Re: Item Supersession

Hi,

We have written a simple program that runs each night/on demand that looks 
at INP35 records that have the delete flag set to '1' and the end date 
entered (we are using both the date & the flag).

If the part is flagged as discontinued (flag & date set) we check to see 
if there is any stock.    If there is stock we change the colour of the 
description to indicate to sales to use of remaining stock and to 
purchasing not to reorder.   Similarly if there is no stock a different 
colour is used to indicate not to accept further orders.

Where a part is superceded by a new product we create an alternative 
record (3/INM).  A third colour is used to indicate when there is no stock 
available and the part has an alternative.   During advanced order entry 
if the entered part is shown in the third colour the user can take the 
sourcing option which automatically the available stock under the 
alternative item.

We also run warehousing and to prevent stock inadvertantly being received 
into the warehouse for a deleted item when the stock hits zero the above 
program also deletes the item/pack profile from WHP50.

Changing the colour of the description is just a simple matter of 
inserting the appropriate hex code as the first byte of the description.

So far we have found this solution very effective.

Grahame Ward
IT Administrator

Pimpernel International Ltd
26 - 32 Derwent Street
Blackhill
Consett
County Durham
United Kingdom
DH8 8LY

Phone + 44 (0) 1207 503 751
Fax      + 44 (0) 1207 507 873
DDI      +44 (0) 1207 599 926

E-mail - grahame.ward@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx