Auto Cost Elements
Auto Cost Elements are rules: for this vendor (or vendor group), this item (or item group or purchase category), this currency and delivery term, add these cost elements. Purchase order and inbound shipment lines pick up the cost elements of the best matching rule.
What it is for
One document per Apply On. The rules that act are those of the document whose Apply On is Lines.
For a line, the rules are matched on currency (must match), site, delivery term and HS code (empty on the rule means any), vendor and item. The most specific match wins: an HS code first, then a named vendor, then a named item. Its cost elements are added to the line.
Every field in plain words
Header
| Field | What it means | What to put |
|---|---|---|
| Apply On | Where the rules apply | Lines |
Rules grid
| Column | What it means | What to put |
|---|---|---|
| Base Model, Base Model Value | The vendor side | A vendor, or a vendor cost element group, or empty for any |
| Item Model No, Item Model Value | The item side | An item, an item cost element group, or a purchase category |
| HS Code | Customs code | Empty for any |
| Currency | The purchase currency | Required to match |
| Delivery Term, Site | Further conditions | Empty for any |
| Cannot Delete | The cost element cannot be removed from the line | Tick to lock |
| Cost Elements | Link to the cost elements of this rule | One line per cost element, with its values |
How to configure it
Start broad (all items of a vendor group) and add specific rules (an HS code) only where they differ.
Scenarios
- Every import from China carries 2 percent insurance. A rule with the vendor group's cost element group, currency USD, cost element Insurance at 2 percent.
What it is connected to
- Purchase Order and Incoming Shipment in Purchasing.
- Vendor Invoice: an invoice against a receipt brings the order's or shipment's cost elements.
If something looks wrong
- No cost element comes onto the order line. The currency of the rule differs from the order, or another field does not match.