LS Central - Implementing Lot numbers and Expiries

 https://help.lscentral.lsretail.com/Content/Resources/Documents%20for%20download/Older%20Documentation/Item%20Tracking%20Quick%20Guide%20LS%20Retail%20NAV%206.1.pdf 

1. Expiry dates are supported by the system, from receiving straight through to sales and retail, and are controlled by Lot numbers.
2. The expiry date and lot number are stored on each Item Ledger Entry, and are easily filtered and sorted from this page.
1. Any additional alerts or reporting would be custom
3. Lot numbers can be enabled for specific items. If you are using item templates, a template for example "Snacks" can be setup to enable lot numbers so that all items in future created using this template will have lot numbers automatically enabled
4. Existing stock would need to be adjusted out, lot tracking enabled, then stock put back in with a lot number and expiration date for each item you wish to enable lot tracking for.
5. Enabling lot numbers will have a significant impact on all processes directly related to inventory for those items. The system will require/prompt for the user to enter a lot number for Receiving (Put away), Shipping (Picking), Transfers, Returns, Backoffice Sales, Retail Sales
1. If an item does not already have a barcode for the lot number, the item would have to be labeled, OR the user would have to manually enter the lot number, OR we would have the system default to the oldest lot for sales only. All other transactions would require a specific lot number
2. When receiving the stock, or entering positive stock adjustments, the lot number would have to be entered, and the related expiration date would have to be filled in. This means that the expiration dates would be heavily reliant on physical processes being in place to check the actual expiry dates on the items upon receiving them.
3. The expiration date itself could be used as the lot number, but then you would need to label the item accordingly to allow the lot number to be scanned if the existing lot number is not the expiration date
6. Complications
1. When receiving goods, if there are multiple lots or expiries mixed together, users will tend to miss this and assume the entire shipment is the same lot and expiry. The stock would need to be separated, scrutinized, then received and stored as separate lots with separate expiration dates.
2. When picking goods, the exact lot numbers would need to be entered. If a physical mistake is made, it can be very time consuming to reverse and correct the lot number. Physical storage and visibility of lot numbers, as well as picker/packer/delivery discipline becomes very important.
3. When doing stock counts, lots and expiration dates would need to be checked, and entered accordingly.

ALTERNATIVES

• Item Age Composition Report - Value or Quantity
• This report will give you an idea of how old inventory is based on the date its was received
• This does not track exact expiration dates, however, it has no impact on the system or processes, and can be used immediately
• Expiring Goods Physical Warehouse Policies
• Implement a sticker system with a red label to clearly identify any goods in the warehouse expiring in the next X months
• Immediately label any goods that come in with a short expiry date
• Define warehouse and store policies to always pull/push those cases first