EDI 846 Inventory Advice

Functional Group IB

X12M Supply Chain Subcommittee

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

1. 02 · ST · Transaction Set Header · Max 1 · Mandatory

   To indicate the start of a transaction set and to assign a control number

2. 03 · BIA · Beginning Segment for Inventory Advice · Max 1 · Mandatory

   To indicate the beginning of an inventory advice transaction set.

3. 04 · NTE · Note/Special Instruction F · Max 25

   To transmit information in a free-form format, if necessary, for comment or special instruction

4. 05 · CUR · Currency · Max 1 · Optional

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

5. 06 · DTM · Date/Time Reference · Max 10 · Optional

   To specify pertinent dates and times

6. 07 · REF · Reference Numbers · Max 12 · Optional

   To transmit identifying numbers associated with the named party

7. 08 · PER · Administrative Communications Contact · Max 3 · Optional

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

8. N1 Loop Optional Repeat 5

   1. 09 · N1 · Name · Max 1 · Mandatory

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

   2. 10 · N2 · Additional Name Information · Max 2 · Optional

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

   3. 11 · N3 · Address Information · Max 2 · Optional

      To specify the location of the named party

   4. 12 · N4 · Geographic Location · Max 1 · Optional

      To specify the geographic place of the named party

   5. 13 · REF · Reference Numbers · Max 12 · Optional

      To transmit identifying numbers associated with the named party

   6. 14 · PER · Administrative Communications Contact · Max 3 · Optional

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

Detail

1. LIN Loop Mandatory Repeat 10000

   1. 16 · LIN · Item Identification Detail · Max 1 · Mandatory

      To specify basic item identification data.

   2. 17 · SLN · Subline Item Detail · Max 100 · Optional

      To specify product subline detail item data

   3. 18 · PID · Product/Item Description · Max 200 · Optional

      To describe a product in coded or free-form format

   4. 19 · MEA · Measurements · Max 40 · Optional

      To specify physical measurements, including dimensions, tolerances, weights and counts.

   5. 20 · PKG · Marking, Packaging, Loading · Max 25 · Optional

      To describe marking, packaging, loading and unloading requirements.

   6. 21 · J2X · Item Description · Max 25 · Optional

      To describe an item in either an industry standard or free-form format

   7. QTY Loop Mandatory Repeat 10

      1. 22 · QTY · Quantity · Max 1 · Mandatory

         To specify quantity information.

      2. 23 · UNT · Unit Detail · Max 12 · Optional

         To specify item unit data.

      3. 24 · SCH · Line Item Schedule · Max 25 · Optional

         To specify the data for scheduling a specific line item.

      4. 25 · LDT · Lead Time · Max 12 · Optional

         To specify lead time for availability of products and services.

   8. 26 · DTM · Date/Time Reference · Max 10 · Optional

      To specify pertinent dates and times

   9. 27 · CTP · Pricing Information · Max 25 · Optional

      To specify pricing information

   10. 28 · CUR · Currency · Max 1 · Optional

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

   11. 29 · SSS · Special Services · Max 25 · Optional

       To specify special conditions or services associated with the purchased product

   12. 30 · REF · Reference Numbers · Max 12 · Optional

       To transmit identifying numbers associated with the named party

   13. 31 · PER · Administrative Communications Contact · Max 3 · Optional

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

   14. N1 Loop Optional Repeat 5

       1. 32 · N1 · Name · Max 1 · Mandatory

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

       2. 33 · N2 · Additional Name Information · Max 2 · Optional

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

       3. 34 · N3 · Address Information · Max 2 · Optional

          To specify the location of the named party

       4. 35 · N4 · Geographic Location · Max 1 · Optional

          To specify the geographic place of the named party

       5. 36 · REF · Reference Numbers · Max 12 · Optional

          To transmit identifying numbers associated with the named party

       6. 37 · PER · Administrative Communications Contact · Max 3 · Optional

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

   15. 38 · MAN · Marks and Numbers · Max 1 · Optional

       To indicate identifying marks and numbers for shipping containers

Summary

1. 40 · CTT · Transaction Totals · Max 1 · Mandatory

   To transmit a hash total for a specific element in the transaction set

2. 41 · SE · Transaction Set Trailer · Max 1 · Mandatory

   To indicate the end of the transaction set and provide the count of the transmitted segments (including the beginning and ending (SE) segment)