SSM provides a flexible mechanism for managing inventories in the service environment: the material order (MO). With MOs, service personnel, whether in the field or repair center, can order repair parts for specific calls or to replenish their inventory.

MOs use standard inventory allocation routines and create MRP demand just like sales orders. Back orders are tracked, and the MO can interact with call tracking, enabling users to manage the relationship between service inventory and call closure.

This chapter describes the various features of MOs and illustrates how they are used.