Bulk and packed items

A bulk item is typically defined as an item that is not individually packaged or sold. They are managed and stored in larger quantities or units, often in containers or bins. The bulk item would have its usual formula and route, detailing the required raw materials and production method.

Packed items are the units of products that are typically sold to customers. These items are packaged and sold in standard quantities or packaging configurations. There would typically be multiple packed items for each pack or quantity that the item can be sold in. For example, the bulk item might be milk and sold in 1 pint, 2 pint and 4 pint bottles, so there would be three packed items each configured with a formula containing a quantity of 1, 2 and 4 of the bulk item respectively.

In Dynamics 365, a bulk item is considered a parent item, whereas a packed item is considered a child item. The relation between the bulk item and the packed item is expressed in a bulk item conversion. This bulk item conversion is defined on either the bulk or pack item via the Product information management > Products > Released products screen under the Manage stock > Bulk item conversion menu:

Based on the above example, if there is a demand for 120 boxes of PACK01 and another demand of 50 boxes of PACK01, Master Planning will calculate, based on 10 BULK01 per box, a requirement of 1200 and 500 BULK01 respectively:

By selecting the lines and clicking the Firm and Consolidate button a Consolidated batch order will be created that will hold all the information for the total quantity of 1700 BULK01, and how that splits between the two original BULK01 planned orders and two original PACK01 planned orders:

Please note: by clicking the Firm button above, the four separate batch orders will be created, but the details of how the Consolidated batch order is made up will be held under the Consolidated order number (USMF-000012 in the example above) and can be viewed via Production control > Works orders > Consolidated batch orders