EDI 846 Inventory Inquiry/Advice

Functional Group IB

X12M Supply Chain Subcommittee

This Draft Standard for Trial Use contains the format and establishes the data contents of the Inventory Inquiry/Advice Transaction Set (846) for use within the context of an Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) environment. The transaction set can be used in the following ways: (1) for a seller of goods and services to provide inventory information to a prospective purchaser, with no obligation to the purchaser to acquire these goods or services; (2) for a representative of a seller of goods and services to supply inventory information to that seller; (3) for one location to supply another location with inventory information; and (4) for an inquiry as to the availability of inventory with no obligation on the seller of goods and services to reserve that inventory.

What is an EDI 846?

An EDI 846 Inventory Inquiry/Advice communicates product inventory levels from a supplier to a buyer. It contains information about product location (SDQ segment), quantity levels (QTY segment), and estimated replenishment dates (DTM segment).

How is an EDI 846 used?

For example, Vendor A sends Retailer B an EDI 846 Inventory Inquiry/Advice twice daily to provide an indication of their entire catalog's stock status. If Vendor A communicates that a SKU is out of stock in the EDI 846 Inventory Inquiry Advice, Retailer B will take that SKU off the website or list the item as “out of stock” until a subsequent EDI 846 Inventory Inquiry/Advice shows that it is available.

Heading

Position
Segment
Name
Max use
  1. To indicate the start of a transaction set and to assign a control number

  2. To indicate the beginning of an Inventory Inquiry/Advice Transaction Set

  3. To specify the currency (dollars, pounds, francs, etc.) used in a transaction

  4. To specify pertinent dates and times

  5. To specify identifying information

  6. To identify a person or office to whom administrative communications should be directed

  7. To specify physical measurements or counts, including dimensions, tolerances, variances, and weights (See Figures Appendix for example of use of C001)

  8. N1 Loop Optional
    Repeat 5
    1. To identify a party by type of organization, name, and code

    2. To specify additional names or those longer than 35 characters in length

    3. To specify the location of the named party

    4. To specify the geographic place of the named party

    5. To specify identifying information

    6. To identify a person or office to whom administrative communications should be directed

  9. LM Loop Optional
    Repeat 10
    1. To transmit standard code list identification information

    2. Code to transmit standard industry codes

Detail

Position
Segment
Name
Max use
  1. LIN Loop Mandatory
    Repeat 10000
    1. To specify basic item identification data

    2. To describe a product or process in coded or free-form format

    3. To specify physical measurements or counts, including dimensions, tolerances, variances, and weights (See Figures Appendix for example of use of C001)

    4. To describe marking, packaging, loading, and unloading requirements

    5. To specify pertinent dates and times

    6. To specify pricing information

    7. To specify the currency (dollars, pounds, francs, etc.) used in a transaction

    8. To request or identify a service, promotion, allowance, or charge; to specify the amount or percentage for the service, promotion, allowance, or charge

    9. To specify identifying information

    10. To identify a person or office to whom administrative communications should be directed

    11. To specify destination and quantity detail

    12. To indicate identifying marks and numbers for shipping containers

    13. To specify item unit data

    14. To provide information about a contract

    15. To describe the type of demand and the intended use of material

    16. To identify the specific type of item maintenance

    17. To qualify percent amounts and supply percent amounts

    18. To specify lead time for availability of products and services

    19. LM Loop Optional
      Repeat 10
      1. To transmit standard code list identification information

      2. Code to transmit standard industry codes

    20. SLN Loop Optional
      Repeat 1000
      1. To specify product subline detail item data

      2. To describe a product or process in coded or free-form format

      3. To specify physical measurements or counts, including dimensions, tolerances, variances, and weights (See Figures Appendix for example of use of C001)

      4. To describe marking, packaging, loading, and unloading requirements

      5. MAN Loop Optional
        Repeat 100
        1. To indicate identifying marks and numbers for shipping containers

        2. To specify physical measurements or counts, including dimensions, tolerances, variances, and weights (See Figures Appendix for example of use of C001)

    21. QTY Loop Optional
      Repeat 99
      1. To specify quantity information

      2. To specify item unit data

      3. To specify physical measurements or counts, including dimensions, tolerances, variances, and weights (See Figures Appendix for example of use of C001)

      4. To specify lead time for availability of products and services

      5. To specify pertinent dates and times

      6. SCH Loop Optional
        Repeat 25
        1. To specify the data for scheduling a specific line-item

        2. To specify physical measurements or counts, including dimensions, tolerances, variances, and weights (See Figures Appendix for example of use of C001)

      7. LM Loop Optional
        Repeat >1
        1. To transmit standard code list identification information

        2. Code to transmit standard industry codes

      8. To indicate that the next segment begins a loop

      9. REF Loop Optional
        Repeat >1
        1. To specify identifying information

          The REF loop conveys serial number, lot number, and inventory data.
        2. To specify pertinent dates and times

        3. To identify a party by type of organization, name, and code

        4. LM Loop Optional
          Repeat 10
          1. To transmit standard code list identification information

          2. Code to transmit standard industry codes

      10. To indicate that the loop immediately preceding this segment is complete

    22. N1 Loop Optional
      Repeat 200
      1. To identify a party by type of organization, name, and code

      2. To specify additional names or those longer than 35 characters in length

      3. To specify the location of the named party

      4. To specify the geographic place of the named party

      5. To specify identifying information

      6. To identify a person or office to whom administrative communications should be directed

Summary

Position
Segment
Name
Max use
  1. To transmit a hash total for a specific element in the transaction set

    Number of line items (CTT01) is the accumulation of number of LIN segments. If used, hash total (CTT02) is the sum of the values of the quantities (QTY02) of each QTY segment.
  2. To indicate the end of the transaction set and provide the count of the transmitted segments (including the beginning (ST) and ending (SE) segments)

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