Inventory and transfers

Each inventory position identifies its entity, product, warehouse, location and, when relevant, lot. Custody distinguishes available, held, picked, transit and production quantities. A sales promise should use the available quantity after reservations rather than adding all physically present stock. Carrying value follows the owned position while source events explain how it got there.

Warehouse Manager releases a transfer between warehouses of the same entity. Dispatch removes stock from the source location into owned transit; a partial destination receipt leaves the remainder in transit. Warehouse Operator records physical movement, and the stock event retains the economic source. A count observes the locked population separately, so counting alone cannot change a balance.

• Identity. Agree the entity, product, warehouse, location and lot convention.
• Custody. Define when a position is available, held, picked or in transit.
• Correction. Route variance and transfer exceptions to the right reviewer.

Load product units and warehouse locations before posting receipts. Decide where damaged or unresolved stock is held, who releases it, and which transfer evidence the destination team must capture. Assign count owners and counters as separate people where independent review is required. Agree the cutoff for an inventory report: a current balance and a historical stock event answer different questions.

Receive a lot into one warehouse, reserve part for a dealer order and transfer another part to a second warehouse. Dispatch the transfer, then record only a partial receipt. Check that the unreconciled remainder still appears as owned transit and cannot be promised at both locations. Lock a count scope and enter a variance. Confirm the balance stays unchanged until the authorized adjustment posts.

A stock position is a current answer, while each stock event explains a change. Use both when investigating a shortage: the available balance shows what can be promised now, and the event chain shows receipt, pick, dispatch or correction. During a count, record the observed quantity and variance before any adjustment. The reviewer can then compare the observation with the locked population and its valuation.

For a transfer with a short destination receipt, inspect the transfer line before changing stock. Its dispatched, received and resolved loss quantities explain the remainder. Record a later receipt or reviewed loss against that same move so neither warehouse gains unearned availability.

• Warehouse Availability — Show current positions and usable quantity by location.
• Transfers in Transit — Follow movements that have left one warehouse but have not fully arrived.
• Count Review Queue — Send observed variances for decision.

Follow the operating process and use the data model when mapping source records.