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How does FIFO inventory valuation work in INNERGY?

Explains how FIFO (First-In, First-Out) inventory costing works in INNERGY, which transactions affect FIFO cost layers, and what to do when costs need to be corrected.

Overview

INNERGY uses FIFO (First-In, First-Out) as its inventory valuation method. This means that when materials are fulfilled from inventory to a Work Order, the system charges the cost of the oldest received quantity first. As older cost layers are consumed, the system moves to the next most recent receipt.

This method gives you accurate job costing that reflects the actual cost of the materials consumed, in the order they were received.

What creates a FIFO cost layer?

A new FIFO cost layer is created each time materials are Received into inventory from a Purchase Order. Each layer records:

  • The quantity received

  • The unit cost at the time of receipt

  • The date received (which determines FIFO order)

Important: Materials received directly to a Work Order (Received to WO) do not create an inventory cost layer — they are expensed directly to the job at the PO cost.

What consumes a FIFO cost layer?

Cost layers are consumed when materials are Fulfilled from inventory to a Work Order. The system draws down the oldest layer first. If a single fulfillment exceeds one layer's quantity, the remainder is charged at the next oldest layer's cost.

Which transaction types affect FIFO on-hand quantity?

Only the following transactions impact the inventory quantities used in FIFO calculations:

  • Received — adds a new cost layer and increases on-hand quantity

  • Fulfilled — consumes cost layers and decreases on-hand quantity

  • Returned (to Inventory) — re-adds quantity at the original fulfillment cost

  • Returned to Vendor — removes quantity and closes out the cost layer

  • Adjusted — changes on-hand quantity at current average cost; does not create a new dated cost layer

  • Unreceived — reverses a receipt and removes its cost layer

Received to Work Order transactions do not affect on-hand inventory and are not included in FIFO layer calculations.

How do I correct a material cost after receiving?

Costs can be adjusted at the PO receipt level before materials have been fulfilled. Once materials have been fulfilled, the cost has already been applied to the Work Order and cannot be retroactively changed across multiple Work Orders.

If you need to correct a cost after fulfillment:

  1. Contact your accounting team to process a manual cost adjustment.

  2. Future receipts of the same material will establish a new cost layer at the correct price going forward.

  3. Use the Cost Transaction History grid to audit which Work Orders were charged at the incorrect cost.

Why does my inventory value look different in the Close Period module?

The Total Inventory Value widget in the Operational Finance module always displays the current value of inventory — it is not snapshotted at a given point in time. If you are reconciling a prior period, use the Total Received and Total Fulfilled widgets with date filters to reconstruct the period-end value.

Related Articles

  • What are the Material Transaction History status types?

  • How do I adjust material quantities in inventory?

  • How can I unreceive materials from a PO in the Kiosk?

  • How do I return materials to the vendor?

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