➡️ Managing Low Inventory with the Critical Items List
The Critical Items List helps you quickly identify which materials need to be replenished across your stock locations. Whether you're managing inventory from your desktop or on the go, this feature makes it easy to see what items need to be restocked and exactly where they're located.
➡️ Why the Critical Items List Matters
Running out of essential materials can slow down your operations and lead to unnecessary delays. The Critical Items List helps your team:
Identify materials at or below critical stock thresholds
Take immediate action to replenish them
Streamline replenishment workflows across multiple stock locations
It's your go-to snapshot for which material quantities need attention before they become a problem.
📉 Critical = Below Minimum Stock Level
The Critical Items List is powered by your min/max settings, nothing appears without them.
Critical Items List only works if min levels are set.
If an item has no minimum configured, SureStock has no threshold to compare against, it will never appear on this list no matter how low it gets. Make sure every material you want to monitor has a minimum quantity set in its stock location settings.
➡️ 1. Accessing the Critical Items List
Go to the Stock tab
Under Critical Items to Order, click the Show List button
This opens a list of your stock locations where materials have dropped below their minimum stock level.
➡️ 2. Filtering by Stock Location
If you're managing multiple stock locations:
Click the dropdown arrow next to the location you want to view
This expands the list for that specific location and shows all materials at critical levels
It helps you take action based on where shortages are happening.
➡️ 3. Selecting Materials to Replenish
Select the checkboxes next to the materials you want to replenish
You can choose one or several items based on your needs
These selections will drive the replenishment action you take next.
➡️ 4. Replenishment Options for Critical Items
After selecting materials, you'll see two options appear:
➤ Create a Pick List
This lets you transfer materials from another stock location. It generates a list so someone can pick up the items and restock the low-quantity location.
➤ Create a Purchase Order (PO)
Choose this to place an order directly with a supplier to replenish the selected materials.
Each path supports a different workflow depending on whether you're sourcing from internal stock or external vendors.
| Empty and Minimums ARE Set | Empty but Minimums NOT Set |
What it means | All your materials are above their minimum levels. Nothing to do right now. | The list can't show alerts it doesn't know about. |
What to do | Check back regularly. | Set minimums for your most important materials, or use Smart Min/Max to let SureStock's AI suggest levels automatically. |
Two paths, pick the one that matches where the stock is coming from.
| Create a Pick List | Create a PO |
When to use | You already have the materials in stock at another location (a warehouse or another truck) and want to transfer them to the low-stock location. | You're ready to order now from a known supplier at an agreed price. |
Best for | Internal restocks, e.g., pulling from Warehouse A to restock Truck #7 where the item is critically low. | Repeat orders from established suppliers where pricing is already set in your catalog. |
💡 You can take different actions on different items in the same session
Select 3 items → Create PO. Then go back, select 2 more → Create Pick List. Each action builds a separate document, you don't have to handle everything the same way at once.
➡️ 5. Wrapping Up the Replenishment Process
Once you've taken action, whether it's creating a pick list or a PO, you can:
Click the Back Arrow to return to the main Stock view
Continue reviewing and replenishing other stock locations as needed
➡️ Rolling Replenishment: the Automated Version
Let SureStock monitor stock levels and create POs automatically when items go critical.
The Critical Items List is great for a manual review. But if you want SureStock to automatically create purchase orders when stock drops below minimums, without you having to check, that's rolling replenishment.
➡️ Common Issues
"An item I know is low isn't showing up on the Critical Items List."
Check whether that material has a minimum quantity set at that stock location. If no minimum is configured, SureStock has nothing to compare against, and it will never appear on the list, no matter how low it actually is.
"I don't see the option to create an RFQ from this list."
That's expected, RFQ (Request for Quote) is not available in SureStock. Use Create a Pick List (to transfer from another location) or Create a PO (to order directly from a supplier) instead.
"I selected items and want to handle some as a PO and others as a Pick List."
That's supported, select the items for one action, complete it, then go back and select the remaining items for the other action. Each builds a separate document.
➡️ FAQs
Does the Critical Items List work without setting minimums?
No, it's entirely powered by min/max settings. Materials without a minimum configured will never appear, regardless of stock level.
What's the difference between using this list manually vs. Rolling Replenishment?
The Critical Items List is a manual review you check and act on yourself. Rolling Replenishment automates it, SureStock creates POs on its own when stock drops below minimum, with no manual check needed.
Can I create a PO for some items and a Pick List for others in the same session?
Yes, just select the items for one action at a time, each creates its own separate document.
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