diff --git a/content/applications/inventory_and_mrp/inventory/management/lots_serial_numbers/differences.rst b/content/applications/inventory_and_mrp/inventory/management/lots_serial_numbers/differences.rst index 693eeee2a..0d53c0107 100644 --- a/content/applications/inventory_and_mrp/inventory/management/lots_serial_numbers/differences.rst +++ b/content/applications/inventory_and_mrp/inventory/management/lots_serial_numbers/differences.rst @@ -1,47 +1,98 @@ -====================================================== -What's the difference between lots and serial numbers? -====================================================== +========================================== +Difference between lots and serial numbers +========================================== -Introduction -============ +*Lots* and *serial numbers* are the two ways to identify and track products in Odoo. While there are +similarities between the two traceability methods, there are also notable differences that affect +receipts, deliveries, and inventory reports. -In Odoo, lots and serial numbers have similarities in their functional -system but are different in their behavior. They are both managed within -the **Inventory**, **Purchases** and **Sales** app. +A *lot* usually indicates a specific batch of an item that was received, is currently stored, or was +shipped from a warehouse. However, it can also pertain to a batch of products manufactured in-house, +as well. -**Lots** correspond to a certain number of products you received and store -altogether in one single pack. - -**Serial numbers** are identification numbers given to one product in -particular, to allow to track the history of the item from reception to -delivery and after-sales. - -When to use ------------ - -**Lots** are interesting for products you receive in great quantity and for -which a lot number can help in reportings, quality controls, or any -other info. Lots will help identify a number of pieces having for -instance a production fault. It can be useful for a batch production of -clothes or food. - -**Serial numbers** are interesting for items that could require after-sales -service, such as smartphones, laptops, fridges, and any electronic -devices. You could use the manufacturer's serial number or your own, -depending on the way you manage these products - -When not to use ---------------- - -Storing consumable products such as kitchen roll, toilet paper, pens and -paper blocks in lots would make no sense at all, as there are very few -chances that you can return them for production fault. - -On the other hand, giving a serial number to every product is a -time-consuming task that will have a purpose only in the case of items -that have a warranty and/or after-sales services. Putting a serial -number on bread, for instance, makes no sense at all. +A *serial number* is a unique identifier assigned incrementally (or sequentially) to an item or +product, used to distinguish it from other items or products. .. seealso:: - * :doc:`serial_numbers` - * :doc:`lots` + - :doc:`/applications/inventory_and_mrp/inventory/management/lots_serial_numbers/lots` + - :doc:`/applications/inventory_and_mrp/inventory/management/lots_serial_numbers/serial_numbers` + +Enable lots & serial numbers +============================ + +To track products using lots and serial numbers, the *Lots & Serial Numbers* feature must be +enabled. + +To do that, go to the :menuselection:`Inventory app --> Configuration --> Settings`, scroll down to +the :guilabel:`Traceability` section, and click the box next to :guilabel:`Lots & Serial Numbers`. +Then, click the :guilabel:`Save` button to save changes. + +.. image:: differences/differences-enabled-setting.png + :align: center + :alt: Enabled lots and serial numbers feature in inventory settings. + +When to use lots +================ + +Lots are useful for products that are manufactured or received in large quantities, such as clothes +or food. Lots and can be used to trace a product back to a group, which is especially useful when +managing product recalls or expiration dates. + +.. example:: + .. image:: differences/differences-lot.png + :align: center + :alt: Created lot with quantity of products in it. + +Manufacturers assign lot numbers to groups of products that have common properties; this can lead to +multiple goods sharing the same lot number. This helps identify a number of products in a single +group, and allows for end-to-end traceability of these products through each step in their life +cycles. + +When to use serial numbers +========================== + +The goal of assigning serial numbers to individual products is to make sure every item's history is +identifiable when it travels through the supply chain. This can be especially useful for +manufacturers that provide after-sales services related to products they sell and deliver. + +.. example:: + .. image:: differences/differences-serial-numbers.png + :align: center + :alt: List of serial numbers for product. + +Serial numbers can contain many different types of characters: numbers, letters, typographical +symbols, or a mixture of all three types. + +Traceability +============ + +Manufacturers and companies can refer to traceability reports to see the entire life cycle of a +product. These reports include vital information, like where it came from (and when), where it was +stored, and to whom it was sent. + +To see the full traceability of a product, or group products by lots and/or serial numbers, go to +:menuselection:`Inventory app --> Products --> Lots/Serial Numbers`. Doing so reveals the +:guilabel:`Lots/Serial Numbers` dashboard. + +From here, products with lots or serial numbers assigned to them are listed by default. They can +also be expanded to show what lots or serial numbers have been specifically assigned to them. + +To group by lots or serial numbers, first remove any default filters from the search bar in the +upper-right corner. Then, click :guilabel:`Group By`, and select :guilabel:`Add Custom Group`, which +reveals a mini drop-down menu. From this mini drop-down menu, select :guilabel:`Lot/Serial Number`, +and click :guilabel:`Apply`. + +Doing so reveals all existing lots and serial numbers, and each can be expanded to show all product +quantities with that assigned number. For unique serial numbers that are *not* reused, there should +*only* be one product per serial number. + +.. image:: differences/differences-tracking.png + :align: center + :alt: Reporting page with drop-down lists of lots and serial numbers. + +.. tip:: + For additional information regarding an individual lot number or serial number, click the line + item for the lot or serial number to reveal that specific number's :guilabel:`Lot` or + :guilabel:`Serial Number` form. From this form, click the :guilabel:`Location` and + :guilabel:`Traceability` smart buttons to see all stock on-hand using that serial number. 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