Offener Bestand
Also: Offene Bestände, Offene Menge, Offene Mengen, Open Stock, Bestand offen
AI-generated
Open stock refers to quantities recorded in the system but not yet fully completed – for example, because an order, a purchase order, or a production process is still in progress. It differs from available stock, which can be immediately used for withdrawals or deliveries.
Key facts
- Open stock encompasses all quantities recorded in the system but not yet completed from a process perspective – for example, open purchase orders, reserved order quantities, or goods undergoing quality inspection.
- The precise definition of open stock is system-dependent and must be explicitly configured within the relevant ERP or WMS context.
- Incorrectly interpreted open stock can lead to duplicate orders or delivery failures, because quantities assumed to be available are in fact blocked.
- Open stock differs from available stock: the latter can be withdrawn immediately, whereas open stock still requires a process step before it is released.
What is open stock?
Open stock encompasses all quantities recorded in a warehouse management, ERP, or planning system whose process has not yet been completed. This may be an open customer order that has already been created but not yet picked, a supplier purchase order with a pending goods receipt confirmation, or a production order whose output has not yet been posted. The term is not a formally defined standard – its precise meaning depends on the system in use and the configured process logic.
How does open stock work in practice?
In practice, open stock appears in several forms:
- Open purchase orders: Goods have been ordered from a supplier but have not yet been received. The system records this quantity as an expected receipt and takes it into account during demand planning.
- Open sales orders: Customer orders for which stock has already been reserved or picking orders have been generated, but which have not yet been shipped. These quantities are physically present but are committed from a planning perspective.
- Goods in process: Stock located in the goods receipt area, undergoing quality inspection, or in transit is posted in the system but has not yet been released into the normal warehouse flow.
For planning purposes, the correct interpretation of open stock is critical: only when it is clear which quantities will become available and when can net requirements and delivery capability be reliably calculated. Incorrectly interpreted open stock leads to duplicate orders, excess inventory, or – conversely – delivery delays, because quantities assumed to be available are in fact blocked.
What matters when selecting and configuring the system?
How open stock is represented in the system is often a configuration question. It is important that the relevant posting steps – order confirmation, goods receipt, quality release, picking start, shipping confirmation – are clearly defined and unambiguously control stock status. Unclear status transitions lead to so-called phantom stock: quantities that appear in the system but are not physically available. It is also important to distinguish between planning stock and physical stock – open stock may already be allocated from a planning perspective, even though it has not yet been physically put away. Logistics, procurement, and IT teams should jointly define which status combinations are considered "open"
Related terms
- Auftragsabwicklung
Order fulfillment refers to the complete process from receiving a customer order through to its successful delivery and invoicing. It encompasses all operational and administrative steps required to fulfill an order on time and without errors.
- Auftragsmanagement
Order management refers to the systematic control and monitoring of orders throughout their entire lifecycle – from capture through prioritization and status tracking to completion. It forms the operational link between sales, logistics, purchasing, and IT.
- Bedarfsermittlung
Requirements planning refers to the systematic process by which an organization's future material or goods requirements are determined in terms of quantity and timing. It forms the basis for inventory management, procurement, and warehouse planning.
- Bedarfsplanung
Demand planning refers to the systematic process by which a company determines what quantities of materials, goods, or resources are needed and when. It forms the foundation for inventory management, procurement, and warehouse planning.
- Bestand in der Logistik
In logistics, inventory refers to the quantity of goods physically present or recorded in accounting at a specific point in time – including raw materials, semi-finished goods, and finished products. It is a key control variable because it ties up capital while simultaneously ensuring the ability to deliver.
- Bestandscontrolling
Inventory controlling refers to the systematic monitoring, analysis, and management of stock levels using defined key performance indicators. It connects logistics and procurement to reduce tied-up capital and ensure delivery capability.
- Bestandsführung
Inventory management refers to the system-supported administration and continuous updating of all warehouse and material stocks within a company. It forms the basis for planning, procurement and accounting – and ensures that the book inventory and physical inventory are in agreement at all times.
- Bestandsmanagement
Inventory management refers to the systematic planning, control, and monitoring of stock levels across the entire supply chain. The goal is to ensure delivery capability while keeping capital commitment and warehousing costs within economically viable limits.
- Debitorenbestand
Accounts receivable encompasses all outstanding, unpaid invoices a company holds against its customers. In intralogistics, it is relevant because exceeded credit limits or block statuses can directly prevent delivery releases and halt order processing.
- Disposition
Disposition refers to the operational planning and control of resources, quantities, and orders in logistics – for example in transport or materials disposition. It encompasses capacity assignment, scheduling, prioritization, and response to disruptions.