Understand units, packs and stock quantities

A unit says how a product is measured. A pack says how much arrives in a container. A job can consume a smaller compatible unit without changing how the workshop values its stock.

Example: oil bought in cans

Suppose oil is measured in litres and a can contains five litres. Receiving two cans adds ten litres. A job using 200 millilitres consumes 0.2 litres, not 200 litres.

The purchase's Unit Cost follows the received container or unit. A job's unit price follows its stock measurement. Always check the conversion shown beside the quantity.

Set up the measurements

1. Open Inventory → Units and review the existing units before adding another.
2. A new unit needs a unique name and code. For a smaller unit, choose its parent and provide the conversion if the system cannot fill in a standard conversion.
3. Open Inventory → Packs and define the container, amount and unit. The amount must be greater than zero.
4. On the product, set Measured in, Usually bought as and Usually used as.
5. On a purchase, check Received as and the displayed stock quantity. On a job or adjustment, check the selected consumption unit and converted quantity.

What happens next

Stock movements use the product's measurement. Purchases retain the pack size used when received. Changing a pack already used by purchases retires and replaces it so earlier receipts keep their original meaning.

Troubleshooting

• A unit from another family cannot be converted: choose compatible volume, weight or count units.
• A product's stock unit is locked once stock movements exist.
• A unit used by products or sub-units cannot simply be deleted.
• A report containing different units should not be interpreted as one physical quantity total.

Related articles

• Add products and opening stock
• Adjust and review stock