EDI 846 Inventory Advice

Functional Group IB

X12M Supply Chain Subcommittee

The purpose of this transaction set is to transmit the contents of an Inventory Advice Transaction Set within the context of an electronic data interchange (EDI) environment. The Inventory Advice Transaction Set may 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; and (3) for one location to supply another location inventory information.

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

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

2. 3 · BIA · Beginning Segment for Inventory Advice · Max 1 · Mandatory

   To indicate the beginning of an inventory advice transaction set.

3. 4 · NTE · Note/Special Instruction F · Max 25

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

4. 5 · CUR · Currency · Max 1 · Optional

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

5. 6 · DTM · Date/Time Reference · Max 10 · Optional

   To specify pertinent dates and times

6. 7 · REF · Reference Numbers · Max 12 · Optional

   To transmit identifying numbers.

7. 8 · 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. 9 · 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.

   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. 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.

   7. 26 · DTM · Date/Time Reference · Max 10 · Optional

      To specify pertinent dates and times

   8. 27 · CTP · Pricing Information · Max 25 · Optional

      To specify pricing information

   9. 28 · CUR · Currency · Max 1 · Optional

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

   10. 29 · SSS · Special Services · Max 25 · Optional

       To specify special conditions or services associated with the purchased product

   11. 30 · REF · Reference Numbers · Max 12 · Optional

       To transmit identifying numbers.

   12. 31 · PER · Administrative Communications Contact · Max 3 · Optional

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

   13. 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.

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

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

   14. 38 · SDQ · Destination Quantity · Max 500 · Optional

       To specify destination and quantity detail.

   15. 39 · MAN · Marks and Numbers · Max 1 · Optional

       To indicate identifying marks and numbers for shipping containers

Summary

1. 41 · CTT · Transaction Totals · Max 1 · Mandatory

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

2. 42 · 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 (ST) and ending (SE) segments.