Distribution Management

Evolution offers two distinct types of Sales Ordering process - one that deals with sales from a single location, the other deals with sales from multiple locations, each of which has its own unique stock/replenishment processes. An extensive suite of distribution sales and planning modules covers this latter type, allowing the user to create warehouse specific inventory and planning parameters for each item, as well as creating a stores hierarchy that reflects the distribution logic of the organisation. With the DRP suite in place, Evolution allows the user two additional source codes (along with the standard make/buy/subcontract), to allow for product supply from another warehouse, and where the finished product is locally assembled or completed at the specific warehouse location. Transfer orders and local distribution / manufacturing orders are used to supply these two types of demand.

The Distribution Resource Planning (DRP) function provides the mechanism whereby stock replenishment at distribution centres (remote stores/warehouses) may take place via a cascade of the requirements down the replenishment hierarchy. This hierarchy may be of any number of levels, but is usually represented by a model that consists of:

• a factory where the products are made; the factory will replenish any number of
• central distribution centres (one for each region, country, or continent, for example); each central distribution centre will replenish any number of
• satellite distribution centres, which will service a particular region or country, for example (or these may act as central distribution centres for further satellite distribution centres)

In the above example, the replenishment process would normally result in:

• a shortage at a satellite distribution centre being covered (satisfied) by the raising of a request for a store transfer - for the required quantity of the product - from the relevant central distribution centre
• a shortage at a central distribution centre being covered (satisfied) by the raising of a request for a factory transfer - for the required quantity of the product - from the relevant factory.