Technical Note: 20090113048

Generic and Inactive Inventory Items

(Maitre'D 8.00.000.057 and later versions of Maitre'D)

When dealing with inventory of multiple restaurants of a chain with different purchase formats, or if formats vary according to the season, for example, inventory management can become confusing with every usage and purchase formats always displayed.

To make the lists of choices cleaner, you can separate Generic items used in recipes from purchase items used in inventory Adjustment, Merchandise Reception and Purchase Order. These Generic items will be automatically converted from purchase items with Automatic Conversion recipes.

You can also make some purchase formats Inactive according to the season or the locations, but keep the different formats hidden in case you ever need to use them.

Generic Item

The Generic inventory item is used in all recipes so that these recipes do not have to be adjusted every time a different purchase format is received. It will be used in recipes, as well as in the purchase items recipe with the Automatic Conversion option.

Note: This item will no longer be available for inventory adjustments, purchase order or merchandise reception.

Inventory Management / File / Inventory Item / Item

Generic Item:

Enable this option in an inventory item used in the recipes of other items. Disable it in inventory item used for adjustments, orders and receptions.

Purchase Item

Inventory Management / File / Inventory Item / Item

Inactive:

Disabled this option in an inventory item currently used for adjustments, orders and receptions. Enable it in inventory items that will eventually be used for adjustments, orders and receptions in another season or site.

Inventory Management / File / Inventory Item / Format

Purchase, Inventory and Usage:

Enter the proper Format in each separate field.

In this example, we purchase in boxes, count in cans and use in ounces.

Quantity:

Enter the ratio between Formats in each separate field.

In this purchase format, each box contains 4 cans of 48 ounces.

Automatic Conversion:

Enabled for the inventory item used in merchandise receptions to be converted straight into the Generic item when it is received.

Note: Automatic Conversion items are no longer available for recipes. The Generic item must be used instead.

Inventory Management / File / Inventory Recipe / Add

Create appropriate automatic conversion recipes used for different seasons or locations, with different quantities.

Item:

Choose the Generic inventory item.

Quantity:

Enter the multiplication of the two Quantity values of the Format branch of the purchase item to determine the value for the Automatic Conversion.

In this purchase format, each box contains 4 cans of 48 ounces, so the result is 192 ounces per box.

Inventory Management / File / Inventory Item / Recipe

Inventory Recipe:

Choose the automatic conversion recipe, so that this purchase items is transformed into the Generic item when it is received.

Inventory Management / File / Inventory Item

Note that by default only Generic and purchase inventory items with the Inactive option disabled are displayed.

Show all:

Enable this option to also display purchase inventory items with the Inactive option enabled.

Note: When modifying a recipe, if it already contained an inactive item, the description displays it. You can change it for the generic item.

Regular Recipes

Inventory Management / File / Inventory Recipe / Add

In the regular recipe of other items, choose the Generic inventory item, in the appropriate quantity.

Purchase and Reception

Inventory Management / Action / Merchandise Reception or Purchase Order / Add

Code:

Note that only purchase inventory items with the Inactive option disabled are displayed by default.

Show Inactive:

Enable this option to also display purchase inventory items with the Inactive option enabled.

Inventory Management / Action / Merchandise Reception or Purchase Order

Once you select a purchase item that was inactive and close the purchase order or merchandise reception, that item automatically becomes active.

Inventory Management / File / Inventory Item

When you go back to the inventory item list, both formats are shown as available.

Inventory Management / File / Inventory Item / Item

Inactive:

Choose the former format, and make it unavailable, until the next season comes around.

Inventory Management / File / Inventory Item

Only the Generic and new purchase inventory item are displayed.

Inventory Management / Action / Merchandise Reception or Purchase Order / Add

Code:

Only the new Purchase inventory item is now displayed.

Inventory Adjustment

Inventory Management / Action / Adjustment

Only regular inventory items with the Inactive option disabled can be adjusted. Neither Generic nor Inactive items are displayed.

Inventory Management / Action / Worksheet

Only regular inventory items with the Inactive option disabled are printed. Neither Generic nor Inactive items appear on the worksheet.