Picking can be done by Zone and Sub-zone. Zone picking caters for loose, case/carton and pallet picking, subject to the outstanding picking transactions.
If the quantity to be picked is full cases and represents less than the total stock on hand within a location, then a carton pick instruction will be issued. The RF screen shows: location, TUN (Trade Unit Number – carton barcode representing SKU & carton quantity) or SKU & carton quantity (if TUN not available), plus the number of cartons to be picked. Each carton scan will decrease the outstanding number of cartons.
If the quantity to be picked is for a single item and in full cases and represents the total stock on hand within a location, then a pallet pick instruction will be issued. The RF screen shows: location, LPN, SKU, plus the number of cartons that the system understands is located on the pallet. The operator must visually cross-check the number of cartons and, if OK, scan the LPN to confirm the pick. If the cross-check fails, a function key is used to change to carton-based instructions. This allows picking of the physically available stock, leaving the remainder in discrepancy requiring a stock count.
A picker may scan an existing carton (inducted but empty or partially picked) to commence/resume its picking OR request new work (i.e. subject to configuration, induct a carton whose first pick is from a location in the current picking zone). Once all picks are confirmed the system will advise the picker to forward the carton to the next zone (for outstanding picks) or to dispatch (if carton fully packed). The actual message presented is configurable.
It incorporates cubed RF picking instructions, i.e. it automatically calculates the number, size and contents of cartons per order prior to the order being picked. This enables each carton of an order to be picked independently, allowing one order to be picked by multiple pickers simultaneously.
If cubing is in use, carton induction (label printing) is configurable to allow each carton of an order to be inducted independently at the first zone requiring picking or to produce all labels for an order in a batch (i.e. immediately upon ‘release to pick’). Carton labels show the carton type (size) enabling carton make-up immediately after induction.
The cubing logic will perform what is needed to determine the size of the new box and the zones it will pass through (basically as if the container was generated at the start).
A packing list (or invoice) will be produced when last carton is complete.
In the Database Warehouse module new Picking Zones are created and maintained. Once all the Picking Zones have been created, load the picking Zones into the Location Master File. (WHLOC00P) using the Picking Zone Load menu option in Database Warehouse.
Cubing Control Files must also be setup for RF Zone Picking.
