Sage 100

I have a customer asking about the differences between the inventory product type options . Finished Goods Raw Material Kit Discontinued Inactive There isn't any detailed guidance in the KB or Help (at least not that I've found) which shows you the limitations/benefits of using each. Does anyone have more info? I know Discontinued lets you override while Inactive does not. I'm not entirely sure what benefits/restrictions Raw Material conveys?

I can't find that Raw vs FG really does anything. I setup a bill item as a raw and it didn't show up on the Bill Validation report, so...It just lets you select them on some reports.

Like @BethBowers I've never found a system enforced limitation or advantage between Raw and FG. However, I direct my clients to use them for logical separation. If an item is purchased for use in the manufacture of a staged or finished good, use the Raw Materials product type. If the item is manufactured and sold to customers, make it a FG item. The real challenge is when you have staged items that are used as raw material in a bill for a Finished Goods item but is also available for sale. Same for items purchased from a vendor with the primary intent of being used as a raw material to manufacture one or more finished goods but can also be sold directly. In these situations, we either use one or more item categories or UDF's to provide further clarification.

I recall that these settings were for a couple of reasons, although I agree that the logic gets fuzzy and isn't exact at all times/versions: was supposed to used in MRP & WO, and a distinction in item listings and reports. Correct that discontinued just displays a warning message when a discontinued item is selected for SO or PO. Inactive blocks the item from SO and PO and I think IM transactions too.

I agree with the above and especially the comment of an item being used as a raw material and finished good. Clients have a hard time with that.