Distribution Management

The Distribution menu is designed to manage the distribution network for a company which has several distribution centers (not being situated near the plant). The customers are delivered directly from these distribution centers.

Often, such distribution centers keep inventories which are restocked from the central inventory. In each distribution center, requirement calculations are carried out in order to compute the needs which are then transmitted to the plant or the central warehouse. In the plant, the products are manufactured and then dispatched towards the distribution centers.

This method of flow management is called DRP (namely Distribution Resource Planning).

The Distribution menu includes the following functions for managing the distribution:

•   Definition of the inventory control policy for each item in each distribution center,

•   Calculation of the requirements for the distribution centers,

•   Management of transfer orders,

•   Forwarding of transfer orders from the plant towards the distribution centers,

•   Receipt of transfer orders into the distribution centers.

The distribution system can be seen from the point of view of the central site (the plant) or from the point of view of each distribution center.