====== Product Lot Number Guidance ======

In **CushionsERP**, when you set **“Use lot/serial number”** to **“Yes (Lot required)”** for a product, the system enforces strict lot tracking across all inventory movements for that item. This setting significantly affects how the product is handled throughout CushionsERP.

===== 🧪 What "Yes (Lot required)" Means =====
When you set this:

  _Product → Card → Use lot/serial number = Yes (Lot required)_

Then CushionsERP requires a lot or serial number to be specified for every stock-related operation on that product.

===== 📦 Affected Processes =====
Here's how it affects each key module and action:

  ✅ **Stock Receipts / Supplier Orders**
  - You must enter lot numbers when receiving stock.
  - CushionsERP will not allow the stock to be validated without assigning at least one lot number.
  - This is enforced in:
    * Supplier Orders → Receive Products
    * Stock Transfers
    * Manual Stock Adjustments

  ✅ **Customer Shipments**
  - When shipping the product to a customer, you must choose the lot(s) from which the quantity is taken.
  - Lot traceability ensures accurate FIFO/LIFO and recall capability.

  ✅ **Inventory Movements**
  - Stock movements must always be associated with a lot.
  - The system will refuse any movement (in or out) that does not reference a valid lot.

  ✅ **Manufacturing Module (if enabled)**
  - Raw materials and finished goods using this setting must:
    * Consume lots of components.
    * Produce goods into lots (you assign new lot numbers for each production batch).

===== 🧾 Lot/Serial Tracking Benefits =====
- Enables traceability: You can track which lot went to which customer, and when.
- Crucial for industries with expiry, quality recall, or batch compliance (e.g., pharma, food, electronics).

===== ⚠️ What Happens if You Don't Input a Lot? =====
The system will:
- Show a validation error.
- Prevent you from completing the operation (e.g., delivery, stock movement).
- You must input a valid lot/serial number or the action won’t proceed.

===== 🧰 Optional: Predefine or Generate Lot Numbers =====
- You can manually input or use CushionsERP’s lot number generation (if a module or custom logic is in place).
- Some users create lots during reception (e.g., LOT2025-001, LOT2025-002, etc.).