When you set up an item for purchasing in Business Central, you need to fill in a specific set of fields on the item card. These fields control how the system plans and creates purchase orders for the item, and where it gets its information from.
This article walks through the fields you use when the replenishment system is set to Purchase, and explains how those fields behave when you also work with stock keeping units (SKUs).
Set the replenishment system to Purchase on the Replenishment tab of the item card. Then fill in the lead time calculation, the vendor number, and the purchase unit of measure. If you want the planning worksheet to create purchase orders for you, the vendor number is required.
The lead time calculation field sits at the top of the Replenishment tab, not under the Purchase section, because it is also used in the assembly time calculation.
On a SKU card you can only change the vendor number, the vendor item number, and the lead time calculation. The purchase unit of measure and the blocked setting are maintained on the item level. When you plan on a location that has a SKU card, the system uses the SKU values. Otherwise it falls back to the item card.
Setting the replenishment system to Purchase on the item card
Start by opening the item card and going to the Replenishment tab. Set the replenishment system to Purchase. This tells Business Central that the item is something you buy rather than produce or assemble, and it determines which fields you need to fill in next.
Lead time calculation and why it sits at the top of the tab
Fill in the lead time calculation. In this example we use 14 days. This is the time it takes from placing an order until you have the item available.
You might expect to find this field down in the purchase section, but it sits higher up on the Replenishment tab. The reason is that the same lead time calculation is also used in the assembly time calculation, so it applies across more than just purchasing.
Vendor number and vendor item number
Enter the vendor number to specify who you are buying the item from. If you want to use the planning worksheet to create purchase orders automatically, you need this field filled in.
If the vendor uses their own item number for the product, you can enter it in the vendor item number field. If the vendor has several item numbers for the same item, you can register those in the cross-reference table instead.
Purchase unit of measure
Enter the unit of measure you buy the item in. This can differ from the base unit of measure you handle the item in. For example, you might store and handle the item in single units in your warehouse but buy it in boxes or cartons. You record the purchase unit of measure on the item card so the system knows how you order it.
Blocking an item for purchase
If you want to stop new purchase orders from being created for an item, set the blocked checkmark on the Replenishment tab. This makes sure no new purchase orders are generated for that item.
How stock keeping units handle the replenishment fields
When you open a stock keeping unit card, you see some of the same fields as on the item card, but not all of them. Some fields have to be maintained at the item level, while others can be changed per SKU.
In this example, the item has a stock keeping unit on location Simple 1. On the Replenishment tab of that SKU, you can only change the vendor number, the vendor item number, and the lead time calculation. The purchase unit of measure and the blocked setting stay on the item level.
When you plan on a specific location that has a SKU card, the planning uses the information from that SKU. If there is no SKU for the location, the system uses the information from the item card.
Q&A
Which fields do I need to fill in when the replenishment system is set to Purchase?
Fill in the lead time calculation, the vendor number, and the purchase unit of measure on the Replenishment tab of the item card. The vendor number is required if you want the planning worksheet to create purchase orders for you.
Why is the lead time calculation field not in the purchase section?
The lead time calculation sits higher up on the Replenishment tab because it is also used in the assembly time calculation, not just for purchasing.
How do I stop new purchase orders from being created for an item?
Set the blocked checkmark on the Replenishment tab of the item card. This prevents new purchase orders from being created for that item. This setting is maintained at the item level, not on the SKU.
Which fields can I change on a stock keeping unit card?
On a SKU card you can change the vendor number, the vendor item number, and the lead time calculation. The purchase unit of measure and the blocked setting are maintained at the item level.
Does planning use the SKU card or the item card?
When you plan on a location that has a SKU card, the system uses the information from the SKU. If there is no SKU for the location, it uses the information from the item card.
How do I handle different units for buying and storing an item?
Set a base unit of measure for how you handle the item in your warehouse and a separate purchase unit of measure for how you buy it. For example, you can store the item in single units and buy it in boxes or cartons.