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Re: [mv] Inventory Control
****** message to minivend-users from cfm@maine.com ******
On Thu, Oct 12, 2000 at 10:53:01PM -0400, Mike Heins wrote:
> ****** message to minivend-users from Mike Heins <mikeh@minivend.com> ******
> > > I think the way to do this is to have separate SKUs.
I had a discussion about that with one of our clients, head of a large
accounting firm when he set up a catalog with us. Ultimately, there
are lots of different paths. He does agree that if they are distinct
items, use distinct SKUs. Just what makes a distinct item in a
minivend catalog is fuzzy (to say the least). He was more interested
in how product codes translated into bin layout. We mapped that
instead.
Some people consider all tshirts one product, others consider
XXL Green, cotton beefy a distinct SKU from XL Green,cotton beefy.
FWIW, most of our larger clients running "real" accounting and
inventory systems have distinct SKUs.
Yes, making more products leads to grouping issues. It seems
to me easier to deal with them at display end than by mangling the
products subsequently. I'd guess that categories and product
groups take care for the "children". Often that translates into
overloading product codes with meaning - another poor choice
for long term.
> I have thought about several ways of doing it, but the one thing I
> insist on is that Interchange's database tables be maintainable by
> other programs. Modular bill of materials works, but is a living hell to
> maintain and to understand. If the item structure relies on its routines
> to maintain, it isn't usable by many people.
--
Christopher F. Miller, Publisher cfm@maine.com
MaineStreet Communications, Inc 208 Portland Road, Gray, ME 04039
1.207.657.5078 http://www.maine.com/
Database publishing, e-commerce, office/internet integration, Debian linux.
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