Differences

This shows you the differences between two versions of the page.

--- other_stuff:virtual_stores [2025/08/10 05:37] – [Deleting a store] Mark Glover
+++ other_stuff:virtual_stores [2025/08/10 23:33] (current) – [Threshold for understock] Mark Glover
@@ Line 210: / Line 210: @@
 == Threshold for overstock ==
-The minimum months of stock an item must have to be considered as overstocked. i.e. in danger of expiring on the shelf before it is used. An alert is triggered for an item if the total quantity in stock (including all batches) divided by the average monthly consumption of the item (calculated using the last 12 months' usage in the current store) is greater than or equal to this threshold number. The default is 6 months.<WRAP center round tip>
+The months of stock of an item for it to be considered as overstocked.  In most real-life situations, the volume of storage available is limited and the Threshold for overstock can assist in managing storage space by preventing space being unnecessarily occupied.  An alert is triggered for an item if the total quantity in stock (including all stock lines) divided by the AMC of the item (calculated using the last 12 months' usage in the current store) is greater than or equal to this threshold number.  The default is 6 months.<WRAP center round tip>
-This value should be set no lower than the maximum amount of stock that you would expect to regularly have in stock.  Based on the formula developed in [[purchasing:ordering_from_suppliers#calculate_required_stock_quantity|Calculating the required stock quantity]], this would be <wrap em>Ordering cycle + (months of) buffer stock</wrap>.  The default value of 6 is suitable for a store with a 2-monthly order cycle.  For a central store with an annual order cycle, then this figure should be set to <wrap em>36</wrap>
+Clearly, the Threshold for overstock must be more than the [[other_stuff:virtual_stores#threshold_for_understock|Threshold for understock]].  The default Threshold for overstock value of 6 may be suitable for a store with a 1-monthly order cycle.  For a central store with an annual order cycle, then this figure should probably be set to <wrap em>no less than 36</wrap>
 </WRAP>
 == Threshold for understock ==
-Also called <wrap em>Buffer stock</wrap>, this is the number of months of stock that an item must have less of, to be considered understocked i.e. in danger of not having enough to meet demand. An alert is triggered for an item is the total quantity in stock(including all batches) divided by the average monthly consumption of the item (calculated using the last 12 months' usage in the current store) is less than or equal to this threshold number. The default is 3 months.<WRAP center round tip>
+Also called <wrap em>Buffer stock</wrap>, this is the number of months of stock that an item must have less of, to be considered understocked i.e. in danger of not having enough to meet demand.  An alert is triggered for an item is the total quantity in stock (including all stock lines) divided by the AMC of the item (calculated using the last 12 months' usage in the current store) is less than or equal to this threshold number. The default is 3 months.<WRAP center round tip>
-This alert should only be triggered when your stock levels fall below your buffer stock levels.  Based on the formula developed in [[purchasing:ordering_from_suppliers#calculate_required_stock_quantity|Calculating the required stock quantity]], <wrap em>Buffer stock (months) = 2 x Ordering cycle</wrap>.  The default value of 3 is suitable for a store with a 6-weekly order cycle.  For a central store with an annual order cycle, then this figure should be set to <wrap em>24</wrap>.  That is a lot of space for a national store with several thousand items :-/
+This alert should only be triggered when your stock levels fall below your buffer stock levels.  Based on the formula developed in [[purchasing:ordering_from_suppliers#calculate_required_stock_quantity|Calculating the required stock quantity]], <wrap em>Buffer stock (months) = 2 x Ordering cycle</wrap>.  The default value of 3 is suitable for a store with a monthly order cycle.  For a central store with an annual order cycle, then this figure should be set to <wrap em>24</wrap>.  That is a lot of space for a national store with several thousand items :-/
 </WRAP>
@@ Line 412: / Line 412: @@
 If the store is **Active** on another site, then this process will not delete the site.
 </WRAP>
+==== Merging stores ====
+Circumstances change, and you may find yourself in a position where you want to merge two stores.  The main benefit of doing this instead of just [[other_stuff:virtual_stores#disable_this_store|disabling]] one of them, is to combine the historic transaction records of both stores into the combined store so that you don't lose some of the transactions.
+<WRAP center round alert 60%>
+Merging stores is not reversible.
+</WRAP>
+<WRAP center round important 60%>
+The merge store feature has only recently been developed (2025).  As you can imagine, merging stores is a fairly sophisticated operation, and, when coupled with migrating the combined store to, say, Open mSupply, it can have unintended consequences.  Because it is such a dangerous operation, stores can only be merged by a member of the mSupply Foundation support team.
+Please email [[support@msupply.foundation]] so that the support team can test and see if you will encounter any issues, and then, in consultation with you, carry it out on your Central server for you.
+</WRAP>