Units of Measure

Units of Measure (UoM) are standardized quantities used to measure materials, products, and items in your inventory system. They provide a consistent way to track, manage, and transact items regardless of their physical characteristics.

The system supports four fundamental types of measurement units:

1. Weight - For measuring how heavy items are (e.g., grams, kilograms, pounds)
2. Volume - For measuring the space items occupy (e.g., liters, gallons, cubic meters)
3. Length - For measuring distance or dimensions (e.g., meters, inches, feet)
4. Dimensionless - For counting items that don't have a physical measurement (e.g., each, piece, unit)

Each Unit of Measure in the system consists of:

• Code - A unique identifier for the unit (typically an abbreviation like "KG" for kilograms)
• Name - The full name of the unit (e.g., "Kilogram")
• Type - The category of measurement (weight, volume, length, or dimensionless)
• Description - Additional information to help users understand when and how to use this unit

Every material in your inventory must have a designated base Unit of Measure. This base unit:

• Defines the fundamental way the material is measured and counted
• Is used for inventory calculations and reporting
• Serves as the reference point for unit conversions

The system allows for conversions between different units of measure, which is especially important when:

• Suppliers provide materials in units different from your base units
• Items need to be measured in alternative units for specific processes
• Reports need to display quantities in various measurement formats

Each UoM conversion includes:

• From UoM - The source unit (often a vendor's unit)
• To UoM - The target unit (often your system's base unit)
• Conversion Factor - The mathematical ratio to convert between units
• Rounding Precision - How many decimal places to maintain in calculations

• Accuracy - Ensures precise inventory counts and transactions
• Consistency - Maintains uniform measurements across your organization
• Flexibility - Accommodates different measurement needs across departments
• Supplier Integration - Simplifies working with vendors who use different measurement systems
• Regulatory Compliance - Helps meet industry or government requirements for measurement standards

1. Navigate to the Inventory Management section
2. Select "Units of Measure"
3. Click "Create New Unit"
4. Enter a unique code (e.g., "KG" or "EA")
5. Provide a descriptive name
6. Select the appropriate type (weight, volume, length, or dimensionless)
7. Add an optional detailed description
8. Save the new unit

1. Find the unit in the list
2. Click on the edit icon
3. Update the fields as needed
4. Save your changes

Units of Measure can be deleted when no longer needed, but only if they're not in use by any materials or conversions.

Alternatively, you can archive units that are no longer actively used but need to be retained for historical purposes:

1. Select the unit
2. Click "Archive" (or delete if appropriate)
3. The unit will be hidden from active view but can be restored if needed later

To restore an archived unit:

1. Navigate to "Archived Units of Measure"
2. Find the unit you want to restore
3. Click "Restore"

Unit conversions are typically established when creating or updating vendor materials:

1. Define the vendor's unit of measure for the material
2. Specify how this unit converts to your system's units
3. Enter the conversion factor (the mathematical ratio)
4. Set the rounding precision for calculations

• Weight: 1 Kilogram = 1000 Grams (conversion factor: 1000)
• Volume: 1 Gallon = 3.78541 Liters (conversion factor: 3.78541)
• Length: 1 Yard = 3 Feet (conversion factor: 3)
• Packaging: 1 Case = 12 Each (conversion factor: 12)

• Establish a consistent naming and coding convention
• Use internationally recognized standards where applicable (metric or imperial)
• Document your unit standards for all team members to reference

• Verify conversion factors with suppliers
• Periodically audit measurements to ensure accuracy
• Set appropriate rounding precision to balance accuracy with practicality

• Start with common units first, then add specialized ones as needed
• Train all inventory personnel on proper unit selection and conversion
• Review unit usage periodically to identify opportunities for standardization

• Verify the conversion factor with reliable sources
• Check that the unit types match (don't convert weight to volume directly)
• Ensure appropriate rounding precision is set

• Confirm that all transactions use the correct units
• Verify that conversion factors haven't changed over time
• Check for rounding issues in reports or calculations

• Choose the most natural unit for how the material is used
• Consider industry standards and supplier conventions
• Balance precision needs with practical usage

Units of Measure integrate with several other aspects of the system:

• Materials: Each material has a base UoM that defines how it's fundamentally measured
• Vendor Materials: Manage supplier-specific units and their conversions to your base units
• Inventory Transactions: All movements are recorded in the appropriate units
• Reporting: View inventory levels and movements in consistent, comparable units