Patent ID: 8032417

Claim:
A method in a computer system for tracking inventory values, said method comprising the steps of: defining a plurality of physical storage locations where inventory items can be stored, wherein the plurality of physical storage locations are within a plant; receiving a source location identification in a source field and a destination location identification in a target field, wherein the source field and the target field are displayed in a first particular screen that is displayed using a graphical user interface, and wherein the source location identification identifies a first one of said plurality of physical storage locations and the destination location identification identifies a second one of said plurality of physical storage locations; receiving an inventory item identification in at least one inventory item field in the first particular screen, wherein an inventory item that is identified by the inventory item identification is being physically moved from the first one of said plurality of physical storage locations to the second one of said plurality of physical storage locations; in response to said receipt of said source location identification, said destination location identification, and said inventory item identification, indicating that a financial value of said inventory item was transferred from said first one to said second one of said plurality of physical storage locations, wherein said financial value of said inventory item is tracked as said inventory item is physically moved within said plant; receiving said inventory item into said plant; determining that said inventory item should be moved to said first one of said plurality of physical storage locations; identifying a financial ledger account that is associated with said first one of said plurality of physical storage locations; posting a financial debit of said financial value to said financial ledger account; in response to receiving said source location identification, said destination location identification, and said inventory item identification: generating a material document that includes a first item that indicates that the inventory item has been removed from the first one of the plurality of physical storage locations and a second item that indicates that the inventory item has been moved into the second one of the plurality of physical storage locations; and displaying said material document in a material document screen using said graphical user interface; using said material document to generate financial postings, wherein the first item is used to determine that a financial debit should be posted to the ledger account that is associated with said first one of said plurality of physical storage locations and a financial credit should be posted to a ledger account that is associated with said second one of said plurality of physical storage locations; and displaying said financial postings in an accounting document screen that is displayed using the graphical user interface.