Distribution Centers in IMS

Distribution Centers, or DCs, are stock areas that fulfill supply requests and orders.

What are Distribution Centers?	Fulfilling Requests for Distribution Centers
Creating Distribution Centers	FAQ
Assigning Stock Areas
Placing Supply Orders for Distribution Centers

What are Distribution Centers?

Distribution centers (DCs) are stock areas used to store, process, and distribute supplies. They typically receive bulk orders from manufacturers and suppliers.

In JM, DCs are used to consolidate shipments and designate preferred stock areas when issuing supply requests. They are not required to use Inventory Management System (IMS).

Stock areas must be created in IMS before being enabled as Distribution Centers.  Click here to learn about adding stock areas to IMS.

Creating Distribution Centers

1. On the portal site, go to Inventory > Inventory Management System.
2. Open the Stock Areas tab.
3. Click the Edit Pencil in the Actions column for the stock area.
4. On the Detail tab, enable Distribution Center.
   • Distribution Centers are tagged on the Stock Areas tab.
     

Assigning Stock Areas

1. Go to Inventory > Inventory Management System.
2. Open the Stock Areas tab.
3. Click the Edit Pencil for the stock area.
4. Under the Distribution Center subtab, enable Has Different Fulfillment Center and assign the desired Distribution Center.
   
   • Stock areas with assigned Distribution Centers are tagged on the Stock Areas tab.
     

Assigning from the Distribution Center

1. On the Stock Areas tab, click the Edit Pencil for the Distribution Center.
2. Under the Assigned Stock Areas subtab, assign the desired stock areas.

Placing Supply Orders for Distribution Centers

Distribution Centers consolidate backordered supplies and order the minimum unit of measure (UOM) required to fulfill requests.

For example, hand soap is bought by the case, and each case has 6 bags. The soap is stored and used by the bag.

Stock Area A needs 3 bags, and Stock Area B needs 2 bags. Both use the same distribution center.

If you fulfill the order at the distribution center, you can order just 1 case (the smallest UOM) to cover both requests.

Backordering Supply Requests

1. Go to Inventory > Inventory Management System.
2. Open the Supply Requests tab.
3. Click the Shopping Cart icon for any pending requests.
   • The status will change to Backorder Pending.

Placing Supply Orders

1. Go to Inventory > Inventory Management System.
2. Open the Supply Orders tab and click + New Supply Order.
3. Select the distribution center as the stock area.
4. View pending requests in the Pending Supply Request column. Toggle Add to include requests or click Add All Pending Supply Requests to include all. This will pull all supply requests from stock areas assigned to the Distribution Center.
5. Click the Pending Request icon to see which requests will be fulfilled.
   
6. Click Save to create the order. The linked requests will be issued once the order has been stocked.

Fulfilling Supply Requests using Distribution Centers

1. Go to Inventory > Inventory Management System.
2. Open the Supply Requests tab and click the Edit Pencil on a pending request.
3. Open the Issue subtab, then click the Gear icon for an item.
4. The Stock Available section shows where the item can be pulled from. Any distribution centers for the destination stock area are labeled. 
   

FAQ

Question: Why don't I see my backordered supplies when creating a new supply order?

Answer: The requested items may already be linked to a supply order.

For more information, or to send in a request to the Janitorial Manager support department, use the red 'Help' button in the bottom right corner of any Help Desk article.