Managing Recurring Shipments in Cetec ERP
Recurring shipments - such as sending 400 units every month over a 6-month period - are a common setup for manufacturers managing ongoing demand. Cetec ERP provides flexible tools to support this kind of fulfillment pattern, whether you prefer to build everything up front or produce in monthly batches.
Let’s walk through two effective ways to handle this scenario in Cetec ERP, using an example from a contract manufacturer managing a 2400-piece order scheduled for delivery in monthly quantities of 400.
Option 1: Build the Full Quantity at Once, Ship in Monthly Releases
In this approach, the manufacturer creates a single Sales Order for the full quantity and splits it into multiple lines based on the shipping schedule.
- The original order of 2400 is split into six lines of 400 units each.
- Each line is assigned a different ship date, aligning with the customer’s delivery schedule.
- All six lines use a Stock transcode, meaning the items are built ahead of time and held in inventory until they are shipped.
- A single Work Order is created for the full build quantity of 2400. The finished goods are then staged for release as each shipment date approaches.
This is a common path when manufacturers want to get ahead of production and have inventory ready for staggered shipments.
Option 2: Build in Monthly Batches of 400 Units
Some companies prefer to match production closely with each month’s shipment. Cetec ERP supports this by letting you break the order into multiple builds.
- The Sales Order is still split into six lines of 400 units, each with its own ship date.
- Each line can either:
- Use a Build transcode, prompting you to build the 400 units for that month only, or
- Use a Stock transcode and generate a separate Work Order per line.
- Work Orders can be created individually for each shipment cycle, giving the production team the flexibility to adjust based on capacity or material availability.
This method allows for a more iterative approach to manufacturing, closely tied to the shipping schedule.
Whether your team prefers to build all at once and ship over time, or produce goods in monthly batches, Cetec ERP offers the flexibility to support your methods. The system’s tools for splitting order lines, setting unique ship dates, and managing work orders per line give manufacturers control over how and when they produce and ship goods without compromising traceability or fulfillment accuracy.
It ultimately comes down to how your team wants to handle capacity, scheduling, and inventory. Cetec ERP is built to adapt to either strategy.