Create Databases -> Inventory->Custom->Bins

Setting Up Bins

InDDMS, bins are physical pulling locations. You can specify bin numbers for each item, indicating where you store the item. Bin numbers can refer to areas within your warehouse, for example, or shelves in a retail store.

You can specify bin numbers for each inventory location.

On this page, we explain:

• Understanding bins
• Assigning bins to individual items

Understanding Bins

You can specify a primary and secondary bin for each item. These indicate the true physical location of an item within an inventory location.

In your warehouse, for example, the primary bin may be the main picking location for the item, and the secondary bin may be a backup storage area.

Assign the lowest bin numbers to bins that you pick from most often, those that are near your picking and packing areas. When you do this, remember that when a computer sorts numbers, spaces come first, followed by numerals. Letters come last. (For a complete list of the computer's sort order, click here.)

Once you have bins established, they can help you pick merchandise, since they print on picking tickets. Bins also play a vital role when you begin using shipping manifests and picking manifests. You can specify new or updated bin numbers for items when you purchase them.

Each inventory location you set up can have its own bins. If you have two retail stores, for example, you can specify different bins for each store. (For information on inventory locations, click here.)

If you sell furniture, or buy large quantities of some items, you may need more than two bins. If so, you can use the multiple bin feature. This is a separate database that lets you track items in a number of bins. You can track inventory in each bin, and specify which bin to pull from during order entry. For information about multiple bins, see the online help topic About Multiple Bins.

Assigning Bins to Individual Items

You can assign bins one at at time, for each item you stock.

At this time, you may not want to spend time assigning bins for every item. Near the end of the Let's Get Started program, you will take an inventory count, so that you have accurate on-hand quantities. You can record bin locations as you take your count. When you complete this procedure,DDMSwill update each item with an on-hand quantity and bin locations. (You can also change stock classes, if necessary, when you take an inventory count.)

To assign bins to an individual item, follow these steps:

1. Open the Inventory window. (For instructions, click here.)
2. Retrieve the item you want to assign a bin to. (For instructions, see the online help topic Selecting an Item.)
3. Click to open the Item History Window.
4. If you have several inventory departments set up, click the correct inventory location in the Multiple Locations and Bins list at the bottom of window. The current information for that location will be displayed. In the figure below, we click location 25, and the system displays the current information for that inventory location:
   
   
   
5. Specify the primary bin for this item in the P Bin box, and the secondary bin, if any, in the S Bin box, as shown here:
   
   

6. Close the Item History Window by clicking the button.
7. Save your changes by clicking the button in the Item Window.

To learn more about bins, see the online help topic About Item Bins.