buffer di allocazione (tdsls4813s000) session. The allocation buffer is created when the sales order line is saved.

  • Manually in Magazzino

    You can allocate unallocated inventory in the Impegni scorte (whinp2100m000) session. On the appropriate menu, click Buffer di allocazione to start this session and enter your data.

  • Automatically at sales order line entry

    When an inventory shortage occurs, an allocation buffer is automatically created at sales order line entry if the Gestione automatica scorte mancanti field is set to Crea buffer di allocazione for the relevant item in the Tipi ordine di vendita (tdsls0594m000) session.

Consumption of allocation buffers

If outbound advice is created for an outbound order line with a specification, LN first advises the allocated- to inventory that was received by means of supply orders with matching specification characteristics, thus increasing the quantity in the Allocate definitivamente field of the Scorte per Specifiche (whwmd2519m000) session.

If this inventory is insufficient, LN advises inventory from allocation buffers with specification characteristics that match those of the outbound order line, thus increasing the quantity in the Allocate definitivamente field and the In buffer di allocazione field of the Scorte per Specifiche (whwmd2519m000) session.

Note: 

If insufficient inventory for a particular specification is available to be issued from the warehouse, you can advise unallocated inventory or inventory from a different specification to make up for the missing quantity. Whether this is allowed is determined by the Avviso per scorte non allocate and the Pegging domanda di Riga ordine in uscita è vincolante check box in the Impostazioni magazzino per Sito (whwmd2101m000) session. See Allocated or unallocated inventory in the outbound process.

Likewise, if outbound advice is released for an outbound order line with a specification, LN first releases the allocated- to inventory that was received by means of orders with matching specification characteristics. If the corresponding shipment lines are confirmed, the quantity in the Allocate definitivamente field of the Scorte per Specifiche (whwmd2519m000) session is decreased.

If this inventory is insufficient, LN releases inventory from allocation buffers with specification characteristics that match those of the outbound order line. If the corresponding shipment lines are confirmed, the quantity in the Allocate definitivamente field of the Scorte per Specifiche (whwmd2519m000) session is decreased.

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