inventory-lookup

name	inventory-lookup
description	Handle inventory and parts queries — stock checks, part lookups, availability, category browsing, and equipment searches. Use when the technician asks about parts, stock levels, SKUs, availability, supplies, or equipment.

Inventory Lookup

Use this skill when the technician asks about parts, stock, equipment, or availability.

When to Use

• "Do we have any SC connectors?"
• "What's the stock on FIB-042?"
• "Show me all splice equipment"
• "Is the OTDR available?"
• "What connectors do we carry?"
• "Check stock for the parts on WO-007"

Tools Used by This Skill

All inventory capabilities live in the Foundry Toolbox under the inventory MCP server, so the actual tool names are prefixed inventory___.

Capability	Prefixed tool name
Free-text part search	inventory___search_parts
Browse / filter list	inventory___list_parts
Single-part details	inventory___get_part_details
Single-part stock	inventory___check_stock
Multi-part stock	inventory___check_stock_batch

Step 0: Discover tools (REQUIRED before first inventory call this turn)

If the inventory tools aren't already visible in your tool list, call tool_search once with limit: 10. Describe both the capability and the technician's domain terms so discovery requests rank the catalog search tool above stock tools that require known IDs.

Examples:

• "OTDR stock?" → tool_search({"query": "search inventory catalog for OTDR models and stock", "limit": 10})
• "do we have SC connectors?" → tool_search({"query": "search inventory catalog for SC connectors", "limit": 10})
• generic "check parts" → tool_search({"query": "inventory parts stock", "limit": 10})

Always pass limit: 10 so all inventory tools surface. The returned tools stay callable for the rest of the turn.

If a free-text discovery request does not return search_parts, refine discovery once with tool_search({"query": "search inventory catalog by equipment name and description", "limit": 10}). Do not invoke an undiscovered tool, and do not substitute check_stock or check_stock_batch; those require real part IDs. If search_parts is still unavailable, report that live inventory search could not be retrieved rather than claiming there are no matching parts.

Step 1: Choose the Right Tool

Question Type	Tool (prefixed name)	Example
Free-text search ("do we have…", "find…")	inventory___search_parts	"do we have splice trays?"
Browse by category	inventory___list_parts with category filter	"show all connectors"
Specific part by ID	inventory___get_part_details with part_id	"details on FIB-012"
Stock level for a known part	inventory___check_stock with part_id	"how many FIB-042 in stock?"
Stock levels for multiple parts	inventory___check_stock_batch with part_ids list	"check stock for FIB-003 and FIB-012"

Invoke each tool via call_tool with {"name": "<prefixed_name>", "arguments": {...}}.

search_parts results already include stock quantity, status, location, price, and manufacturer. For model-availability questions, format that result directly without follow-up stock calls.

Before answering, inspect the returned count and parts fields:

• If count > 0, report every returned part and copy its stock values exactly.
• Say no models are available only when a successful result explicitly has count: 0 and parts: [].
• Treat errors, missing fields, or malformed content as retrieval failures, not as zero inventory.

Categories available: Connectors, Cables, Splitters, Splice Equipment, Test Equipment

Step 2: Format the Response

For a single part:

**FIB-042 — SC/APC Connector** 🟢 In Stock
- **SKU:** CONN-SC-APC-500
- **Stock:** 342 units (Warehouse A)
- **Price:** $4.50/unit
- **Manufacturer:** Corning

For multiple parts (2+), ALWAYS use a table with status indicators:

### Inventory Results

| Part | Stock | Status | Location |
|------|-------|--------|----------|
| SC Connector (FIB-012) | 342 | 🟢 In Stock | WH-A1 |
| LC Connector (FIB-015) | 12 | 🟡 Low Stock | WH-B2 |
| Splice Tray (FIB-023) | 0 | 🔴 Out of Stock | — |

> 🟡 **Note:** LC Connectors are running low — consider reordering.

CRITICAL: When checking multiple items, always use a markdown table. Never list items as a plain paragraph. Separate different topics with --- dividers or ### headers.

Step 3: Interpret Stock Status

Always show a status indicator:

• 🟢 In Stock — quantity is above minimum threshold
• 🟡 Low Stock — quantity is at or below minimum threshold but > 0. Add: "Stock is running low — consider reordering."
• 🔴 Out of Stock — quantity is 0. Add: "Currently unavailable. Check with supply chain for restock ETA."

Step 4: Provide Actionable Next Steps

• If stock is low or out: suggest reordering or checking alternatives
• If the technician seems to be prepping for a job: offer to check a work order's full parts list
• If they searched broadly: ask if they need details on a specific part

What NOT to Do

• ❌ Do not guess stock quantities — always use the inventory tools
• ❌ Do not skip the stock status indicator
• ❌ Do not use knowledge base tools for inventory questions
• ❌ Do not invent part IDs or SKUs
• ❌ Do not list multiple items as a flat paragraph — always use tables
• ❌ Do not call stock tools without part IDs from the user, a work order, or search_parts
• ❌ Do not repeat the same tool call; correct one validation error at most, then stop