Before an Eclipse RF Project Manager installs the RF Warehouse Management system, we recommend you complete the following tasks to prepare your warehouse.
Your RF Project Manager will visit your site before installation to review, plan, and identify all processes for implementation.
Obtain additional user licenses, if necessary. Each activated RF terminal needs an Eclipse user license. If you require additional licenses, you can order them in two steps:
Order the first group for receiving.
Order the balance at a later date before you activate RF picking.
Check if your hardware can support additional users.
Adding RF terminals demands system resources from your file server, including the processor, disk, and memory.
After reviewing your warehouse facility, design an optimum navigation guide through the facility. This guide facilitates RF picking, receiving, and put away for large orders.
Clean your warehouse facility.
As you scan each product to a location or area within the warehouse or yard, you are defining that product location to the RF system. Neat and uncluttered aisles help in scanning and defining product location.
If you break your warehouse into pick groups so multiple pickers can pick an order simultaneously, create a staging or packing area where orders are placed until completely packed and ready to ship.
Order or move racking to optimize warehouse space and product flow.
If you add or move racking, walls, or doors after the RF site survey, you may affect your RF coverage.
Schedule the RF site survey.
You need an RF site survey to determine the placement of RF access points - radio frequency units with antennas - in your warehouse. This site survey guarantees RF coverage.
During the RF site survey, the RF technician determines the number and locations of RF access points needed. You must then install the RF access points and related antennas to provide the radio coverage necessary so that RF guns can access the system.
Order and install RF hardware and bar coding equipment based on the RF site survey.
You can order bar code printers before RF hardware, and even before the site survey. With this equipment, you can begin labeling warehouse locations. We recommend ordering one bar code printer for receiving and one for shipping.
Print the warehouse location bar code labels and place them in all warehouse locations.
Depending on your warehouse facility, you can place labels in plastic envelopes with adhesive backings. These can be moved easily when you add or change locations.
We do not recommend using magnetic bar code strips. They can be inadvertently moved, causing location inaccuracies.
Cross-reference bar codes for products in the warehouse that do not have UPC numbers loaded in the Eclipse Product file but that do have manufacturer bar code labels on the product.
Schedule an Eclipse installer for on-site training of the receiving process.
Note: Companies often begin the implementation of RF with the receiving process. By starting this way, you can bar code and identify locations for all items. If you are not currently using an RF system, we recommend that you turn on receiving at least 45 to 60 days prior to picking. This time allows you to bar code all products and locations. Schedule three to five days of training for receiving, and allow two weeks for your receivers to master the process.
Modify pick tickets so locations are printed on them.
During RF receiving, items are identified by quantity in their locations. The ticket shows pickers the primary product location. If pickers remove a product from a different location, they must record it on the print ticket and adjust it through the Detailed Scheduling screen in Order Entry.
Identify items that have remnants, such as wire, with lot bar code labels.
We recommend that you identify these items with lot bar code labels a month before you turn on RF picking. Cycle count the items and place lot bar code labels on those products.
In an optimum environment, just prior to turning on picking, perform a full physical inventory. If you decide not to take this approach, invest in daily cycle counting – after implementing picking – to adjust any product location discrepancies.
Schedule an Eclipse installer to train you in and turn on picking.
Training for RF picking requires three to five days.
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