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Master Data in Warehouse Management 241

A bin can be used to store different materials. To distinguish between
quantities of different materials, the materials with the same characteristics are
grouped into quants. A quant is a specifi c quantity of materials that have simi-
lar characteristics and are stored in a single bin. For example, if road helmets
and t-shirts are stored in one bin, each material will be identifi ed by a different
quant. Figure 7-18 illustrates the use of quants. In the top left quadrant there
is one quant of material A. Two materials—A and B—are stored in the bin in
the top right quadrant. Each material is identifi ed by a separate quant. Quants
are also used when the same material with different characteristics is stored
in one bin. In the pharmaceuticals industry, for example, drugs are produced in
batches, and each batch has both a specifi c expiration date and a unique batch
number. When different batches of the same material are stored in the same
bin, each batch is identifi ed by a different quant. This arrangement is illustrated
in the bottom left quadrant of the fi gure. Finally, the bottom right displays an
example in which some quantities of the material are of the stock type unrestricted
use and other quantities are designated as in quality inspection. The quantity
of each type of material is associated with a different quant.

Figure 7-17: Quants in a storage bin

Quants are created as needed by the ERP system when materials are
moved into bins. After a quant has been created, the quantity of materials
can be increased or decreased only by a goods movement. Moreover, when
the quantity is reduced to zero, the system automatically deletes the quant.
Because quants are generated as needed, they are categorized as transaction
data. We discuss them here, however, to emphasize the relationship between
quants and storage bins.

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