Infor M3 Multi-Warehouse Management and Inventory Balancing
Organizations running Infor M3 across multiple warehouses, distribution centers, and plant locations need coordinated inventory management that balances stock levels, minimizes transfers, and meets service-level targets. M3's multi-warehouse architecture is built on the facility (FACI) and warehouse (WHLO) structure defined in CRS005 and MMS005, with the MITBAL table tracking item balances per warehouse-location combination. Getting this configuration right is critical for companies operating five or more facilities.
Warehouse Structure and Facility Configuration
M3 uses a hierarchical structure of Division > Company > Facility > Warehouse defined in CRS005, CRS010, and MMS005. Each warehouse has its own inventory policies, location types, and zone definitions. The MITBAL table holds on-hand, allocated, and in-transit quantities per warehouse-location while MITWHL defines warehouse-level default settings for replenishment, costing, and lot management.
- Define facility and warehouse hierarchy in CRS005/MMS005 with proper organizational mapping for multi-site operations
- Configure warehouse types in MMS005 differentiating between manufacturing plants, DCs, consignment locations, and virtual warehouses
- Set up location types and zone definitions in MMS010 to support directed putaway, picking zones, and hazmat segregation areas
- Establish warehouse-level item defaults in MITWHL including reorder points, safety stock levels, and preferred suppliers per location
- Configure transit warehouses in MMS005 for tracking goods-in-transit during inter-facility transfers
Inter-Facility Transfer and Replenishment
Inter-facility transfers in M3 are managed through MWS410 (Distribution Order) and MMS100 (Replenishment). Distribution orders move inventory between warehouses with full lot traceability, transit tracking, and automatic goods receipt. Replenishment planning in MMS100 uses min/max, reorder point, or demand-driven parameters to trigger automatic transfer proposals between facilities.
- Configure distribution order types in MWS410 for standard transfers, emergency stock moves, and return-to-vendor flows
- Set up automatic replenishment rules in MMS100 based on reorder points, min/max levels, or demand forecast consumption
- Define lead times per warehouse pair in MMS002 including transit time, receiving processing time, and quality hold periods
- Enable in-transit inventory tracking through transit warehouses so that MITBAL reflects accurate available-to-promise across all locations
Inventory Balancing and Network Optimization
Balancing inventory across a multi-warehouse network requires visibility into demand patterns, service levels, and carrying costs per location. M3 Supply Chain Planning (SCP) and the DMP (Demand Planning) module analyze historical consumption to recommend optimal stock positioning. Manual redistribution through MWS410 combined with automated planning in MMS100 maintains target fill rates while minimizing total network inventory investment.
- Configure inventory classification in MMS001 using ABC/XYZ analysis to prioritize balancing efforts on high-value, high-variability items
- Set up network-level safety stock calculations in MMS100 factoring in demand variability, lead time variability, and target service levels per warehouse
- Enable inventory aging visibility in MMS080 to identify slow-moving stock candidates for redistribution or markdown across locations
- Define allocation priority rules in MMS090 that route customer orders to the nearest warehouse with available stock
Optimize your multi-warehouse M3 network for better inventory turns. Contact Netray for supply chain consulting.
Related Resources
Infor M3 Distribution Management Configuration Guide
Configure Infor M3 distribution management with order processing, warehouse allocation, shipping integration, and customer delivery scheduling best practices.
Infor M3Infor M3 Demand Planning Configuration Guide
Configure Infor M3 demand planning with statistical forecasting, forecast consumption, MPS integration, and demand sensing for accurate production scheduling.
Infor M3Infor M3 Supply Chain Collaboration Configuration
Configure Infor M3 supply chain collaboration with supplier portals, VMI, EDI integration, purchase collaboration, and demand visibility sharing for partners.