inventory control

[Guest]

I am trying to create an inventory control system in Access. I have 17 stores
that I want to set up for this. As it stands now I have created a form for
each store that shows what their inventory is. Each record is one item. In
this form I have a sub-form that is meant for sales for that particular item.
What I want to do is have one master inventory form so that all I have to do
is type the item number in the store form and it will know what the item is.
What is the best way of doing this ?

 

[Guest]

Hi Mr Muzz,

There are several important questions that need to be answered before anyone
will be able to offer potential solutions:

1) You say you have 17 stores - will they each see everyone's data, or will
each store maintain their own data.
2) If they are going to see all data, do they require real-time data
updates or batch updates.
3) How many users of the system?
4) How geographically remote are the 17 stores?

If you are after some simple solutions for a single store, google Access
Inventory System and you will find a heap to choose from. Of course, putting
my business hat on, if you have 17 stores, you probably want to actually pay
someone to develop the system for you!!

Hope this helps.

Damian.

 

[David F Cox]

The best way of doing this is to get a database professional to help you and
to help train someone in your organisation.
I do not think you would try and build your own cash registers. You could
replace a broken one of those relatively easily.
Get a solid foundation to build upon. You, or someone in your organisation,
could later build on that.

 

[JK]

By the look of it, David is absolutely correct.

What you are actually looking for is a fully fledged Accounting System with
Stock Control or at least a Stock Control System. That requires either a
professional, or someone who can become one.

Just from your brief description, your approach is, with respect, incorrect,
You Need:

Product table: Storing information about products
Stores table: Storing information about Stores *AND* their "Stock on Hand"
of products which is continuously updated by events such as

1. Deliveries into stores
2. Sales by stores
3. Write-offs (for whatever reasons)

Depending on your business, I haven't spoken about VAT, currencies, Sales
Tax etc, security etc. . This is just the tip of the iceberg.

Regards/JK