Put to wall - put to store

The Put to wall - put to store functionality lets you handle scenarios where you must consolidate a product to a prepack staging area, based on configurable criteria. Because this functionality allows for picking to a single target license plate and can use more put positions than cluster picking, companies that ship to stores or handle small items will benefit from decreased picking time.

The workflow for this functionality directs picked product to a sorting location for distribution into various types of containers. Generally, each sorting location includes multiple sort positions. Each sort position is assigned according to the criteria that are set by the business process. Typical criteria are the final destination, shipment, or load. After a product arrives, it's distributed to each sort position, based on the quantity that is associated with the order, destination, shipment, or load. When a container is full or complete, it's moved to a staging location or a shipping location for further handling, depending on the business process.

This warehousing functionality is also referred to by other names, such as put-to-light and break opens.

Turn on the Outbound sorting feature

To use the Put to wall - put to store functionality, two features must be turned on for your system. Admins can use the feature management settings to check the status of these features and turn them on if necessary. Both of the following features are required:

• Outbound sorting (As of Supply Chain Management version 10.0.32, this feature is mandatory and can't be turned off.)
• Organization wide wave step code (As of Supply Chain Management version 10.0.32, this feature is mandatory and can't be turned off.)

Setup

For this demo, standard Contoso data and warehouse 62 are used. Some additions that are noted later are also used.

Location type

1. Go to Warehouse management > Setup > Warehouse > Location types.

2. On the Action Pane, select New to create a location type for sorting.

3. Set the following values:

   • Location type: SORT
   • Description: Sort

4. Select Save.

Warehouse management parameters

1. Go to Warehouse management > Setup > Warehouse management parameters.
2. On the General tab, on the Location types FastTab, in the Sorting location type field, enter SORT.
3. Select Save.

Location profile

1. Go to Warehouse management > Setup > Warehouse > Location profiles.

2. On the Action Pane, select New to create a location profile for the sorting location.

3. In the header, set the following values:

   • Location profile ID: Sort
   • Name: Sort

4. On the General FastTab, set the following values:

   • Location format: PACK
   • Location type: SORT
   • Use license plate tracking: Yes
   • Allow mixed items: Yes
   • Allow mixed inventory statuses: Yes

5. Select Save.

Locations

1. Go to Warehouse management > Setup > Warehouse > Locations.

2. Clear the Generate check digits for location check box.

3. On the Action Pane, select New, and then set the following values:

   • Warehouse: 62
   • Location: Sort
   • Location profile ID: Sort

4. Select Save.

Packing profiles

1. Go to Warehouse management > Setup > Packing > Packing profiles.

2. On the Action Pane, select New, and then set the following values:

   • Packing profile ID: Sort
   • Description: Sort
   • Container packing policy: Leave this field blank.
   • Container ID mode: Auto
   • Container type: PALLET 48X48
   • Autocreate container at container close: Leave this field blank.

3. Select Save.

Wave step codes

If the Organization wide wave step code feature is turned on for your system, set up the following code.

1. Go to Warehouse management > Setup > Waves > Wave step codes.

2. On the Action Pane, select New, and then set the following values:

   • Wave step code: Sort
   • Wave step description: Sort
   • Wave step type: Sort template

3. Select Save.

Outbound sorting template

The sorting template controls whether sort positions are created, what criteria are used, and other attributes of the sorting process.

1. Go to Warehouse management > Setup > Packing > Outbound sorting template.

2. On the Action Pane, select New to create a sorting template.

3. In the header of the new template, set the following values:

   • Outbound sorting template ID: Wave Sort

   • Description: Wave sort

   • Sort template type: Wave demand

     This field defines the process that the sorting template is used for. The following values are available:

     • Wave demand – The sorting template is used for the Put to wall process. This template type is used to bypass the pack station and process inventory directly out of the wave. You can use this type only if the sorting wave process method is included in the wave template.
     • Container – The sorting template is used for the Pallet building after packing process. This template type is used to process containers that are closed at the pack station and must be sorted onto pallets.

   • Warehouse: 62

   • Location: Sort

4. On the General FastTab, set the following values:

   • Sort verification: Position scan

     This field defines the verification that is required during sorting. The following values are available:

     • None
     • License plate scan
     • Position scan

   • Create work on position close: Yes

     If this option is set to Yes, when the position is closed, work will be created to move inventory to the final shipping location. If it's set to No, inventory will immediately be picked to the order when the position is closed.

   • Position assignment: Manual

     This field defines the type of position assignment. The following values are available:

     • Manual – The user must always indicate which position the inventory should be sorted to.
     • Automatic – The system will automatically guide the inventory to a position whenever it can, based on the sort template breaks.

   • Assign sort position criteria: Only use empty position

     This field controls whether inventory that is already present on sort positions is taken into account when a position is assigned for the demand. The following values are available:

     • Only use empty position – Positions that already have inventory associated with them will be taken into account
     • Assume position empty – Any inventory that is already on the position will be disregarded during assignment. All available positions will be used.

   • Wave step code: Sort

     If the Organization wide wave step code feature is turned on, the Sort wave step code must also be set up in wave step codes.

   • Auto close sort position: Yes

     If this option is set to Yes, the sort position will automatically be closed when all work that comes to the position has been completed.

   • Number of sort positions: 3

     This field defines the maximum number of sort positions that the system will create.

   • Sort position prefix: SP-

     This field defines the prefix that the system assigns before the position number.

   • Auto pack sort position: Yes

     If this option is set to Yes, the inventory on the sort position will be packed into a container when the position is closed.

   • Packing profile ID: Sort

     This field defines the packing profile that will be used when the sort position is packed into a container.

5. On the Action Pane, select Edit query to specify the criteria that are used for this sorting template.

6. In the query dialog box, on the Sorting tab, select New to add a line, and then set the following values:

   • Table: Load details
   • Derived table: Load details
   • Field: Shipment ID
   • Search direction: Ascending

7. Select OK.

8. You might receive the following message: "Grouping will be reset, continue?" Select Yes.

   The Outbound sorting template breaks button on the Action Pane becomes available.

9. On the Action Pane, select Outbound sorting template breaks.

10. Select the Group by field check box to group by shipment ID.

    This setting will create one sort position per shipment that is a container in the wave.

11. Select OK.

Wave process methods

1. Go to Warehouse management > Setup > Waves > Wave process methods.

2. On the Action Pane, select Regenerate methods.

   The sorting method is added to the list of available methods, and the Shipping wave template type is selected for it.

Wave templates

Edit the wave template that is used for wave demand sorting.

1. Go to Warehouse management > Setup > Waves > Wave templates.

2. In the Wave template type field, select Shipping.

3. Select the existing 62 Shipping default template.

4. On the Action Pane, select Edit.

5. On the General FastTab, make the following changes:

   • Set the Process wave at release to warehouse option to No.
   • Set the Assign to open waves option to Yes.

6. On the Methods FastTab, set up the sorting method:

   1. In the Remaining Methods grid, select sorting.
   2. Select the right arrow button to move sorting to the Selected Methods grid.
   3. In the Selected Methods grid, select sorting.
   4. Set the Wave step code field to Sort.

7. Select Save.

Mobile device menu items

1. Go to Warehouse management > Setup > Mobile device > Mobile device menu items.

2. On the Action Pane, select New.

3. In the header, set the following values:

   • Menu item name: Sort
   • Title: Sort
   • Mode: Indirect
   • Use existing work: No

4. On the General FastTab, set the following values:

   • Activity code: Outbound sorting
   • Use process guide: Yes (default value)
   • Outbound sorting template ID: Wave Sort

5. Select Save.

Mobile device menu

1. Go to Warehouse management > Setup > Mobile device > Mobile device menu.
2. In the list of menus, select Outbound.
3. On the Action Pane, select Edit.
4. In the Available Menus And Menu Items grid, find and select the Sort menu item that you just created.
5. Select the right arrow button to move Sort to the Menu Structure grid. In this way, you add the menu item to the Outbound menu.
6. Select Save.

Location directives

You must create location directives to guide the work that is created after the sorting is completed.

1. Go to Warehouse management > Setup > Location directives.

2. In the Work order type field, select Sorted inventory picking.

3. On the Action Pane, select New.

4. In the header, set the following values:

   • Sequence: 1
   • Name: Put to Baydoor

5. On the Location directives FastTab, set the following values:

   • Work type: Put
   • Site: 6
   • Warehouse: 62
   • Directive code: Leave this field blank.
   • Multiple SKU: No

6. Select Save to make the Lines FastTab available.

7. On the Lines FastTab, select New, and then set the following values. Accept the default values for all the other fields.

   • Sequence number: 1
   • From quantity: 0
   • To quantity: 1000000

8. Select Save to make the Location Directive Actions FastTab available.

9. On the Location Directive Actions FastTab, select New, and then set the following values. Accept the default values for all the other fields.

   • Sequence number: 1
   • Name: Baydoor

10. Select Save to make the Edit query button on the Location Directive Actions FastTab available.

11. On the Location Directive Actions FastTab, select Edit query.

12. In the query dialog box, on the Range tab, find the row where the Field field is set to Location. Set the Criteria field for this row to Baydoor.

13. Select OK to confirm the edit.

Work classes

1. Go to Warehouse management > Setup > Work > Work classes.

2. On the Action Pane, select New.

3. In the header, set the following values:

   • Work class ID: Sorting
   • Description: Sorting
   • Work order type: Sorted inventory picking

4. Select Save.

Work templates

1. Go to Warehouse management > Work > Work templates.

2. In the Work order type field, select Sales orders.

3. In the grid, select the 62 Pick to pack work template.

4. On the Action Pane, select Work header breaks.

5. On the Action Pane, select Edit.

6. On the line where the Field name field is set to Shipment ID, clear the Group by this field check box.

7. Select Save, and then close the Work header breaks dialog box.

8. In the Work order type field, select Sorted inventory picking.

9. Select New to create a work template.

10. In the Overview section, set the following values. Accept the default values for all the other fields.

    • Work template: Sorted picking
    • Work template description: Sorted picking

11. Select Save to make the Work Template Details section available.

12. In the Work Template Details section, you will create two lines. Select New, and then set the following values for line 1:

    • Work type: Pick
    • Mandatory: Selected (= Yes)
    • Work class ID: Sorting

13. Select New again, and then set the following values for line 2:

    • Work type: Put
    • Mandatory: Selected (= Yes)
    • Work class ID: Sorting

14. Select Save.

Example scenario

This scenario simulates a situation where the warehouse stores small items in locations and must pack them into boxes before they are shipped, and where packing station functionality isn't really suitable. Workers pick orders for multiple customers and different addresses at the same time to increase the picking speed. After picking has been completed, the workers arrive at the sorting location, where the picked items can be sorted to the correct box, based on required criteria. In this example, the shipment ID will be used to determine the correct box, because each shipment has a different address. After all items from the load are packed and sorted by shipment, the boxes will be moved to the staging area and eventually loaded onto a truck.

Before you start the scenario, make sure that all standard warehouse functionality is set up correctly for your warehouse. Standard Contoso warehouse 62 is used for this purpose. Standard configurations haven't been changed, besides what is described in the setup.

Create demand

Before the functionality can be demonstrated, you must create some demand. For this scenario, you will create three sales orders for three different customers to simulate different delivery addresses. In this way, you will create three separate shipments.

Before you create sales orders and shipments, make sure that the pick locations have enough inventory for all the items on the orders. Review the location directive settings to confirm the picking locations that are used for sales order picking. If you must adjust the inventory, you can create manual movements, use replenishment, or use any other flow. Then reserve the inventory.

1. Go to Sales and marketing > Sales orders > All sales orders.

2. Select New to create a sales order for order 1.

3. In the Create sales order dialog box, set the following values:

   • Customer: US-001
   • Warehouse: 62

4. Select OK.

5. A new line is added to the Sales order lines FastTab. Set the following values:

   • Item number: A0001
   • Quantity: 5

6. Select Add line to add a second line, and set the following values:

   • Item number: A0002
   • Quantity: 10

7. Repeat the following steps for each sales line on the order to reserve inventory for it:

   1. On the Sales order lines FastTab, on the Inventory menu, select Reservation.
   2. On the Reservation page, select Reserve lot, and then close the page.
   3. Select Save.

8. Select New to create a sales order for order 2.

9. In the Create sales order dialog box, set the following values:

   • Customer: US-004
   • Warehouse: 62

10. Select OK.

11. A new line is added to the Sales order lines FastTab. Set the following values:

    • Item number: A0001
    • Quantity: 7

12. Select Add line to add a second line, and set the following values:

    • Item number: A0002
    • Quantity: 3

13. Repeat the following steps for each sales line on the order to reserve inventory for it:

    1. On the Sales order lines FastTab, on the Inventory menu, select Reservation.
    2. On the Reservation page, select Reserve lot, and then close the page.
    3. Select Save.

14. Select New to create a sales order for order 3.

15. In the Create sales order dialog box, set the following values:

    • Customer: US-007
    • Warehouse: 62

16. Select OK.

17. A new line is added to the Sales order lines FastTab. Set the following values:

    • Item number: A0001
    • Quantity: 8

18. Follow these steps to reserve inventory for the sales line:

    1. On the Sales order lines FastTab, on the Inventory menu, select Reservation.
    2. On the Reservation page, select Reserve lot, and then close the page.
    3. Select Save.

Complete the following procedure to release each sales order to the warehouse. Three different shipments will be created. You will then add all three shipments to one new wave.

1. Go to Sales and marketing > Sales orders > All sales orders.

2. In the grid, select the first sales order that you created.

3. On the Action Pane, on the Warehouse tab, select Release to warehouse.

   You receive an informational message that shows the wave ID and shipment ID that were created.

4. Repeat the previous steps to release sales orders 2 and 3 to the warehouse. Notice that the informational message that you receive indicates that a shipment has been added to the wave that was created when you released sales order 1.

5. Go to Warehouse management > Outbound waves > Shipment waves > All waves.

6. Select the wave ID that was created from the release of the sales orders to open the Waves page. This page shows the wave details. The Wave lines FastTab shows the shipments that were created.

   You must now create work to bring items from the picking locations to the sorting location.

7. On the Action Pane, select Process.

   During wave processing, the sorting method will use the sorting template to assign the inventory to sort positions. When wave processing is completed, you receive an informational message that states that the wave has been posted and work has been created.

8. On the Action Pane, on the Wave tab, in the Related information group, select Work to view the work that was created. Make a note of the work ID.

9. Go to Warehouse management > Packing and containerization > Outbound sorting position assignments.

10. In the left column, you can view the outbound sorting position that was created for each shipment.

11. On the Sort position criteria FastTab, you can view the shipment ID for that position.

One work ID has been created to bring inventory from the picking locations to the sorting location. To complete the work, you will need the work ID that was created during wave processing.

Sales order picking to the sorting location

1. Sign in to the mobile app as a worker in warehouse 62.

2. On the main menu, select Outbound.

3. On the Outbound menu, select Sales Picking.

4. Select the ID field, and then enter the work ID from the wave processing.

5. Confirm your entry.

   Next, you're prompted to enter a target license plate (LP). Notice that line 1 from sales order 1 is what must be picked and added to the target license plate. The item number, quantity, item description, and pick location are shown.

6. In the Target LP field, enter a license plate number.

   You will pick all lines that were created from the processed wave onto the same target license plate.

7. Confirm your entry.

   The mobile app now presents a series of Pick pages that point you to the picking location, and to the item and quantity that must be picked. After the picked item is added to the license plate, you will confirm the pick work. The last page will be the work to put the picked items into the sorting location.

8. Confirm the first pick work.

9. The next pick work is shown. Confirm the pick.

10. Continue to confirm the remaining pick work.

11. The last step is to complete the put work. Confirm the put-away to the sorting location.

    You receive a "Work completed" message.

12. Exit Sales Picking on the mobile app.

Sorting/put-to-wall

Now that all inventory has been put to the sorting location, it must be sorted to the correct sort position.

1. Sign in to the mobile app.

2. On the main menu, select Outbound.

3. On the Outbound menu, select Sort to start to sort the items.

4. In the LP/CON field, enter the target license plate of the picked sales order work.

5. Confirm your entry.

6. Enter the item number to sort first.

7. The system determines the first sort position that should be shown. Confirm the sort position.

8. You're prompted to assign a license plate to the sort position. Select the LP field, enter a license plate number, and then confirm your entry.

   Because the sort position is related to the shipment ID, you will sort the picked items into a license plate that is specific to the outbound shipment and sales order.

   The next page shows the item ID, quantity, sort position ID, and the "from" (picking) and "to" (sorting) license plate IDs. The information on this page instructs you to sort the specified item and quantities from the picking license plate into the sorting license plate.

9. Confirm the sort position.

10. Sort the items in the first sort position. When you've finished, the system directs you to the next sort position.

11. Repeat this process for all picked lines on the work order. You should also use this process when there are multiple pick lines that have the same item number.

    As you repeat this process for all items, the system evaluates the criteria from the next scanned item (work line) and determines which sorting position it should be put to. You're automatically directed to put the item to the correct sort position. Depending on the confirmation setup, you're also directed to confirm this action by entering the position number or license plate ID.

    Note

    If automatic sorting is turned on, manual override isn't available.

12. When you've finished, in Microsoft Dynamics 365 Supply Chain Management, open the Outbound sorting position assignments page to review the status of the positions.

    • If positions are closed automatically, select Show closed to show the closed positions.
    • Notice that sort position transactions are shown. The item and quantity that were processed through the position are shown.

    When you set up the outbound sorting template, you set the Auto close sort position option to Yes. Therefore, the position is automatically closed after the last expected inventory is put to it. The sort positions are in Closed status, and work has been created to move the sorted inventory to Baydoor location.

13. Complete the sorted inventory picking work to move the inventory to the shipping location. When the inventory is ready, ship-confirm it.

Manually close a position (optional)

If sort positions should be closed manually, the Auto close sort position option for the outbound sorting template must be set to No, and closing must be done before inventory can be moved to the bay door area. Positions can be closed in various ways:

• Via the Warehouse Management mobile app:

  • The user can scan one of the items that are already on the position and then select Close to close the position.
  • If the user scans a container that has already been sorted container, an error message is shown. However, the user can still continue to close the position.

• From the Microsoft Dynamics 365 Supply Chain Management Outbound sorting position assignments page:

  • The user can select the outbound sorting position record and then select Close position on the Action Pane.

Tips

• Items can't be moved between positions after they have been assigned to one. The system evaluates how many of each item should go to a specific position.
• Sorts template can be configured to automatically create containers when positions are closed. This approach will create standard container ID structure that is based on the specified packing profile.