Serial Numbers

In Footprint, a Serial Number represents an individual unit of Inventory - one instance Material of a particular type of Material. This individual good can be tracked and traced through its history within the system, from its creation all the way through its eventual departure from the Warehouse.

Serial Numbers are only given to Materials that are Serial controlled - either LotsSerial or MaterialLotSerial. Non-Serial controlled Materials are, typically, generic and anonymous.

Information about particular pieces of Inventory are tied to their Serial Numbers. For example, if a Material has a Variable Weight or Variable Dimensions, those measurements are tied to each unit's Serial Number. Serial Numbers also keep track of a Material's Task History (giving all sorts of details about where it has been at what time, its past Statuses, and so on), unique User Defined Fields, any Reason Codes relating to the Material, and even file Attachments for the Material. In essence, a Serial Number contains all information about the Material.

In the event that an item is not Serial Controlled but uses Variable Weights or Variable Dimensions, the system will automatically create and assign the item a Serial Number to track it by.

As a result of all this, LotsSerial and MaterialLotSerial controlled Materials, as well as any Variable Weight or Variable Dimensions Materials, do require extra steps be taken when being dealt with, primarily in identifying exactly which Materials are called into question.

Serial Numbers are identified by a LookUp Code, and are created when Receiving, Adding, Adjusting, or Manufacturing Inventory.