Portion Control - Usage Meter - Item Build Out

Office Toolbar - Inventory - Item build Out

The Portion Control / item build out is a recipe tool for calculating the ingredients of items used during an inventory period. In the item build out screen there is the category list; each category contains the recipes, sub categories, and list of items that compose one item build out.

Each category has, at its basic level, a list of items with the qty of the item. This list is the calculation of the category.

One of the easiest ways to understand the item build out is to see it in action. The following section will provide a scenario and walkthrough of using the Item Build Out, to get inventory usage.

Scenario Goal: calculate the total of Milk and Espresso used within our product sales. Milk was a product used within Mocha’s, Caramel Lattes (etc.), Latte’s and Cappuccinos. Espresso is a product used in all of those drinks; also espresso shots, and Americano’s & Hammerheads. Prerequisite: the menu items Milk, Espresso, Chocolate Milk must be added into the inventory.

Also, keep in mind that each one of those drinks has different sizes associated with it. So we are going to need to calculate each size for the drinks that we use.

Solution to Drinks: Portions of recipes. Our first task is to break down the items to be counted into the portions they are served. In this case we just want to know how much milk and espresso we are using. We purchase Milk in gallons, and sell it in 12 oz and 16 oz drinks. We purchase espresso in lbs and sell it in shots, shots are roughly 60 per lb or 45 for double shots.

American Standard Milk = 1 gallon. Yields 10.6, 12 Oz servings; Yields 8, 16 oz servings. Espresso purchased in 1 lb. Yields roughly 60 single shots or 45 double shots.

From the Size's & Units screen. Because we end up multiplying everything to the smallest portion we serve, for our sizes we only need to enter the main unit size we purchase the item in, and for and the smallest portion we sell the item in. Everything else is just a calculation of the of the smallest portion.

Enter these new sizes.

Name: "Gallon"; Multiplier = 1;  Is Main Unit: Yes; Item Multiplier = 1
Name: "Lb."; Multiplier = 1; Is Main Unit: Yes; Item Multiplier = 1
Name: "1 oz Shot." Multiplier = 0 Main Unit: "Lb."  Is Main Unit: No;  Item Multiplier = 60	
Name: "12 Fluid Oz." Multiplier = 0 Main Unit: "Gallon."  Is Main Unit: No;  Item Multiplier = 6

From the Item Build Out Screen:

Enter new build out category named: "Espresso Drinks" as a main category. (For drinks such as espresso, Americano, or drinks that contain espresso)

A menu item named espresso will already with the name espresso. If you do not, go to the menu layout screen and enter an item espresso.

Select the “Espresso Drinks” you just added in the category list. In the “Item Recipes” Section. Add Item: “Espresso”; Unit Type: “1 oz Shot”; QTY: 1

Enter new build out category named: "Mocha Drinks" as a main category. (used for all mocha drinks.)

Select the “Mocha Drinks” you just added in the category list. In the “Item Recipes” Section. Add Item: “Chocolate Milk”; Unit Type: “12 Fluid Oz”; QTY: 1

While the Mocha Drinks in the category list is still selected, go to the “Corresponding Sub Categories” section and select “Espresso Drinks”, press the button “Link Sub Category”

If you want to calculate single or double shot espresso’s you cannot use the normal size method for the single or double espresso drinks. You have to use a modifier that indicates a double shot. This is because the milk calculation is not proportional to the espresso calculation. It is recommended you use a prompt modifier as the size option, rather than the regular size option that is used.

From the menu layout screen you can select each item you’d like to apply the Item Build Out to. In the item properties section for the selected item, you can choose the item build you have created. For all of the mochas, add mocha.

You can also create a Latte or milk Build Out category for all of the items that only have milk.

Office Toolbar - Inventory - Inventory -

The usage meter is based on the amount of materials used from an item build out. After running the usage for a period, the item's usage can update the current quantity on hand.

Usage: Usage displays the total usage of items used in recipes. Periods of usage may be viewed, or the current day's usage.

Usage reports are running from daily reporting - or reporting and analysis.