As a company expands, managing inventory and production becomes more complex. Odoo 16 simplifies these tasks, providing users with efficient operations. Lot and serial numbers play a crucial role in tracking items from manufacturing to point of sale. White both serve the purpose of tracking products , there are distinct differences between them. Serial numbers are unique identifiers for individual products, while lots consist of codes for groups of items with common characteristics. Leavaring lot and serial number tracking in Odoo 16 offers numerous benefits , enabling businesses to monitor product movement and facilitate source identification in recalls or quality issues.
Configuration Traceability Features in Odoo 16:
In the configuration settings of the inventory module, you have the option to enable traceability features for setting up lot and serial numbers, as illustrated in the image below.
Enabling these features grants you access to a product’s traceability within the inventory tab of the product form.
Product tracking can be achieved through distinct methods : Using unique serial numbers and lots. While both approaches serve the same purpose of tracking products, they differ in certain aspects.
In the case of lots, it involves assigning a specific quantity to a group of items that are acquired and stored together within a single pack. On the other hand, serial numbers entail assigning a unique identification code or number to each individual item in the inventory. This means that every product in stock is marked with its own distinct serial number for accurate tracking.
In Odoo 16, there is a traceability option available within the operation types. You can access the operation types configuration through the inventory module settings.
In Odoo 16, operation types play a crucial role in categorizing various inventory operations. These operations encompass functions such as receipt, delivery, manufacturing, and internal transfer. Each type serves a specific purpose in managing and tracking inventory throughout the supply chain.
Within the receipt operation types in Odoo 16, there are options to either “Create new” or “Use existing” lots and serial numbers. When purchasing a product, you have the flexibility to select an existing lot or serial number if available, or alternatively, you can create a new lot or serial number for the acquired items. This choice allows for efficient management of inventory based on the specific needs and availability of lots and serial numbers during the purchase process.
Unique Serial Number Tracking
Tracking and traceability can be accomplished effectively using unique serial numbers. These serial numbers serve as distinct identification codes assigned to individual products, facilitating the tracking of their entire history from the point of receipt, through delivery, and even during after-sales processes. When purchasing a product, the unique serial number acts as the key element for accurate tracking and seamless management of the product’s lifecycle.
After selecting the product with tracking via a unique serial number in the purchase order as mentioned above, you can proceed to set up the serial number during the product’s receipt once the order is confirmed. This allows you to associate the specific unique serial number with the received product, ensuring effective traceability throughout its lifecycle.
Upon clicking the menu icon in the receipt form, you will be redirected to a pop-up window.
In this pop -up window, you have the option to provide the serial number for the products.When purchasing a large quantity of items , manually assigning a serial number to each one can be a cumbersome task. To simplify this process, Odoo offers an automated solution where you need to specify the first serial number of the product and the number of serial numbers required.
Once you input these details into the respective fields in the form, clicking on the “Assign serial numbers” button will automatically generate the serial numbers for the products you are purchasing. This streamlines the process of assigning serial numbers and ensures efficient management of your inventory.
In this step, you will observe that the serial numbers have been successfully assigned based on the provided first serial number. Once you have confirmed the accuracy of the assigned serial numbers, proceed to validate the receipt to finalize the process. This will ensure that the products are now properly tracked using their unique serial numbers in your inventory.
Once you have successfully validated the receipt, the traceability tab will become visible in the receipt form. This tab allows you to access and manage the traceability information associated with the products received, including their unique serial numbers and any relevant tracking details.
From the traceability tab in the receipt form, you can access the traceability report, which provides comprehensive details of the products, including their respective serial numbers and current product locations. This report enables you to efficiently track and monitor the movement of each product throughout its lifecycle, enhancing transparency and facilitating effective inventory management.
Lot Number Tracking
In Odoo 16, lot numbers serve as unique identifiers assigned to products. These lot numbers play a crucial role in tracking the movement of products across the supply chain and are particularly useful for identifying and managing specific batches of products. Through lot numbers, businesses can maintain accurate records and ensure better traceability, enhancing efficiency and quality control in their operations.
For the demonstration, let’s proceed by purchasing a product that utilizes the lot number for tracking purposes. Once the purchase is complete, validate the receipt to finalize the transaction and record the product’s lot number. This will enable efficient tracking and management of the product based on its designated lot number throughout the supply chain.
During the product receipt process, you can assign the lot number to the received items, just as we did before. To do this, click on the “Add a line” button and input the desired lot number for the specific product. This action will associate the product with the designated lot number, allowing for easy and accurate tracking of the batch throughout its lifecycle.
After adding the lot number “LT-01” and updating the done quantity for the 10 quantities of pens received, these items will now be associated with the Lot Number LT-01. To proceed with finalizing the receipt process, remember to click on the “Confirm” button and then validate the receipt. This will ensure that the products are now linked to the specified lot number and properly recorded in the system for effective traceability.
After validating the receipt , you can access the traceability report to review the details of the received products and their associated lot/serial numbers.
Regarding the operation types, if you wish to utilize existing lot/serial numbers and prevent the creation of new ones, ensure that the “Use existing one” field is enabled in the operation type settings. This option restricts the system to only allow the use of already existing lot/serial numbers, providing better control and consistency in product tracking throughout the inventory management process.
You can now access the Lot/Serial menu from the product tab within the inventory module. This menu allows you to manage and track the lot and serial numbers associated with various products, enabling you to efficiently monitor inventory movements and maintain accurate records.
From this section, you have the option to create a new Lot/Serial number for a product. Once created, you can utilize this tracking number when purchasing the respective product. This enables you to establish a unique identifier for the item, ensuring effective traceability and management throughout its lifecycle.
In the aforementioned form, you have the ability to input the Lot/Serial number and select the product associated with this specific lot/serial number. The quantity will automatically update to reflect the available stock for that particular lot/serial number. Additionally, there is an option to include an internal reference, which can be used if it differs from the manufacturer’s lot/serial number. This feature ensures accurate tracking and easy reference for each unique lot/serial number assigned to the products in your inventory.
Let’s proceed by creating a purchase order for the product Breads and then assign the lot/ serial number during the validation of the receipt.
During the receipt validation process, make sure to input the appropriate lot/serial number for the received “Breads” product. This step will ensure that the product is associated with the correct lot/serial number and allows for efficient traceability and inventory management.
In this case, you will observe that the purchase order uses an existing lot number when acquiring the product. This demonstrates how the system allows for the selection and utilization of pre-existing lot numbers to track and manage inventory effectively.
When attempting to create a new lot/serial number, an error message will appear, indicating that you are not permitted to generate a new lot/serial number. This message is displayed because the operation type has been configured to only allow the use of existing lot/serial numbers, thereby enforcing strict control over the tracking and management of products within the specified lot numbers.
When attempting to add a new Lot/Serial number to this receipt, an error will appear as shown in the above image. This occurs because the “create new” option is disabled in the operation type form. As a result, the system does not permit the creation of new Lot/Serial numbers for this particular operation, enforcing the use of existing lot/serial numbers only.
Displaying Lot/ Serial Numbers on Documents
Once you have enabled this setting, lot/serial numbers will be included on the delivery slip and invoice for all products that have been assigned a lot/serial number. This ensures that customers can readily identify the traceability of each product they receive. By providing this essential information on the documents, customers gain valuable insights into the origin and history of the products they have purchased, enhancing transparency and building trust in the products and the business.
Let’s Proceed by creating a sale order for the product that has the tracking method enabled for lot/serial numbers. Once the sale order is created , validate the delivery of the product.
During the delivery validation process, the system will automatically associate the relevant lot/serial number assigned to the product. This ensures that the delivered product is accurately tracked and reflects the traceability information associated with its specific lot/serial number. By doing so, the delivery process becomes more efficient, and customers can have confidence in the product’s authenticity and origin.
Upon completing the delivery process, you will notice that a print button is generated. By clicking on this button, you can easily generate the delivery slip. The delivery slip contains essential details about the shipped products, including their associated lot/serial numbers, ensuring clear traceability and transparency throughout the supply chain. This enables smooth documentation and communication with customers, providing them with a comprehensive record of the delivered items.
In the delivery slip mentioned above , you can observe that the Lot / Serial number of the product is displayed for traceability purposes.
Similarly, when creating the invoice for the order after validating the delivery, you can also display the Lot/Serial numbers on the invoice. This allows for seamless documentation and transparency throughout the sales process. By including Lot/Serial numbers on the invoice, customers have easy access to crucial information about the products they have purchased, further reinforcing their trust in the products and your business.
Exactly, you will also find the Lot/Serial number displayed on the invoice. This practice ensures consistency with the information provided on the delivery slip and allows customers to have a comprehensive record of the product’s Lot/Serial number throughout the entire sales transaction. Including this data on the invoice adds clarity and transparency, making it easier for customers to track and verify the authenticity and origin of the purchased product.
Expiration dates with product Traceability
To enable the functionality of product expiration, you must activate certain additional characteristics from the General Settings of the Inventory module.
These settings typically include options related to Track Expire Dates or Use Expiration Dates to allow the system to manage product expiration efficiently. Once these features are enabled , you can easily assign expiration dates to products , ensuring proper tracking and management of product shelf life throughout your inventory operations.
Once you have enabled the expiration date feature in the settings, navigate to the product form’s inventory tab. In this section, you will be able to access and manage the expiration date information for each product. By inputting the relevant expiration dates, you can ensure that the system effectively tracks and manages the shelf life of products, helping you maintain better control over inventory and avoid potential issues related to expired items.
Enabling product traceability allows you to incorporate expiration dates for better inventory management. After enabling the feature, you can set up important expiration – related dates such as receipt date , best before date , removal date , and alert date for the product.
Once you have configured the expiration details, proceed to create a purchase order for this particular product. During the purchase process, the system will now take into account the specified expiration dates, ensuring that you can efficiently track and manage product shelf life. This feature aids in proactive inventory management, allowing you to identify and utilize products with closer expiration dates first, minimizing waste and optimizing product freshness.
As indicated, the scheduled date for the receipt is 06/02/2023. This date specifies when the product is expected to be received or delivered, and it plays a vital role in the inventory management process, helping businesses plan and coordinate their operations effectively.
Indeed, the expiration date has been calculated as 06/07/2023 because we configured it to be five days after the receipt date, which is 06/02/2023. By setting up this expiration rule, the system automatically computes the expiration date, allowing for efficient tracking and management of product shelf life based on the receipt date. This feature ensures that products are consumed or sold before their expiration dates, helping to maintain product quality and avoid any issues with expired inventory.
To access one of these Lot/Serial numbers, navigate to the product menu within the inventory module. From there, you can open and view the details of a specific Lot/Serial number associated with a particular product. This feature allows you to gather comprehensive information about the product’s history, movements, and any relevant expiration dates, enhancing your ability to track and manage inventory efficiently.
From this section, you can also observe the best before date, removal date, and alert date, all of which are calculated based on the specific number of days configured in the product form. These dates provide valuable information about the product’s freshness, the recommended date for its removal from inventory, and any alerts set to notify you about approaching expiration or removal dates. Having these details readily available enhances your ability to make informed decisions regarding product management, ensuring timely actions to maintain product quality and prevent any issues related to expired items.
Odoo 16 simplifies inventory management by providing robust lot and serial number tracking functionalities. Users can efficiently monitor product movements and ensure transparency throughout the supply chain. With the ability to track unique identifiers and manage product expiration, businesses can enhance inventory control and optimize product quality.