Product Sizing

Every Inventory product is defined by three fundamental sizes, namely:

• Base Unit
• Receiving Unit
• Stocking Unit

These size are customisable to meet the varying conditions of each product within your operation. 

Within the product setup, the size labels are entered, are are the number of units per size: 

And then through areas of the system, site labels are displayed to end users for easy identification:

The way in which sizing is defined depends on the type, nature and complexity of the product. For more information, see Inventory Product Configuration. 

Core Product Sizes

Base Unit

The Base Unit is the products foundation. 

The other two product sizes are directly linked to the Base Unit, and it's the Base Unit that is use when connecting products as ingredients to recipes.

It's important to set the Base Unit as a description of the smallest size needed for the product. It's customisable, but common examples including:

• Example Units: Each, Slice, Cup. 
• Example Metric Measures: Gram, Millilitre.
• Example Imperial Measures: Ounce, Fluid Ounce.

Important: Once defined, the Base Unit of a product should not be changed. (More Details)

Receiving Unit

The Receiving Unit depends on the type of product.

For Supplied type products, it should mirror the pack size typically received from suppliers. It is possible to attach other pack sizes later on (see Supplier Pack Sizes), but by entering the pack size typically received you make it easier for end users declaring movements and counts.

For Recipe Batch type products, the Receiving Unit should reflect the size of the batch created based on the ingredients added to the batch.

So it's clearer for your end users, name the sizes nice and clearly. For example, instead of just 'BOX' or 'BOTTLE,' instead include the sizes::

• Example Metric Measures: BOX (5 kg), BOTTLE (1.5 litre).
• Example Imperial Measures: BOX (10 lb), BOTTLE (50 fl oz).

Stocking Unit

The Stocking Unit depends on the type of product.

If the product is sold directly, then the Stocking Unit must reflect the size that the product is sold in. 

Otherwise, the Stocking Unit is flexible and can be defined in many ways depending on the nature of the product.

Common Stock Unit examples include:

1. Generic measurements to help with products measured in stock counts, such as: 
   • Example Metric Measures: KG, Litre.
   • Example Imperial Measures: Lb, Pint, Gallon
2. An internal pack size in cases when the supplier pack can broken down into smaller units.
3. An alternative pack size in cases where the product is often ordered in different sizes from suppliers.

So it's clearer for your end users, name the sizes nice and clearly. For example, instead of just 'BOX' or 'BOTTLE,' instead include the sizes::

• Example Metric Measures: BOX (5 kg), BOTTLE (1.5 litre).
• Example Imperial Measures: BOX (10 lb), BOTTLE (50 fl oz).

Supplier Pack Sizes

In addition to the core product sizes covered above, Supplied type products have a Supplier Pack Size for packs received from suppliers. 

The Pack Size should reflect the size in which the supplier provides the product. 

This is also visible to suppliers when placing supplier orders.