EDI 846 Inventory Inquiry/Advice

Functional Group IB

X12M Supply Chain Subcommittee

The purpose of this transaction set is to transmit the contents of an Inventory Inquiry/Advice Transaction Set within the context of an electronic data interchange environment. The Inventory Inquiry/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; (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. (DM # 229-388)

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

      Loop N1 is optional, but, if used, segment N1 is mandatory.

   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 · UIT · 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

          Loop N1 is optional, but, if used, the segment N1 is mandatory.

       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).