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Frequently Asked Questions on

Inventory Flows and Aging

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  • QUESTION:   Why can't I change a "Paused" asset to "Done"?

    ANSWER:

    You must first change the "Paused" asset to "Active", then from "Active" to "Done". You'll see this occasionally: you can't change directly from one asset state to another, but you must change through the logical sequence of states. See also The Life Cycle of an Asset.




  • QUESTION:   I bought a printer cartridge to cover my need for one, but the need shows 0 days left, even though the asset has 425 days left. What's up?

    ANSWER:

    The short answer: The asset is a supply, but the need is a durable. To solve this problem, convert the need to a management type of "supplies". Or, you could convert the asset to a durable, though that's not the preferred solution.

    The explanation: For a durable need, you must have enough of a quantity of covering assets to cover the need's required quantity, or the need will be considered completely uncovered. In this case, the need has a required "Quantity" of 1 (see the Need Properties page, Basic Data panel, Quantity field). But since you've started using this asset, you have less than one remaining. So MakeLifeEasy says that the need is uncovered. For example, if you say you need two electric toothbrushes, but you only have one, the need is uncovered (with zero days left) until you get another toothbrush, regardless of how long the first toothbrush will last.




  • QUESTION:   Why do some of the standard (model) need folders have a zero usage rate? Why do some have no usage rate value at all?

    ANSWER:

    In many cases, especially for high-level folders, it's not possible to specify any meaningful inventory management data because there are many types of needs under that folder. For example, needs under the top folder "Health & Beauty" include shampoo, hair dryers, etc. with different management types, usage rates, etc. So these high-level folders will have little or no pre-determined inventory management data. Further into the tree, lower-level folders will have more inventory management data as the needs contained within them are more specific. For example, the "Shampoo" folder will have a "Supplies" management type and "floz" usage rate units, though it will have a 0 floz usage rate since peoples' use of shampoo varies widely. Very specific folders may have sample inventory management data completely specified.

    Over time MakeLifeeasy will learn from its members and this data will be filled in, so that you can have a good starting point for determining your own inventory management data. For example, typical use of shampoo may turn out to be .5 floz/day, and we'll be able to specify this for you.




  • QUESTION:   Check the figure. Shouldn't the last valued date update when ever you save a change something on this page? It doesn't even change when I change the current value.

    ANSWER:

    MakeLifeEasy's Value & Resale Data feature currently saves the value of your assets when they were acquired. If you want to maintain the current value of your assets, you'll need to do it yourself. But don't go away! In an upcoming future release we'll help you determine the current value of your assets as well, using the data you have already loaded.






  • QUESTION:   My "Days Left" goes down by two each day for Folic Acid. Why is that?

    ANSWER:

    You have two assets covering that Need that are active. Each one is depleted by one days' worth each day. One of these should probably not be active. Depending on what's actually happening, you could:

    • Set the asset back to "Holding" status (if you're not actually using it).
    • Set the asset to "Paused" status (if you want to temporarily stop using it).
    • Create a new need and assign the asset to cover that need (if you actually do need to use both at once).
    • Consider some other possibility (set the asset to Done, delete the asset, etc.)






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