Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central includes two planning fields that reduce the number of planning lines the system generates: dampener quantity and overflow level. Both fields exist to make planning simpler and less complex by filtering out minor or unnecessary suggestions.
The dampener quantity is a general field that applies to several reordering policies. It blocks suggested changes that fall below the quantity you enter. It only works in one direction. It suppresses suggestions to decrease supply when demand falls, but it never blocks suggestions that cover a shortage or a level below the reorder point.
The overflow level applies only to reorder point parameters used with the Fixed Reorder Quantity or Lot-for-Lot reordering policies. It lets inventory exceed the reorder point up to the level you set before the planning engine suggests a decrease.
The overflow level is available only on the item card, not the SKU card. The dampener quantity is available on both the item card and the SKU card.
What the dampener quantity and overflow level do
Both fields reduce the amount of planning lines that the planning engine suggests. The goal is to make planning more simple and less complex by removing minor adjustments that don’t really matter for your operation.
The two fields work differently and have different scopes:
- Dampener quantity is a general field that applies to several reordering policies. You find it on both the item card and the SKU card.
- Overflow level applies only to the reorder point parameters used with Fixed Reorder Quantity or Lot-for-Lot. It exists only on the item card, not on the SKU card.
When you choose Lot-for-Lot as the reordering policy, the reorder quantity field is blanked out. If you set up a SKU card with Fixed Reorder Quantity, the overflow level does not apply to the SKU card, but the dampener quantity field stays open and usable.
How the dampener quantity blocks small changes
The dampener quantity blocks changes that are smaller than the quantity you enter in the field. The help text describes it this way: it blocks changes less than whatever size you enter.
Here is a concrete example using a SKU card on a location set up with Fixed Reorder Quantity. When you run a planning worksheet for this item, the engine suggests a new order on the 20th of February and then suggests a change of quantity on the 6th of April, reducing it from 60 down to 20.
If you set a dampener quantity of 45, the system ignores any change smaller than 45 and leaves the order as it is. When you recalculate the plan, the change line that reduced the quantity disappears, along with its date. You are left with only the remaining parts of the plan, which makes it simpler to work with.
The important detail is direction. The dampener quantity only suppresses changes when demand is falling and supply is therefore too high. It is meant for the situation where you don’t want to act on an insignificant decrease. If you run out of stock or drop below the reorder point, the change goes the other way and the dampener quantity does not affect it. You still get the suggestion you need to cover the shortage.
How the overflow level handles excess inventory above the reorder point
The overflow level works in a similar spirit but applies to the reorder point parameters on the item card. It defines how far the inventory can exceed the reorder point before the system suggests a decrease.
Normally, decreases are suggested following the standard reorder parameters. When you set an overflow level, the system accepts increases in inventory up to that level without suggesting any changes. Like the dampener quantity, this is about simplifying the planning and avoiding unnecessary suggestions.
Q&A
What is the difference between dampener quantity and overflow level in Business Central?
The dampener quantity is a general field that blocks suggested changes smaller than the value you enter, and it works only when demand falls and supply is too high. The overflow level applies only to reorder point parameters with Fixed Reorder Quantity or Lot-for-Lot, and it allows inventory to exceed the reorder point up to a set level before a decrease is suggested.
Where can you set the overflow level and the dampener quantity?
The overflow level is available only on the item card. The dampener quantity is available on both the item card and the SKU card.
Does the dampener quantity block suggestions when you are below the reorder point?
No. The dampener quantity only suppresses suggestions to decrease supply when demand is falling. If you run out of stock or drop below the reorder point, the change goes the other way and the planning engine still gives you the suggestion you need.
Which reordering policies does the overflow level apply to?
The overflow level applies to the reorder point parameters used with Fixed Reorder Quantity and Lot-for-Lot. When you use Lot-for-Lot, the reorder quantity field is blanked out.