Practical guide
Round a replenishment plan to whole packs
A threshold is useful only when the recommended order matches the way an item is purchased. StockSignal rounds the shortfall to whole packs and shows the budget effect.
Round the shortfall up
When on-hand stock is below the reorder point, the engine divides the positive shortfall by pack size and rounds up. It never recommends a fractional pack.
packs = ceiling(max(reorder point - on hand, 0) / pack size)
Inspect the illustrative purchase list
The default plan recommends 61.50 in purchases across 3 item rows and leaves 118.50 of the entered 180 budget. The result changes when pack sizes, costs, or use assumptions change.
The label row needs 125 units to reach its threshold; at a 100-label pack size, the engine rounds that shortfall to 2 packs.
Read post-order coverage as a scenario
Coverage uses on-hand plus the recommended packs divided by daily use. Use it to discuss timing and buffers, then revisit the row for seasonality, promotions, spoilage, substitutions, or vendor minimums.
coverage days = (on hand + recommended units) / daily use
Check your own scenario
Replace the illustrative inputs with measured values and dated specifications.
Open StockSignalMethod and references
Read the full calculation method and its limits
- U.S. Small Business Administration: manage business finances
- Investopedia: reorder point definition and formula
Method and examples reviewed 2026-09-30. Examples are illustrative; input values and specifications are not independently verified.