Automated RF Replenish Allocation Logic

You can define your own pick and replenish allocation logic in the Inventory Allocation Method control maintenance record. You can also use the system's replenish allocation logic, which follows.

You can define the system to direct picks and replenishments based upon unit of measure (UOM) in the Inventory Allocation Method control maintenance record. If you want to allocate picks or replenishments based on UOM, you must first define locations with UOMs in Product Location Maintenance. In addition, if a location is defined for a UOM, the system allocates picks and replenishments to only the defined UOM locations.

For example:

If a location with cases needs replenishment, the system will only replenish this location with other cases. If a broken case exists in a case location, that case will automatically be replenished to the each location.

System Logic for Replenish Picks

Following is the replenish allocation logic for single and multiple picks.

Round 1: Single Picks

If the Use Location Expiration Dates and Pick by Location Based On Receive Date control maintenance records are both set to N, the system directs users to pick from a single location based upon the following location status hierarchy:

  1. Primary – Users are directed to a single primary location to fill the entire pick first.

  2. Secondary – If a single primary location cannot fill the entire pick, users are next directed to a single secondary location to fill the pick.

  3. Floating – If a single secondary location cannot fill the entire pick, users are directed to a single floating location to fill the pick.

  1. Remnant – If a single floating location cannot fill the entire pick, users are directed to a single remnant location to fill the pick.

  2. Blank – If a single remnant location cannot fill the entire pick, users are directed to a single blank location to fill the pick.

If multiple locations with the same status exist to fill the pick individually, the system selects the location with the highest quantity.

For example:

The system directs the picker to location A because it has the highest quantity.

Note: If the Use Location Expiration Dates and Pick by Location Based On Receive Date control maintenance records are both set to Y, the system directs users to pick from the location with the oldest product.

Round 2: Multiple Picks

If the Use Location Expiration Dates and Pick by Location Based On Receive Date control maintenance records are both set to N and if there is not a single location containing enough quantity to fill the entire pick, the system directs the users to pick from multiple locations based upon the following location status hierarchy:

  1. Primary – Users are directed to primary locations to fill the entire pick first.

  2. Secondary – If multiple primary locations cannot fill the entire pick, users are next directed to secondary locations to fill the pick.

  3. Floating – If multiple secondary locations cannot fill the entire pick, users are directed to floating locations to fill the pick.

  1. Remnant – If multiple floating locations cannot fill the entire pick, users are directed to remnant locations to fill the pick.

  2. Blank – If multiple remnant locations cannot fill the entire pick, users are directed to blank locations to fill the pick.

For multiple picks, the system directs users to the location with the highest quantity first, while still following the location status hierarchy.

For example:

A replenishment pick requires 300 widgets.

The system directs the users to pick all 200 widgets from location A first and then to pick 100 widgets from location B.

Note: If the Use Location Expiration Dates and Pick by Location Based On Receive Date control maintenance records are both set to Y, the system directs users to pick from the locations with the oldest product.

Additional Replenish Pick Allocation Logic

For locations with minimum and maximum amounts defined, the system selects only those locations with quantity above the maximum amount.

For example, if the following locations exist, and location 04-04-40 has a maximum quantity set at 150 and no other locations have maximum quantities set:

Location

Quantity

Status

Max/Min Qty

04-04-40

100

S

150/75

04-04-41

75

F

N/A

04-04-42

50

F

N/A

04-04-43

40

F

N/A

04-04-44

10

F

N/A

For an order of 50, the system selects location 04-04-41 from which to pick first. Even though location 04-04-40 has more quantity, it is not at or above its maximum quantity. The system does not select it as the replenish pick because the quantity is below the maximum quantity.

System Logic for Replenish Put Away

The system replenishes locations based on their creation date.

For example:

If location 04-04-40 above has a minimum quantity set at 75, and there is an in process pick of 30 items from this location, the system replenishes this location first because its quantity falls below the minimum amount defined after the pick.

See Also:

Automated RF Pick Allocation Logic

RF Replenishment Overview