Inventory allocation

You can control the inventory allocation process by setting the sequence of where to look for inventory that is allocated to pick records. When you set up inventory allocation, you are telling the system where to allocate inventory when the order is dropped. This is the system level hierarchy for sequence rules:

  • Carrier-specific
  • Order Class-specific
  • Warehouse-specific

The TWL system hierarchy is for carrier sequence rules first, then order class, then warehouse. If a carrier is found, the carrier sequence is used. When no carrier-specific record is set up, an order class record is found to allocate inventory. If no order class-specific record is found, inventory is allocated in warehouse-specific sequence. The warehouse default option is used for all orders where an order class or carrier sequence is not defined.

Secondary pick sequences influence the inventory allocation within each of the primary sequence pick areas.

Secondary pick sequences

The primary pick sequences define which locations types to pick from. Secondary pick sequences provide more detail about what sequence to pick the locations from within that area. You can define these secondary pick sequences when you set up product categories, warehouse zones, and locations:

  • Product Category: This sequence enables you to pick across all zones for specific product groups. This pick should be performed before all other picks. The sequence applies more to the sequence in which the RF operator sees the picks, rather than how the pick locations are determined.
  • Warehouse Zone sequence
  • Bin Location: This sequence enables routing picks to be set up with a zone when using the aisle/row/bin methodology as the bin number.
  • Bin Number: This sequence enables alphanumeric sorting.

Pick records are sorted by zone/aisle/location. If you also set up a product category pick sequence, the pick records are sorted by product category/zone/aisle/location.

Primary pick locations are honored by TWL first. Then, everything else is balanced, including pick sequence, to determine the most efficient pick possible. For example, a location that only requires a single pick is found first by the system, verses two picks in different locations. This may vary based on your setups for the type of order you are dropping; that is, whether you are using a Zone pick sequence or a FIFO sequence. Ultimately, the TWL logic is set up to reduce the number of picks to increase productivity.