Creating multiple locations using TWL Web

Before you create a range of locations, map the warehouse and plan your picking and putaway routing sequences to ensure you create appropriate locations. If you are creating a range of locations that sequence horizontally, you cannot use this feature. For example, you may be creating location records for the high shelves that can be accessed by a forklift. If so, create the records individually because the locations are sequenced horizontally rather than up and down.

When this function runs, it can potentially run for a long time. The time depends on how many bin locations you decide to create based on specified ranges and settings. Consider breaking the ranges down into workable lists. Use the Working List to see the list of bin locations that are being created. Then, you can decide whether to proceed, or whether to delete some records before performing the create.

Access to the new report is controlled by function security in SA Operator Setup. We recommend you limit access to system administrator-level operators.

  1. Select TWL Configuration > Multiple Location Create.
  2. Specify a TWL warehouse.
  3. In Warehouse Zone, select the zone in which the bins are located.
  4. Optionally, in Prefix, specify a prefix. If you do, all locations are prefixed with the same characters.
  5. The position represents the second set of characters for a location. In the Position section, specify this information:
    Digits or Letters
    Specify whether the characters are digits or letters
    From | To
    Specify a range.
    Length
    Specify a length of the position part of the location address.
    Range Type
    Select All, Even, or Odd. You can create all locations in the range or create locations for one side of the aisle by selecting even or odd.
  6. The level represents the third set of characters for a location. In the Level section, specify this information:
    Digits or Letters
    Specify whether the characters are digits or letters
    From | To
    Specify a range.
    Length
    Specify a length of the level part of the location address.
  7. In the Bin Location Attributes section, specify this information:
    Bin Type
    Select Pallet, Stage, Shelf, Flow Rack, Carousel, or Bulk.
    Class
    If you use ABC Classification, specify a percentage class. It is updated when locations are stratified by EOD. Used when put-away locations are assigned. Items are typically stored by the system in locations of the same class to organize stock within the facility. If a location with a matching class cannot be found, the next logical class is selected.
    Aisle
    Specify an aisle for the location.
  8. In the Cube Dimensions section, specify this information:
    Height
    Specify the total height of the location measured in inches. This is used when calculating the cube of the location.
    Width
    Specify the total width of the location measured in inches. This is used when calculating the cube of the location.
    Depth
    Specify the total depth of the location measured in inches. This dimension is considered when calculating the cube of the location.
    Cube
    Informational only. This is a calculated field populated as a result of the height x width x depth of the location.
  9. In the Other Dimensions section, specify this information:
    Maximum Weight
    Specify the maximum weight of merchandise that can be stored in this location.
    Pallet Footprint
    Specify a value for the pallet size in the location.
    Stacking Height
    Specify the total number of floor pallet spaces this location occupies.
    Maximum Pallets
    Informational only. This is a calculated field populated as a result of the pallet foot print times the stack height of the location.
  10. In the Options section, specify this information:
    Pick Sequence
    A numeric value that represents the order in which this location is picked within the zone.
    PutAway Group
    This user-defined field is taken into account to find an empty put-away location after primary locations or locations with existing inventory were considered. It allows you to combine groups of similar items that are in the warehouse based on the way you set up the put-away group. When choosing a storage location, the item is checked by the system to determine if the item belongs to a put-away group. If it does, the location(s) tagged with the same group name are checked, and the appropriate bin location for putaway is found.
  11. Click Create Working List.
  12. In the Question modal, click Yes or No. The message provides this information:
    • An example of your format is presented: New Bin Locations will be similar to the following format: "TESTAAA1"
    • The expected record count of new bins you are creating is presented: With the ranges set, you will be creating the following number of new bins: 64
    • This message is presented: Large Bin Location Masks/Ranges will take awhile to process. Would you like to proceed with the Create Working List processing? If you want to make changes to your settings, click No to return to the settings page. If you approve of this format and bins number, click Yes.
  13. If you clicked Yes, the Working List Status page is displayed.
    A message notifies you that the list is processing. Depending on the size of your list, the processing may take some time. You can go and do other work, or stay on this page. Click Search to refresh the status. When creation of the list is completed, review the information presented; such as Bin Location Sample, End Date/Time, and Record Count. You can also view the settings used to create the locations.
  14. Decide what to do with your list. In the toolbar, you can select from these actions:
    • Create Bin Locations: If you approve of the list, click this button.
    • Details: This option is only visible after the Working List is built. It contains a grid of the bin locations that will be created. You can use the Bin Location Contains field to search for a specific location. You can select one or more locations and click Delete. This removes those locations from the Working List. The column, Bin Location Exists, shows duplicates. You can search for duplicates with the standard grid sorting, then select the record, and click Delete. When you approve of the list, you can click Create Bin Locations in the toolbar.
    • Delete Working List: Click to delete the list. After reviewing the list, you may want to start over and create another list with changes to the settings. This option deletes any records in the list of locations and the associated Working List settings.
    Note: Only one Working List can be created per user. It is assumed that one administrator would be creating multiple locations at a time. This activity would likely occur during the initial setup.
  15. Repeat steps to create additional lists.