When the factory is located at a distance from the office, requisitions should be in triplicate and bear the O. K. of the superintendent or factory manager. The duplicate will then be filed in the factory office pending the receipt of the goods. [Illustration: Fig. 10. A Typical Form of Requisition Blank] Foremen who make requisitions on the purchasing agent will retain their copies until the material is received. On receipt of the requisition, the purchasing agent first investigates to find if the material, or some other that will answer the same purpose, is in stock. If not, he looks up his sources of supply and prices, and then he is ready to place the order. When a large investment is involved, it is usually necessary to obtain special quotations, and sometimes samples, before the order can be placed. =10. Low Stock Report.= Another form of requisition is the low stock report furnished by the stores clerk. Every article and class of material in stock is given a _low_ limit. When this limit is reached the stores clerk makes a report, Fig. 11, to the purchasing agent. This is recognized as a notice to purchase. The report shows the low limit and quantity in stock. It is important that the low limit be included, for in some cases it will be found advisable to change the limit. Material formerly used in large quantities may now be in so little demand that it will be thought best to reduce the limit. At other times it will be necessary to increase the limit. [Illustration: Fig. 11. The Stores Clerk's Report of Low Stock] The report is made in duplicate, a copy being retained by the stores clerk until advised that the order has been placed. There is no special need for keeping these reports permanently; all information that they would supply may be had from copies of purchase orders. =11. Purchase Orders.= When an order is placed, it is of course necessary to keep one or more copies. The best practice is to make purchase orders in manifold, providing as many copies as may be required. Modern typewriters and carbon paper render it possible to make all necessary copies at one writing. The number of copies will be governed by the requirements of the business. In a small business where the goods are received by the purchasing agent, one copy is sufficient. When a receiving clerk is employed, a second copy will be needed by him to check the receipt of goods. The illustration, Fig. 12, shows a set of six blanks, the original and five copies, which will meet the requirements of the average manufacturing business. These copies will be used as follows: [Illustration: Fig. 12. Typical Form of Manifold Order Blanks] _Original._ This is to be mailed or delivered to the vendor.