Blanket Dates in Enter & Edit Purchase Orders
When you access the Enter/Edit Purchase Orders screen within the business edge system, you will notice a specific section designated for Blanket Dates. This section is conveniently located on the right-hand side of the screen. It is essential to understand how to use these dates effectively to manage your inventory and ordering processes. When you have blanket dates the Promise date on the heading is typically left blank and you manage the dates on the lines.
When selecting blanket dates, you will see the screen below:
Earliest Blanket Date: The ARS system uses the earliest blanket date to determine the availability of the product. This is crucial as it helps you avoid ordering stock prematurely. When you input a blanket date, the system considers this as the earliest date when the product is expected to be available for shipment or delivery. By correctly setting this date, you can streamline your order schedule and align it with your inventory needs.
Latest Blanket Date: On the other hand, the latest blanket date plays a significant role when you are reviewing incoming inventory in the Open Documents section. This date indicates the final expected date for delivery before the product is recorded as available in your inventory. The system references the latest blanket date to ensure that you have the most accurate information about your orders and expected inventory levels.
This effects all items on the purchase order. Companies often incrementally modify the blanket dates as they process releases. During this process, they should reduce the quantities on the blanket lines, duplicate the line, and then enter the quantity and promise date in the newly released line.
Updating Blanket Dates:
When a specific ship date is assigned to a line item within the purchase order, it is highly recommended to remove the blanket dates from that line item. This step is crucial as it allows the system to report accurately based on the actual expected delivery date. By updating or removing the blanket dates when an actual ship date is provided, you ensure that your inventory records remain precise and informative for all stakeholders.
Key Takeaways:
Use the earliest blanket date to prevent ordering stock too early.
Refer to the latest blanket date when monitoring incoming inventory.
Remove blanket dates once an actual ship date is assigned to maintain accurate reporting.
By following these guidelines, you can effectively use the Blanket Dates feature in the system to enhance inventory management and order fulfillment processes.
You can also run the Expedite Documents to see if there are any blanket Purchase Orders that need to be released to fill order that are due to go out before the blanket Purchase Order is due to come in
Purchase Order System
Purchase Order Reports
Expedite Documents System
Expedited Documents Report