| Marlow on Blanket and Release |
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| Written by Marlow Atticus | |
| Saturday, 07 June 2008 | |
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Over the years I have noticed an increase in the number of order changes that Retailers are making. In my conversations with many of these Retailers, I’ve come to learn that quite often, the original order is being used as a Blanket order to lock in item quantities, and that the changes being made, are rolling changes against the order as the anticipated shipment date approaches. The original orders are being done through the use of an 850, and an 860 as a change against the original order. Others use the changes as a release of partial quantities of an original order. These are being done through the use of an 850 for the original order, and an 860 as change, or release against the original order, with the PO change containing ship or delivery dates at the item level (DTM segment). Some will use the SCH segment instead of a DTM segment, but either way, these are really releases again the original order. Others may send a 850 as an original order, then subsequent 850s to indicate incremental Release numbers in the BEG segment to release these quantities. For those of you sending orders and changes in this manor, I’d recommend you consider using an 830 for the blanket to advice your suppliers of your intent to commit to quantities of an item. Then as you're ready for items to be shipped, send an 850 referring to the Blanket order as a bulk or contract number. This will allow those suppliers that are accustomed to receiving 830s as a forecast, to handle Blanket orders using the same EDI transaction. It also allows the supplier to use only 850s for shipping against, verses releases on the 850s, or supporting 860 against these orders. There is no real trend, standard usage or best practice being used currently for this type of Order Model, but if you're interested in what’s easier for your trading partners to support, you may want consider the 830… Food for thought!! Your opinion? Marlow | |
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