---
id: inventory-management
title: "Inventory & Bin Management"
description: "Monitor multi-warehouse stock balances, manage bin hierarchies, execute stocktakes, and audit perpetual ledger movements."
category: "Inventory"
order: 11
resource: "inventory"
action: "read"
routes:
  - "/inventory"
  - "/inventory/locations"
  - "/inventory/bins"
  - "/inventory/ledger"
  - "/inventory/stocktakes"
tags: ["inventory", "stock", "bins", "valuation", "wac", "stocktakes", "warehouse"]
fields:
  location_id:
    title: "Warehouse Location"
    summary: "Physical distribution center or branch facility."
  bin_code:
    title: "Bin Identifier"
    summary: "Coordinate location (e.g. A01-R02-S3-B)."
  bin_type:
    title: "Bin Classification"
    summary: "Type of bin: storage, pick, bulk, staging, quarantine, in_transit, wip."
  quantity_on_hand:
    title: "Quantity On Hand"
    summary: "Total physical stock physically residing in warehouse bins."
  quantity_available:
    title: "Quantity Available"
    summary: "Stock available for new orders (On Hand minus Allocated Reservations)."
related:
  - "receiving"
  - "putaway"
  - "picking"
  - "transfers-quarantine"
  - "balances"
---

# Inventory & Bin Management

The **Inventory & Bin Management** module provides perpetual inventory visibility across all warehouse facilities, managing stock balances, multi-zone bin structures, and physical stocktake adjustments.

---

## Inventory Architecture & Bin Types

```mermaid
flowchart TD
    WH[Warehouse Location] --> Z1[Receiving / Staging Zone]
    WH --> Z2[Active Picking Zone]
    WH --> Z3[Bulk Storage Racking]
    WH --> Z4[Quarantine Isolation]

    Z1 --> B1[staging Bin]
    Z2 --> B2[pick Bin]
    Z2 --> B3[storage Bin]
    Z3 --> B4[bulk Bin]
    Z4 --> B5[quarantine Bin]
```

### 1. Bin Classifications (`BIN_TYPE`)
Bins are categorized by operational purpose:
* **`storage`**: Standard shelving and pallet positions holding sellable inventory.
* **`pick`**: Dedicated forward pick-face locations.
* **`bulk`**: High-density overstock and reserve pallet racking.
* **`staging`**: Temporary staging zones for dock receiving or outbound shipping.
* **`quarantine`**: Isolated bins holding rejected or damaged stock excluded from sales availability.
* **`in_transit`**: Virtual bin tracking stock moving between company facilities.
* **`wip`**: Work-in-progress holding location for manufacturing assemblies.

### 2. Available Stock Calculation
The system dynamically computes sellable availability:

```
Available Quantity = On-Hand Stock - Allocated Order Reservations - Quarantine Stock
```

* **On-Hand**: Physical inventory present in warehouse storage, pick, and bulk bins.
* **Allocated**: Units committed to confirmed customer sales orders awaiting picking/dispatch.
* **Quarantine**: Units in quarantine bins awaiting inspection or return.

---

## Step-by-Step Workflows

### 1. Performing an Ad-Hoc Stock Adjustment
1. Go to **Inventory** (`/inventory`).
2. Search for the product SKU.
3. Click **Adjust Stock**.
4. Select the **Warehouse** and specific **Bin Location**.
5. Enter the **Quantity Change** (+/-) and select a reason code (e.g. Found Stock, Breakage).
6. Click **Confirm Adjustment**. The inventory ledger updates immediately, and the balancing expense posts to the General Ledger.

### 2. Conducting a Stocktake
1. Go to **Inventory** → **Stocktakes** (`/inventory/stocktakes`).
2. Click **New Stocktake** and select the warehouse or zone.
3. Warehouse staff count physical items and enter counts into the stocktake sheet.
4. Review calculated variances.
5. Click **Post Stocktake** to apply inventory adjustments atomically.

---

## Field Reference

| Field | Description |
| :--- | :--- |
| **Product SKU** | Unique catalog identifier. |
| **Warehouse** | Physical facility location. |
| **Bin Location** | Shelf/rack address (`storage`, `pick`, `bulk`, `staging`, `quarantine`). |
| **On Hand** | Total physical count present in bins. |
| **Allocated** | Units reserved for confirmed customer orders. |
| **Available** | Net sellable stock (`On Hand - Allocated - Quarantine`). |
| **WAC Unit Cost** | Current Moving Weighted Average Cost valuation. |