Item Alternative
An Item Alternative is an Item similar to the original one and can be used instead of the original Item in manufacturing.
If the raw material defined in the BOM is not available during the production process then their respective available alternative Item can be used to complete the production process.
First you need to enable the "Allow Alternative Item" in the Item.
To access the Item alternative list, go to: Home > Stock.
Then under the Item Catalogue Section click on the Item Alternative shortcut. That should take you to the Item Alternative List View Screen.
Click on the Add Item Alternative button. That should take you to the New Item Alternative Creation screen.
Fill in the required information including the mandatory fields and then click the Save button to create an Item Alternative.
This can also be done by clicking the plus sign next to 'Item Alternative' from the Item master dashboard. You can enable Two-Way replacement between an Item and their alternative item if both can be used as an alternative to each other.
1. Prerequisites
Before creating and using an Item Alternative, it is advised that you create an item first.
2. Item Alternative for Work Order
To allow to using alternative Items in the manufacturing process, the user can configure to 'Allow Alternative Item' in the BOM/Work Order
2.1 Provision to allow alternative item in the BOM
You can enable 'Allow Alternative Item' in a BOM then select the alternative item in the Stock Entry. This can also be done with a Work Order.
2.2 Provision to allow alternative item in the Work Order
Users can also enable/disable alternative items for individual Work Orders.
Ticking on the 'Allow Alternative Item' checkbox will show a button named 'Alternate Item'. You can click on this to set the Item Alternative in the Work Order.
If the 'Allow Alternative Item' checkbox in the Item table is disabled, you cannot set an Alternate Item for this Item.
2.3 Item Alternative for subcontract
In a subcontract, the user has to transfer raw materials to the subcontracted supplier to get finished goods from them. If the raw material is not available in the stock, with this feature, the user can transfer the alternate item of the subcontracted raw material to the supplier. This is done in the Stock Entry. After this, when you create a Purchase Receipt from the Work Order, the alternate item will be shown.
