The repetitive backflush process is executed after each production receipt. It controls which components to issue from inventory, the quantity to issue and the locations from which they are issued. Optionally, backflush can automatically report any machine and labor operations associated with the produced part, if production routings are used. Backflush can be executed as part of the receipt or deferred as a background process.
The components issued in production are defined by the manufacturing structure alternative identified at the time of production. You can report production against earlier or later revisions of a part as well as alternative structures for that revision. Phantom assemblies can be defined in the structure in two ways, either by using the phantom planning method for the part or by defining a specific component as a "Phantom Consumption" component on the product structure. Backflush issues available stocks of phantoms before it explodes the next level of components in the structure for any remainder.
Alternate components are used as the first choice during backflush, subject to the substitution limits of date, quantity and parent part. By-products, defined by a quantity per assembly of less than zero, are yielded into inventory locations during backflush – either the Issue From Location on the structure, the line’s Outbound Location, or the same location as the reported item.
Components are issued from a hierarchy of locations defined such that you can control the allowable backflush locations. Within a location, material is issued on a FIFO basis according to the receipt date or lot/batch expiration date. The search hierarchy is as follows: