Best Practice for a "Blanket" Order? How to set it up properly?

Legacy Contributor

Good Morning,

Would love to hear how other address / accomplish this challenge

We have a customer that has ordered 260 units of an Item to be delivered sometime in 2023.

The exact deliver dates and quantities of each delivery is variable.  They will call and say "I need you to ship 10 on next Wednesday."

What's the best way to set this up from the beginning?

Today they create the Orders (OIS300) guessing on dates and quantities, but there are always changes and a jumbled change to Lines, etc. 

How does everyone else handle an Order like that?

Thanks,

Steve

vthakur

Considering the dynamic nature of the customer's order requests and the variability in delivery dates and quantities, I would recommend utilizing a Blanket Agreement with the Customer as the best approach to streamline the order management process in Infor M3.

This process allows you to create a blanket agreement and specify the items, prices, and terms covered under this agreement.

There are two options available for entering a blanket agreement:

1. Item-based Agreement: In this method, you can create an agreement specifically for an individual item. You define the item's pricing and associated terms within the agreement.

2. Superior Group-based Agreement: Alternatively, you can create an agreement based on superior groups. These groups allow you to combine multiple items that share common characteristics. For instance, items belonging to the same product group, item type, or business area can be grouped together under a single superior group-based agreement. This simplifies the management of related items and their associated terms within the agreement.

Both approaches offer flexibility in managing blanket agreements, allowing you to tailor the agreement structure to the specific needs of your business.

Prior to initiating the process, ensure that you have specified the customers and items involved in the blanket agreement. Additionally, define a customer blanket agreement type in 'Customer Blanket Agreement Type. Open' (OIS063). This agreement type will serve as a basis for default values, which can be modified during the blanket agreement entry.

If you intend to manage agreement lines at a grouped level, follow these steps:

1. In 'Customer Blanket Agreement Type. Open' (OIS063), select the 'Superior group' parameter.
2. Define control fields in 'Blanket Agreement Line Selection Field. Enter' (OIS064).

The manner in which the blanket agreement is validated depends on the following settings:

1. 'Agreement check – order header' and 'Agreement check – order lines' fields in 'Customer. Open' (CRS610/F).
2. The 'Agreement check' field in 'CO Type. Open' (OIS010/I).

By following these guidelines, you can effectively manage blanket agreements, customize default settings, and ensure proper validation during the order process.

Follow these steps

1. Start 'Cust Blanket Agreement. Open' (OIS060/B).

2. Create a new blanket agreement by specifying the customer number, an identity for the agreement, the date the agreement becomes valid and the agreement type. Select 'New' to proceed to the E panel.

3. On the E panel, specify the status, whether or not the agreement covers prices, quantity check and other general information. Press Enter to proceed to the F panel.

4. On the F panel, specify terms and conditions for the agreement. Press Enter and 'Customer Blanket Agreement. Open Lines' (OIS061) is started. If you want to enter single items to the agreement, go to step 5. If you want to enter superior groups, go to step 6.

5. Specify an item to be covered by the agreement, select 'New' and you will proceed to the E panel. Go to step 7.

6. Specify a priority, press Enter and the selected fields entered in 'Blanket Agreement Lines Selection Field. Enter' (OIS064) are displayed. Specify in the fields the values applicable to your agreement. Select 'New' to proceed to the E panel.

7. On the E panel, specify a price list, if you want to use a price list instead of prices in the agreement. Specify, if necessary, a valid to date, supplier number and a supplier agreement number. Press Enter to proceed to the F panel.

8. On the F panel, specify the agreed quantity of the item and the interval for call-offs. Press Enter and you will return to the B panel, continue to step 10. To specify sales prices, go to step 9.

9. Select option 11=Prices in (OIS061/B) to proceed to 'Cust Blanket Agreement. Enter Prices' (OIS062/E) where you can specify sales prices for different order quantities.

10. To enter more items, repeat the procedure from step 5. If you want to enter more superior groups, repeat the procedure from step 6. To end, press F3.