Design Products

The starting point for any business that deals with physical goods is to establish the item. First, you must create a database record for the item, an item card. The item card is a placeholder for critical master data that is used throughout the supply chain as the item is processed. All the rules and values, such as costing method, dimension codes, and substitutions that apply to the item are entered on the item card. After you create the item card, this record controls how the item is processed in business documents by providing information, such as price, sales terms, availability, and planning parameters.

When the item card is completed, you can proceed to other product design tasks, such as defining cross-reference descriptions or substitution items and creating stockkeeping units for items stored in multiple locations.

Items that are assembled or produced within a company require additional product design tasks, which are described in Define Material and Process Structure.

The following table describes a sequence of tasks with links to the topics that describe them. These tasks are listed in the order in which they are generally performed.

To	See
Initiate a new item card based on a company-specific data template.	Config. Template List
Create the master data record that will hold all rules and values that govern how the product is planned and handled.	How to: Set Up Items
Define how the planning system calculates replenishment of the item.	Reordering Policy
Define if the planning system must calculate production need for lower production BOM levels of the item.	Manufacturing Policy
Define how the outbound unit cost of the item is applied to inbound transactions for inventory valuation.	Costing Methods
Specify in which unit of measure the item is handled by default.	Base Unit of Measure
Specify other units of measure in which the item may be handled.	How to: Specify Alternative Unit of Measure Codes
Write a comment that can be shown on all documents where the item is handled.	Comment Line
Assign one or more default dimensions to the item card that will be included on related document lines and eventually work as a source of analysis of historic transactions.	Default Dimension Table
Attach a picture (.bmp file) of the item.	How to: Insert Pictures
Define one or more variations of the item that customers may choose from.	Item Variant
Make a cross-reference between the item's number and another item code, such as a barcode.	Item Cross Reference
Specify which other items can be offered to customers if the first item choice is not available.	Item Substitution
Create a simplified item card for items that need not be managed as inventory items, such as drop-shipment items, special order items, or internal office supplies.	How to: Create Nonstock Items
List codes for product groups to group items by product type, such as chairs.	Product Group Table
List codes for item categories, to group items or product groups, such as furniture.	Item Category Table
Set up language translations for item descriptions so that foreign vendors and customers can get printed documents in their own language.	How to: Set Up and Use Item Translations
Write additional text that can be shown in separate document lines in addition to the item description.	How to: Set Up Extended Text
Set up number series and rules for serial/lot numbers and assign item tracking codes to items for item tracking.	How to: Set Up Item Tracking Codes
Create a hierarchy of items that are sold together as one item, such as a kit.	Bill of Materials Window
Define an additional item record that reflects unique rules and values for the item at one location.	Create Stockkeeping Unit

See Also

Other Resources

Create New Vendor Accounts
Purchase Goods
Create New Customer Accounts
Sell Goods
Execute Production