Functionality

STATIC DATA

• Different spirits can be defined as unique Parts, further classified by Part Type (e.g. single spirit, married spirit, finished spirit or bottled stock), Spirit Type (e.g. single malt, blended malt, single grain, blended grain) and Region (e.g. lowland, highland, Speyside etc.)
• Multiple versions of a Formula can be defined for finished spirit and bottled stock Parts, detailing the one or more Formula Components that go to make up the spirit.
• A Part Ageing Profile can be defined for a single spirit Part, defining the ageing process on a year-by-year basis, in terms of specific Cask Types. The cost of re-racking from one cask type to another can also be defined. Anticipated re-racking costs are automatically included in forecasts of future lot values.
• Casks can be defined at a high level as Wood Groups (e.g. hogshead, puncheon), and also at a detailed level as specific Cask Types (e.g. 1st fill hogshead, 2nd fill hogshead). A standard capacity can be defined for each Wood Group.
• Bonded warehouses can be defined as Bonds.
• Representative percentage evaporation estimates can be defined down to the level of Bond and Wood Group by year. Anticipated evaporation is automatically included in forecasts of future stock levels.
• Individual Casks can be defined, if required, with each cask having a specific Cask Type and a capacity.
• Wood Rental Costs can be defined for the current and future years, at the level of Bond and Wood Group. Monetary or percentage uplifts can be applied in one action across multiple years.
• Customers can be defined, to identify the source of demand and also enable the recording of stock ownership.
• Makes (brands) and Spirit Groups can be used to group Parts when viewing enquiries.
• Individual Users are defined and linked to a Role, which determines the level of access the User has to the system.

DYNAMIC DATA

• Demand can be modelled as production requirements for the making of a part in the future, as a Tentative Lot – i.e. a quantity of a married spirit, finished spirit or bottled stock Part. One or more lots/parcels can be reserved against each component required in the production process.
• Demand can be modelled as a Plan, which can be used to represent production at a very high level in a future year or perhaps for an anticipated special project. One or more lots/parcels can be reserved against a Plan to satisfy it.
• Demand can also be modelled as a confirmed Sale from a specific Customer. One or more lots/parcels can be reserved against a Sale to satisfy it.
• Demand can also be modelled as a Forecast, either for a specific Customer or as a generic forecast. One or more lots/parcels can be reserved against a Forecast to satisfy it.
• Actual stock is modelled as Physical Lots. Each lot/parcel has a location (Bond), an availability date, an age of youngest spirit, a source (purchased or production) and a cost. A Physical Lot can be fully or partially reserved against one or more sources of demand.
• Physical Lots are held in one or more Casks. Pre-defined, individual casks can be consumed to hold the lot. Alternatively, cask numbers can be automatically generated on-the-fly.
• Physical Lots can be re-racked, with the new Cask numbers being selected manually or generated automatically on-the-fly.
• Planned or proposed stock is modelled as Tentative Lots. Each lot or parcel has an availability date, a source (purchased or production) and a cost. A Tentative Lot can be fully or partially reserved against one or more sources of demand.
• The future quantity and cost of each Physical Lot and Tentative Lot is calculated on a monthly basis, taking into account evaporation, wood rental costs and re-racking costs. This forward view of stocks forms the basis for the many enquiries.

ENQUIRIES

• The Part Enquiry provides a graphical chart at the Part level that identifies available stock and total demand month-by-month. Shortages are obvious when the stock goes negative. The enquiry also provides data grids highlighting Parts where a shortage will definitively occur at the end of a month and also might occur during the month, depending on the timing of demand and supply during the month.
• The Lots Enquiry provides a graphical chart showing anticipated stock levels on a month-by-month basis into the future. It also provides a data grid showing for each month demand and supply figures, along with any evaporation losses that are likely to occur.
• The Spirit Requirements by Spirit Group enquiry shows distillation/marrying/finishing requirements by year for Parts, grouped by Spirit Group. Requirements are shown both including and excluding evaporation.
• The Spirit Requirements by Part enquiry gives a breakdown at the Part, month and Cask Type level of total spirit requirements based on planned production, showing available stock and highlighting any shortfalls.
• The Spirit Alternatives enquiry highlights stocks of spirit that could be considered for use where shortages exist for future production.
• The Production Shortages enquiry highlights production requirements for Tentative Lots with a source of production, where either insufficient component stock has been reserved or no component stock at all has been reserved.
• The Reservation Shortages enquiry highlights Sales and Forecasts that have not been fully reserved.
• The Lot Reservations Enquiry lists for a Part or particular lot/parcel the reservations that exist to satisfy demand. It also lists separately new lots/parcels that will become and available and details of all lots for the Part.
• The Costs Enquiry provides a graphical chart of total supply cost, broken down by purchases and production, on a year-by-year basis going into the future.
• The Lot Balances Snapshot facility provides the user with the ability to create a snapshot of all lot details at a point in time. This can then be used for comparative reporting across two or more snapshots.