Kitting is the process of grouping separate items into a prepared set for sale, assembly, fulfillment or production. The components remain traceable while the kit is handled as one operational unit.
Where is kitting used?
- Ecommerce product bundles
- Subscription boxes
- Promotional sets
- Manufacturing component kits
- Installation or service packs
- Retail-ready assortments
How does the process work?
- Define the bill of materials and quantities.
- Allocate or pick the required components.
- Inspect condition and lot requirements.
- Assemble, label and package the kit.
- Update component and kit inventory.
- Record exceptions, substitutions and rework.
Kitting vs. bundling
Bundling is the commercial offer of items together. Kitting is the physical or operational preparation of the set. A bundle can be assembled only after order, while a prebuilt kit is stocked as a unit.
How is kit availability calculated?
Availability is constrained by the scarcest required component. If a kit needs two units of item A and one of item B, 100 units of A and 80 units of B support at most 50 complete kits before considering reserved stock.
What should be controlled?
Maintain component traceability, approved substitutions, expiration or lot rules, packaging specifications, labor standards and inventory adjustments. A kit should not appear available when a required component is missing.
