Physical inventory prerequisites

Because of timing differences between the system and TWL, ensure that processing that affects quantity updates is finished before you set a physical inventory in TWL. When you set a physical inventory in TWL, certain functions are locked and system updates cannot be made. Therefore, completing processing and prerequisites is vital to ensuring your physical inventory count reflects accurate quantities and inventory adjustments are not made unnecessarily. At a minimum, you must complete these prerequisites:

  • Purchase orders that are received in TWL must be received in the system. Because there is a timing difference between the actual receipt in TWL when the WL Entry Batch Receiving Report updates the system, verify that both systems reflect newly received inventory.

  • Active WL Transaction Inquiry transactions received from TWL must be processed. The associated batch process picks up transactions that can be processed without manual intervention, and the system is updated.

    To run the WL Audit Inventory Report in update mode, which creates stock adjustments when your physical is complete, WL Transaction Inquiry transactions must be inactive. Before you begin the physical, check WL Transaction Inquiry to ensure that all active transactions have been processed. Then, run the WL Delete Transmissions Report to remove the inactive transactions. Running this report clears WL Transaction Inquiry. This is so that the only items in WL Transaction Inquiry at the end of the physical inventory are those generated by the physical inventory.

  • Error, work-in-process, and open transactions in WL Transaction Inquiry received from TWL must be researched and resubmitted for processing. These transactions are items that require research and manual intervention before they are resubmitted for processing.
  • Stage 3 (Shipped) orders in the system must be invoiced to relieve on-hand inventory. A list of Stage 3 (Shipped) orders can be obtained fromSales Order Inquiry.
  • Orders and vendor returns in TWL must be shipped. Orders that have been released to TWL must be dropped, picked, packed, and shipped to transmit the results of the physical inventory. Orders that have been picked and are in totes, cartons, alternate moveable locations, or on pallets, must be shipped before the physical inventory is set. This enables the Inventory Control Main Menu-Physical Inventory function in the RF units.
  • Inventory that is in stage-in or stage-out locations, and that does not have a pallet ID, are not marked for counting. An exception report lists the inventory that is in staging locations, as identified on the TWL Configuration-Department master record, but does not have pallet IDs. Place the inventory on a pallet with a pallet ID, or move the inventory to another location that is not a stage-in or stage-out location. Then, reset the physical.
  • To reset the physical inventory when a count session is already open, close the current session and open a new count session. You cannot start a new physical count session when one is already being performed.
  • Clear all TWL cycle count records.

When you set your physical inventory, you are expected by TWL to scan each location in the company and warehouse that has a TWL Configuration-Location master record. Then, you are expected to verify the location’s contents before the physical inventory is considered complete by TWL. Access to warehouse-related menus on the RF is prohibited by TWL to prevent accidental changes from occurring.

You can access Inventory Control Main Menu-Physical Inventory on the RF, but other functions on the RF Inventory Control Main Menu menu are locked. If needed, you can access the picking, packing, and shipping menus to process emergency orders and reduce inventory.

When you perform a physical inventory count, you are asked to confirm two consecutive identical quantities. This confirmation process gives you the opportunity to have more than one person verify the count. Instead of creating a discrepancy, the product remains on the physical status list until a confirmation of the quantity is received by TWL.

Note: These parameters provide options to reduce the keystrokes during the physical inventory to minimize operator intervention: 3609, Physical - Skip ‘By’, 3610, Physical - Skip ‘Labels?’, and 3611, Physical - Skip ‘Set PP?’. Ensure your TWL administrator has set these parameters to reflect your needs.