> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://guide.acumensystems.com.au/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://guide.acumensystems.com.au/system-parts/purchases/placing-purchase-orders/fully-automatic-purchasing/utilising-overstocks.md). # Utilising Overstocks By using the all branches option Acumen is able to efficiently calculate overstocks for a product and offset these overstocks against purchases for other branches. Acumen does this by calculating an overstock pool. It then attempts to purchase for each branch that requires stock. If a branch requires stock and there is an overstock pool the overstock pool will be drawn upon to reduce the requirement. Such drawings will of course reduce the overstock pool for further requirement calculations. For example if branch "North" has an overstock of 50 units and branch "South" has a requirement for 10 units. The purchase for "South" is offset by taking 10 units from the overstock pool of 50. Nothing is purchased for "South" and the overstock pool is now reduced to 40. If branch "East" requires 70 units then the remaining overstock pool will be offset against this and a purchase order will be raised for 30 units (70 required - 40 overstock pool = 30 to purchase). The overstock pool is now reduced to 0. The amount of overstock that a branch has to contribute to the overstock pool is calculated as follows: $$ Overstock = Stock\ On\ Hand - (Maximum\ Months\ Stock \* Working\ Average) $$ This figure is rounded down to the nearest multiple of the **Minimum Order Quantity**. The reason for this is to avoid the need for shipping partial pack quantities from branch to branch. The minimum order quantity is set either on the product record or in the Supplier Product Catalogue. The system will use the catalogue in preference to the product file however if there is no minimum set in the catalogue then the product file value is used. If neither file sets a minimum order quantity then one is assumed. As an example if a branch has stock on hand of 76 units, a working average sales of 10 units, a maximum of 6 months stock and the product comes in packs of 6 then the following calculations occur. Overstock = 76 - (10 x 6) = 16. Rounded down to the nearest multiple of 6, Overstock = 12. --- # Agent Instructions This documentation is published with GitBook. GitBook is the documentation platform designed so that both humans and AI agents can read, navigate, and reason over technical content effectively. Learn more at gitbook.com. ## Querying This Documentation If you need additional information that is not directly available in this page, you can query the documentation dynamically by asking a question. Perform an HTTP GET request on the current page URL with the `ask` query parameter, and the optional `goal` query parameter: ``` GET https://guide.acumensystems.com.au/system-parts/purchases/placing-purchase-orders/fully-automatic-purchasing/utilising-overstocks.md?ask=&goal= ``` `ask` is the immediate question: it should be specific, self-contained, and written in natural language. `goal` is optional and describes the broader end goal you are ultimately trying to accomplish on behalf of the user. GitBook uses it to tailor the answer towards what is most useful for that goal. The response will contain a direct answer to the question and relevant excerpts and sources from the documentation. Use this mechanism when the answer is not explicitly present in the current page, you need clarification or additional context, or you want to retrieve related documentation sections.