Automatic item tracking#

The Automatic item tracking on release of the production order function comprises the following steps:

• Manually opening item tracking
• Calling up the function to determine the serial number from the item-specific number series
• Closing the "Item tracking" page
• Repeating the steps for each actual message line

Item tracking lines are generated automatically by:

• Status change: item tracking lines are created for released production orders
• Update production order function
• Create production order from planning proposal
• Create production order from sales order

Setup#

Item#

The items with stored item tracking can be set up for automatic allocation in the Item Tracking FastTab via the Mfg. Auto Create Item Track. Lines field.

Item Tracking#

The item tracking is set up using the Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central¹ standard.

Further information can be found at: Track items with serial, lot, and package numbers

Automatic Item Tracking#

Automatic item tracking only applies to "actual production notifications", not to consumption notifications. It is exclusively related to production.

Serial Numbers
If only serial numbers are selected, an item tracking line with quantity 1 is automatically generated for each serial number.

Lot Numbers
If only Lot numbers are selected, an item tracking line is automatically generated with a lot and the corresponding quantity.

Serial and Lot Numbers
If both fields of the item tracking code are selected, n item tracking lines are created with serial numbers and quantities of 1 each, all with the same lot number.

Workflow#

The automatic generation of item tracking lines takes place for all production order lines of the production order for which automatic creation is set in the item. The system always fills up to the maximum possible number of production order lines.

The following applies: Either n lines with serial number and quantity 1, or one line with lot number and the maximum possible quantity, or a combination of both.

The automatically generated item tracking lines can be changed manually at a later date if desired.

A new execution of one of the above-mentioned events, such as a production order status change, will take existing item tracking lines into account, regardless of whether they were created manually or automatically. In this case, additional item tracking lines are automatically created only up to the difference to the maximum possible quantity.

Example:
The production order is created with the status "Planned". The order line contains a quantity of 7 pieces of an item with automatic serial number generation in the "Firmly planned" status. In the "Planned" status, 4 serial numbers are entered manually. After switching to "Firmly planned", the application generates the 3 missing serial numbers.

It should also be noted that

1. manually increasing the quantity in a production order line does not automatically generate item tracking lines.
2. it is not permitted to manually reduce the quantity in the production order line if item tracking lines have already been defined.
3. a manual increase of the quantity in the production order line requires the manual entry of article tracking lines (standard behavior). It is therefore recommended to use the "Update production order" function, as a manual change to the quantity in the production order line also affects other data that is not automatically adjusted.