Best Practice

HS4U,
I would argue that you should not build a new Item Master entry solely to accomodate a new UOM. Practices vary from place to place, so your usage may vary, but we consider the Item Master information to be tied solely to the manufacturer's information of the item, separate (usually) from the supplier/distributor. In our Item Master policy, all of the manufacturer's UOM must be built out (short of breaking a sterile pack or having to manually cut a section off of the product).

So, using copy paper as an example, we would build out the RM/1 (ream), CA/10 (case) and PT/250 (pallet). If we bought the product from a distributor that called the CA a BX/10, we could accomodate that, but we would not redefine a CA to be equal to the pallet (at that point the supplier would need a different UOM designation). So, we set the manufacturer first and then fit in the distributor.

What it also sounds like you are asking about is UOM-specific catalog numbers. In my experience, SmileMakers and McKesson come to mind. In the paper example, when ordering from McKesson, you would need to use a different SKU for the RM, as compared to the CA. This still does not require building a new Item Master entry, just adding a new PO Vendor Item (PO13/PO13.3) entry. I would then be sure to set the Buy/Price UOM fields to lock the UOM accordingly.

I hope that helps,
Red

Thanks Red.
Here is an example (I hope I am explaining clearly)
Vendor Medline:
We have several hospital inventory locations that order Lawson Item”A”, location 1 orders it by the case, where location 2 wants to order by the box, Medline sent a new vendor catalog number for that box UOM.(Lawson Item A)
IC11 we will have the UOM’s set up by the box and case
How would you set that up? Normally we were just change and/ or add the catalog number in PO13.
In PO25 that Lawson Item A would be added as box and case, with the different vendor cat#
Is this the correct way to set that up

HS4U,
That is correct. And I apologize, Medline was the company I was thinking about when I mentioned McKesson.
So, if you looked at the PO13.3 for the item at that vendor, you would have two active lines, each SKU specific to a UOM. You could/would build two agreement lines, one for each UOM. From a requisition standpoint--either by Par, Template or manual order--selecting the UOM would default to the specific SKU.

Where things might get a little messy is if a UOM is not specifically selected. That is, if, in the process of creating a requisition, your end-user selects only a Lawson Number and quantity, but not a UOM, they are leaving that decision up to Lawson. Lawson has a number of decision points to determine the UOM (participation, your system configuration, priority, unit cost, etc.). If it comes down to the two (or more) lines on the single agreement, and they all have the same calculated unit cost, Lawson will select the first UOM entered on the agreement (i.e., the one with the lowest Line Number).

So far, so good?
Red

Thanks Red.
Would it be possible to send me some print screens. I want to make sure I am on the same page as you (and the same book lol..)
here is my email: djohnson@alamedahealthsystem.org