This program displays the released count cycles and their total and outstanding count instructions. Whole cycles or individual count instructions can be re-prioritized.
Count instructions are initially batched into user-defined categories. On selection of a count category for release, the user inputs cycle description, priority, and maximum number of counts (with user-defined default). This allows the daily count capacity to be considered when releasing new cycles. If combinations of categories are selected simultaneously for release and the maximum number of counts is less than the total counts for the batch, then the number of counts released from each of the categories will be calculated proportionally.
The different inventory types, A. B. C & D are divided proportionately by this maximum number to ensure the correct number of items is being counted each day in each category in order to count all the items with in the time frame they are supposed to be counted in.
Count instructions will be generated as per the following.
- Automatically (or as selected by a user) based on cycle count templates. Templates define the frequency that an item or location should be counted. Each template must nominate a range of warehouses and includes item (including ABC classification), warehouse zone and location plus count frequency and count priority. ABC template must also nominate a range of ABC classifications (from a user defined list) while geographic templates must nominate a range of zone and/or locations. A ‘number of periods’ count frequency must be applied to the template, specifying the frequency that item/locations, within the template, should be counted. ‘Periods’ may be defined as months or days. Count instructions can be created overnight based on the last date counted for item/location combinations, the current date and the count frequency. Count jobs can also be generated by users for ranges of bin locations at regular scheduled intervals.All templates are applied over existing location-based stock records – ABC templates first, followed by Geographic. If a stock record is not part of an existing cycle and its last counted date precedes the current date less the count frequency, then the item/location combination will be added to the cycle. Where trigger-based counts are generated during stock movements (or RF cycle count itself) a priority count instruction is created to be actioned by a dedicated counter.
- Automatically, when a discrepancy is identified within an existing cycle, all existing locations for that item will be bundled into a high priority ‘discrepancy’ batch to promote prompt release, count and resolution.
- On request from a picker when actioning a location if possible discrepancies are identified. This includes (but is not limited to) empty or short locations during stock removal, and unexpected stock in a location during put away. In fact, any system generated movement where a location is overridden by the operator will trigger a count on the original location.
- Automatically whenever a picker discovers an incorrect item in a bin during put away or an empty bin is encountered during tasks that involve removing items from that bin or if a bin location does not have sufficient quantity to complete the task from a bin location (short quantity).
ABC classifications will be updated automatically based on average unit costs and annual usage to provide a dollar value and a corresponding classification (based on user-defined, percentage rankings).
The system will restrict counts of items in elevated locations to selected users based on RF device type rules.
Counting is done as a multiple of carton quantity even if the carton quantity is 1 – effectively counting pieces. Therefore, when a part-case is removed from a bin, the remainder is recorded as singles. It is up to the counter to dictate the carton quantity according to the zone being counted and the physical carton configuration.
Display Ad-hoc count details
- In the menu, expand Base Modules > Distribution > Inventory Management > Warehouse Management > RF Cycle Count > RF Cycle Count Process and double-click Work with RF Cycle Count. WHW160 Work with Count Cycle panel appears. This panel displays all released but incomplete cycles.
| Functions | Description |
| Ad hoc cycle | Access WHW155 Count category Selection to add or create new count cycle category. |
| Options | Description |
| Detail | Access WHI295 Cycle Count Inquiry by Cycle to display locations to be counted, count priority and a flag indicating whether it has been counted or not. It has an option to show location and warehouse stock and also an option to print cycle and list of its detail. |
| Change | This option is used to maintain priority and cycle description for the selected cycle. |
| Hold | This option is used to stop counts being performed. A cycle must be held before it can be closed. |
| Unrelease | This option when selected reverses the release for selected cycle by removing all suggested stock counts back to the categories. |
| Display | This option is used to display outstanding counts and completed counts and generation date. |
| Unhold | This option is used to remove the hold on selected cycle and restart the counting. |
| Close | This option is used to close the cycle when it is completed or no longer required. Before closing a cycle, it must be placed on hold first. |
- Select a cycle and click option Detail. WHI295 Cycle Count Inquiry by Cycle panel appears.
Maintain count cycle
| If you want to… | Then… | ||
| Display count cycle details, |
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| Change details of count cycle, |
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| Hold/unhold count cycle, | Hold will stop counts being performed and unhold will start counting again.
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| Unrelease count cycle, |
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| Close count cycle, |
This describes how to close selected count cycle which is completed or no longer required. Cycle must be in H – Held status before it can be closed.
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