Bins
The storage location of each item is sub-divided into bins or rack locations. These bins are numbered, with that number being specified on the packing list or an order. These bins can be designated as default bins for incoming inventory. To read more on bins see Inventory Control
On the computer bins 1- 500 are labeled and stated to be on a specific shelf and then that those bins are on row 1 etc. Associating products to be in specific bins.
Build Ups
Iridium supports and inventory management tool called build ups. A build up item results from a larger whole sale order that then is broken down at the point of reception to make a new product which typically is comprised of a single line item of the original order. To put it in simpler terms a vender has the option to purchase drinking glasses in bulk but individually wrapped at 200 glasses per order. The glasses arrive at the warehouse wrapped in mass as a giant unit. The options for the glasses to be sold are in packs of four or eight. Therefore upon receipt of the glasses the shipment is broken down into packs of four and eight then repackaged and ready to be sold. The result is two new line items, the pack of four cups and the pack of eight drinking glasses. Never is there the option to buy a single glass. Once the two sets are packaged they are placed into their designated bin to be shipped.
Kitting
Kitting is yet another option to sell inventory within the Iridium system. This process is designed around the picker pulls the items at the time they are picking the items. What a kit would look like on an order is the kit header, which is basically a description of what the kit is. But the order itself is then going to include all of the four or five items that are included in the kit. The order itself has a line item that describes that this is a kit and the items then which are individually stored are then listed as part of the kit. For an example, In the case that the kit is red, white and blue ribbons, you also sell the ribbons individually, but if you buy them in a kit maybe you get a better price, the intention is that when you put it in the order, Amazon and Ebay would sell it as being the red, white and blue kit, when the order comes into us we’re going to take that red, white and blue kite item and we’re going to say that is made up of one red, one white, and one blue. There are three lines on this order. The picker is going to go over and find one red, one white, and one blue and then attach them to the order. Also note that ttems can be sold individually and as a part of a Kit. Kitting allows Item A to be sold as an independent SKU or as part of a combo kit. For example the inventory offers cubes in multiple colors to be sold as Cube R, Cube G, Cube B. All three Cube colors can be sold individually or in multiples of the same color or in a variety pack of all colors called Kit 1. Each Cube is stored independently of one another, and there are no preassembled kits. The picker is instructed that Kit 1 is comprised of Cube R, Cube G, and Cube B.
Serial Numbers
Serial Numbers are incorporated within the inventory management system. Each product and kit is assigned a unique serial number to track the inventory levels and location. (See Serial Numbers for more information)