Item Editor Inventory Tab

Use the Inventory Tab to tell eFOOD-TRAK the Inventory Locations in which the item can be found. This tab is also used to create or modify the Inventory Location list and to identify items as Key Items for inclusion in Key Item inventories. Each inventory location assigned to this item can be assigned a minimum and maximum par value, which is also entered on this tab. There is also a field in which to include bin references.

Click on a field label below for help on what information you need to enter into that field.

This pane displays all the Inventory Locations that have been defined for the system. Double-clicking a Location name will move it to the Assigned Inventory Location pane on the right of the tab.

If you need to create a new Inventory Location or change and existing one, and if you have security permissions to make such changes, click the button next to Possible Inventory Locations. This will open the Group Editor with Inventory Locations loaded. For more information on Groups and the Group Editor, click here.

This pane lists the Inventory Locations to which this item has been assigned. An item may be assigned to more than one Inventory Location.

The Item Editor has been modified to allow the entry of default or fixed levels for inventory items by Location.

Default items can be defined asitems that usually maintain the same inventory levels. For instance, in a restaurant you may have napkin and straw dispensers. After close, your staff restocks all the napkin and straw dispensers to their maximum capacity. You know that each napkin dispenser holds about 100 napkins, and each straw dispenser holds about 80 straws which you would set as the default number for the front-of-the-house inventory locations. These items will appear on your inventory forms incase you do need to make a manual change.

Fixed levels can also be established for items that are never counted, but you do want to attach value to it. For instance, you might by certain spices twice a year. These spices have a monetary value of about $200.00. However, you never want to count them. Fixed level items do not appear on inventory forms unless they are manually added to the form on a template.

Key Items are the most expensive, most pilfered, or most wasted items&emdash;ones on which you would like to keep a particularly close watch. Key Items can be singled out to appear on several special reports. To assign the item as a Key Item, check the box found on the Inventory tab.

Par Levels are optional values you can enter for an item. The minimum and maximum par levels for each Inventory Location on the Assigned Inventory Groups list can be set to ensure that your stock of an item doesn't go below or above the levels set.

Minimum Par is the lowest acceptable level to which your inventory may fall; maximum par is the highest acceptable level you wish to have on hand at any time.

Many users prefer not to set the par levels at the inventory level, but set overall par levels on the Purchasing tab of the Item Editor. The par levels on the Inventory tab keep track of the par for individual storage locations; the par levels on the Purchasing tab keep track of the par for an item throughout the entire establishment.

Bins are physical sub-compartment within a storage area in which particular items are stored separately.

A restaurant may have separate storage bins for different types of lettuce, or it may have a wine cellar with designated storages areas&emdash;but not literal bins&emdash;for different vintages or varieties of wine.

eFOOD-TRAK lets you add bins as a part of your inventory data.

Bin references can be alphanumeric, up to 20 characters long. Bin references are listed on the Inventory Form Report (under Input Forms), as well as on the Inventory Status, Transfer List, and Requisition Reports.