Abstract: Vendable units (VU) are maintained within respective compartments of a dispensing apparatus. The VU are managed in accordance with a hierarchical identifier (ID) scheme. VU are assigned a first identifier determinative of the type of beneficial product contained within the VU and a second identifier determinative of the lot or batch of the beneficial product. VU are assigned to compartments based on a combination of the first and second ID. During operations to load VU into the apparatus, the compartment assigned to the VU is unlocked while other compartments are locked, reducing the potential for human error. Similarly, when dispensing VU from the apparatus, the compartment comprising the VU to be dispensed to the patient is unlocked while other compartments remain locked, further reducing the potential for error.