Life Sciences Supply Chain Management provides an additional Sub batch tracking dimension, which is available in the Tracking dimension groups form (Product information management > Setup > Dimension and variant groups > Tracking dimension groups).
The Sub batch dimension can be activated following the rules available for Microsoft Dynamics 365 Finance & Supply Chain Management tracking dimensions regarding blank issue/receipt allowed, primary stocking, and physical inventory.
Sub-batches can be generated, either manually or automatically, and registered in inventory upon purchase receipt and production report as finished via mobile device. Menu items with the following work creation processes support the sub-batch generation:
Purchase order item receiving
Purchase order line receiving
Purchase order item receiving and put away
Purchase order line receiving and put away
Load item receiving
Load item receiving and put away
Advanced report as finished
Advanced report as finished and put away
Manual sub-batch generation
Users can manually enter a new sub-batch number and the corresponding quantity upon registration via mobile device, by manually entering a value in the Sub batch field. Once a sub-batch is generated, the remaining quantity to be received is decreased, and the user is prompted to generate additional sub-batches to complete the registration process.
The sub-batch number is unique within a company. Upon registration and/or manual creation, the system prevents users from generating duplicate sub-batch numbers.
Automatic sub-batch generation
Users can automatically generate one or multiple sub-batches during the registration process via mobile device by clicking the Create sub batch numbers button in the Assign dimensions to LP screen.
It is possible to define the rule to create sub-batches for each mobile device menu item by selecting it in the Create sub batch numbers with field (Warehouse management > Setup > Mobile device > Mobile device menu items). The available rules are:
Quantity per sub batch: users are prompted to enter the Qty per sub batch (that is, the size of the sub-batch). The Number of sub batches is automatically calculated and not editable.
Number of sub batches: users are prompted to enter the Number of sub batches. The Qty per sub batch is automatically calculated and not editable.
Both (default): users are prompted to enter either the Qty per sub batch or the Number of sub batches. The other value is automatically calculated and editable.
Note
To enter the number of sub-batches, the user must set the Qty per sub batch to "0" and confirm.
When the Create sub batch numbers screen is opened, users are prompted to enter information based on the Create sub batch numbers with value defined for the mobile device menu item.
The following information is displayed in the Create sub batch numbers screen:
The Start number defines the first number used for generating sub-batch numbers.
The End number is calculated based on the Start number and the Number of sub batches to be generated.
The Format for the sub-batch number generation consists of the parent batch number plus a suffix (for example, "-###" will generate a sub-batch with a three-digit suffix). The default format can be defined in the Default sub batch ID format field in the General tab of the Inventory and warehouse management parameters form (Inventory management > Setup > Inventory and warehouse management parameters), but it can be manually overridden.
The Sub batch type dropdown menu can be used to select a sub-batch type to be assigned to the registered sub-batches. Users can skip sub-batch type selection by disabling the Edit sub batch type parameter in the relevant Mobile device menu item form (Warehouse management > Setup > Mobile device > Mobile device menu items). If the Edit sub batch type parameter is disabled, the Sub batch type dropdown menu is not displayed, and the Sub batch type field in the Sub batch details form becomes read-only.
If sub-batches have already been generated for a batch and additional sub-batches for the same batch must be registered later, the system automatically suggests the next Start number to avoid generating duplicates.
Note
If the Sub batch number group field has been populated in the item card of the material being registered, one or more of the fields above could be pre-populated and/or non-editable. Refer to the Advanced sub batch numbering feature for additional details.
Sub batch numbers from inventory transactions
For purchase order receipt, it is possible to register sub-batches already created in the purchase order line inventory transactions for example, an intercompany purchase order (see Sub batch integration in intercompany processes) with the sub-batch number inherited from the selling legal entity.
By enabling the Display sub batch number from inventory transactions parameter in the relevant Mobile device menu item form (Warehouse management > Setup > Mobile device > Mobile device menu items), the Scan sub batch number step is skipped, and the registration lines display the sub-batches from the purchase order line inventory transactions.
Note
The parameter is available when the Display registration lines form parameter is enabled and the Work creation process is set to:
Purchase order item receiving
Purchase order line receiving
Purchase order item receiving and put away
Purchase order line receiving and put away