Configuring Reorder Rules
Reorder rules tell AccuArk when to alert you that an item's stock is running low and how much to order. Each rule is scoped to a specific item and location, so you can have different thresholds for the same product at different warehouses. This guide explains every field on a reorder rule, how zone-level overrides work, and best practices for setting effective thresholds.
Where to Manage Reorder Rules
Reorder rules are managed from the Reorder Rules tab on the inventory item form. Open any item, navigate to the Reorder Rules tab, and you will see an inline editable grid listing all rules for that item.
The grid supports the following actions:
- Add — Creates a new rule row defaulting to your currently logged-in location
- Delete — Removes the selected rule
- Save — Commits all changes to the database
Reorder Rule Fields
Every reorder rule (DbReorderRule) contains the following fields:
| Field | Description |
|---|---|
| Item | The inventory item this rule applies to (set automatically from the item you are editing) |
| Location | The location where this rule is active — new rules default to the user's logged-in location |
| Zone | Optional — if set, creates a zone-level override that takes priority over the location-level rule for the same item and location |
| Reorder Point | The stock threshold that triggers an alert — when the item's available quantity at this location falls to or below this number, the Reorder Dashboard displays a Warning alert |
| Reorder Quantity | The standard quantity to order when restocking — this becomes the suggested order quantity on the dashboard unless Max Stock Level produces a higher number |
| Min Stock Level | The minimum stock level you want to maintain — used as a reference for reporting and planning |
| Max Stock Level | The target maximum stock level — the dashboard calculates suggested order quantity as the greater of Reorder Quantity or (Max Stock Level minus Available Quantity) |
| Safety Stock | The critical threshold — when available quantity falls to or below this number, the alert severity escalates from Warning to Critical |
| Lead Time Days | The number of days the preferred vendor typically takes to deliver this item — helps you plan when to place orders so stock arrives before hitting zero |
| Preferred Vendor ID | The vendor you normally order this item from — when generating a purchase order from the dashboard, this vendor is pre-selected |
| Is Active | Toggle to enable or disable the rule without deleting it — inactive rules are ignored by the Reorder Dashboard |
How Thresholds Work Together
The system uses two threshold levels to classify alerts:
- Warning Level — Available quantity is at or below the Reorder Point but still above the Safety Stock level
- Critical Level — Available quantity is at or below the Safety Stock level
For example, if you set Reorder Point = 50 and Safety Stock = 10:
- Available = 60 — No alert (above reorder point)
- Available = 50 — Warning alert (at reorder point, above safety stock)
- Available = 30 — Warning alert (below reorder point, above safety stock)
- Available = 10 — Critical alert (at safety stock)
- Available = 5 — Critical alert (below safety stock)
Zone-Level Overrides
By default, reorder rules operate at the location level. However, you can create zone-specific rules by setting the Zone field on a rule. When a zone is specified, that rule overrides the location-level rule for the same item and location combination within that zone.
This is useful when:
- A specific storage area has limited capacity and needs a lower Max Stock Level
- High-traffic zones (e.g., a retail floor bin) need a higher Reorder Point to avoid empty shelves
- Different zones use different vendors for restocking
Example: Zone Override Scenario
Suppose you have Item A at Location 'Warehouse Main' with a location-level rule:
- Reorder Point: 100, Safety Stock: 25, Reorder Quantity: 200
You then create a zone-level rule for the 'Retail Floor' zone at the same location:
- Reorder Point: 20, Safety Stock: 5, Reorder Quantity: 50
The Reorder Dashboard will evaluate the 'Retail Floor' zone using the zone-specific rule (reorder point 20), while all other zones at 'Warehouse Main' use the location-level rule (reorder point 100).
Creating a Reorder Rule Step by Step
- Open the inventory item under Inventory > Items and double-click to edit
- Navigate to the Reorder Rules tab
- Click the Add button — a new row appears in the grid
- Set the Location — defaults to your current location; change if needed
- Optionally select a Zone for a zone-level override
- Enter the Reorder Point — the quantity threshold that triggers a warning
- Enter the Reorder Quantity — how many units you typically order
- Set Min Stock Level and Max Stock Level to define your target range
- Enter the Safety Stock level — the critical threshold below which the alert becomes urgent
- Enter Lead Time Days — how long the vendor takes to deliver
- Select a Preferred Vendor — the vendor pre-populated when generating a PO from the dashboard
- Ensure Is Active is checked
- Click Save to store the rule
Managing Multiple Rules
You can create multiple reorder rules for the same item — one per location, and optionally additional zone-level overrides within each location. The grid displays all rules for the item across all locations you have access to.
To temporarily disable a rule without deleting it, uncheck the Is Active flag and save. The Reorder Dashboard will skip inactive rules during its evaluation.
Tips
- Set Safety Stock conservatively — Safety Stock represents your absolute minimum. If you run out before a new shipment arrives, set this higher to give yourself a larger buffer.
- Use Lead Time Days for planning — If your vendor takes 7 days to deliver, set the Reorder Point high enough that you will not run out during those 7 days of waiting.
- Review rules seasonally — Products with seasonal demand may need different Reorder Points at different times of year. Adjust rules before peak seasons.
- Assign Preferred Vendors — This saves time when generating purchase orders from the dashboard because the vendor is pre-selected for you.
- Start with location-level rules — Only add zone-level overrides when you have a specific reason. Keeping rules simple makes them easier to maintain.