Supported Processes for Warehouse Management Interfaces

Basic data download - MHS630MI/635MI/640MI

Item, alias and supplier downloads deliver basic data from M3 to the warehouse system. This only needs to be performed if that basic data has been changed. All basic data must be changed in M3 and downloaded to the external system. No basic data changes from the external system can be processed by the interface. Basic data should only be maintained by one system.

• 'Item Master Table. Export' (MHS630) generates the data in the MHITMA (Item master download data) file. MHS630MI is used to retrieve the data.
• 'Item Alias File. Export'(MHS635) generates the data in the MHIPOP (Alias number download data) file. MHS635MI is used to retrieve the data.
• 'Supplier Master File. Export'(MHS640) generates the data in the MHDMAS, MHDVEN and MHDADR (Supplier download data) files. The API MHS640MI is used to retrieve the data.

These functions can be executed manually using selection criteria or they can be scheduled. When performing the download manually using the selection programs mentioned above, M3 basic data records that might have been deleted will not be captured, only new and changed records. The manual routine gives a refresh or a snapshot view according to the selections.

The 'Change date' field is used to schedule when the download should be performed.

An MBM initiator can be created if there are records that have been changed in M3 and should be retrieved by the external system. The initiator for alias and supplier download is only available in Java.

Expected receipts download - MHS800MI

Expected Receipts is composed of Purchase Order Receipts, Distribution/Requisition Order Receipts, Customer Order Returns and Manufacturing Order Receipts. The aim of the transaction is both to give the external system visibility of inbound transactions and to enable the receipt to be performed by the external system, using this information.

(MHS800/801/803) are the M3 programs where the expected receipts download files MHEXRH, MHEXRD, and MHFRNS can be monitored in 'Expected Receipt. Display' (MHS800) and 'Package Details Download. Display' (MHS803). The data is written to these files by the batch program (MMS910) and 'Customer Return. Open' (OIS390) if the warehouse parameter 'Planned receipts' on 'Warehouse. Open'(MMS005/H) is set to 1. The API MHS800MI is used to list the expected receipts.

Expected Receipts Package Details for Inbound DO (MHS803) - goods receipt of a DO line if it consists of several lots. A view program for MHFRNS exists, called (MHS803). This is accessed by selecting option 11 from 'Expected Receipt. Display Lines'(MHS801).

A good rule is that any change that would affect the material plan in M3 BE will also update the expected receipts files. One result is that only changes on the line level are captured.

However, some changes are filtered so M3 only downloads relevant data. The command field (CMND) follows the update of the material plan (MITPLO) and can be used when building logic into the external system.

See the table below for how the command field reacts for different events. (Please note the table describes the normal events and there could be exceptions depending on how M3 BE is configured.) The download flag (DOWN) is always set to zero (0) after M3 BE has written or updated a record.

Expected receipts create MBM initiators

This function creates MBM initiators for the selected expected receipts records so the expected receipts then can be downloaded to M3 e-Collaborator.

The MBM Initiator can be used to trigger the Infor Enterprise Collaborator (IEC) to ask for the updated records via the MI programs. The initiator contains all the necessary information that IEC needs to be able to use the MI transactions.

MBM initiators are created when picking lists are printed in print program (MWS435) (table MHPICL), when item information is downloaded in 'Item Master Table. Export' (MHS630) (MHITMA) when alias information is downloaded in 'Item Alias File. Export' (MHS635) (MHIPOP), when supplier information is downloaded in 'Supplier Master File. Export' (MHS640) (MHDMAS) and when expected receipt information is downloaded in 'Expected Receipt. Create MBM-Initiators' (MHS815) (MHEXRH).

Preallocation download - MHS805MI

Downloading preallocation data provides the external system with information so that the external system can make better decisions during the receiving process about cross-docking, put-away locations, and so on.

The preallocation download file (MHPREA) mirrors the data of the M3 core preallocation file (table MPREAL - maintained in 'Preallocation. Perform' (MWS120)) for the warehouses where the download parameter 'Planned receipts' on 'Warehouse. Open' (MMS005/H) is set to 1. The MHPREA data is accessible from the program 'Preallocation. Display' (MHS805). The API MHS805MI is used to list the preallocation data.

The four download files MHPICL (Pick header), MHPICD (Pick details), MHPICA (Addresses), and MHPICT (Text blocks) are populated. The pick ticket header and detailed data are accessible from 'Picking List. Display' (MHS810/811) and the addresses from 'Picking List Address. Display Downloaded' (MHS813).The API MHS810MI is used to list pick header (LstPickList), picking details (LstPickDetail), addresses (LstPickListAdr), and text blocks (LstPickLstTxt). The transaction PrcPickList is used to mark the picking list header and lines as read from the external system, which means that it will not be listed again. PrcPickListDet is used to mark the lines one by one as read.

Using MHS810MI, you can also list picking details for a specific wave number by using the transaction LstDetByWave.

Once a pick ticket has been downloaded, the external system takes over. Therefore, no picking lists should be reported or deleted within M3 BE. When entering the M3 core pick reporting program for an externally controlled warehouse, a warning message is displayed. This warning can easily be modified to a hard validation preventing the user from using the program for an externally controlled warehouse. A changed order line will not update the existing pick ticket but will create a new delivery or picking list suffix for the additional quantity.

Request for movement task download

This function can, for example, be used after quality inspection of received goods which is performed in M3, and a movement from a non-allocable to an allocatable stock location in the WMS is wanted.

The movement task is created in M3 BE and can be downloaded to the external system. The WMS system retrieves the movement request and report to M3 after the movement is carried out.

Generate a request for movement task to a WMS

The M3 user will generate a request by using the program'Movement Task. Create' (MHS177). A function program (MMCRTMOV) will be created to manage the movement task initiated in (MHS177). We also check if there is another request for the same balance ID already waiting to be reported. A task number (TASN) will be generated by M3 BE and used as a unique identifier that must be returned to M3 by the WMS when reporting the progress of the request. This function program calls the existing MMMNGMOV to validate the request. If the validation is successful, the request is written to a new download file (MHTASK) by MMCRTMOV and can thereafter be downloaded by the external system.

Create and download movement task:

Report back the performed movement task to M3 - MMS850MI

The API MMS850MI takes care of the situation in which M3 BE has initiated the movement task, as opposed to when the movement is initiated from the WMS. The M3 programs that actually update the M3 files are not executed until the movement is reported back. The function program (MMCRTMOV) is called by MMMNGMOV to delete the record in MHTASK.

Picking list download - MHS810MI

The pick ticket download is performed from (MWS435) if the warehouse parameter 'Picking list' on (MMS005/H) is set to 1 or if the picking list parameter on warehouse equipment in 'Warehouse Equipment. Open' (MWS023) is set to 1.

The download based on warehouse equipment is meant for use when interfacing to material handling equipment (MHE). This can, for example, be used when only one part of the warehouse is automated.

You can also print and download a picking list if the parameter in (MMS005) or 'Warehouse Equipment. Open' (MWS023) is set to 2.

Upload, execute and delete movement task:

On the download part, there is a new download file, MHTASK. The physical movement, managed by the external system, is triggered by the information in the download file and it is then reported back like as is currently done; the difference is that the M3 BE user decides which items to move. The task number (TASN) that has been downloaded from M3 must also be reported back. The reference order category and number are included in the download file. This opens up for solutions where movement tasks initiated by related transactions, for example goods receipts, can be treated in a different way by the WMS.

If the WMS fails to carry out the movement, the reporting back to M3 should still be performed but with the reported quantity set to 0.

Exception management

If a quantity other than the one downloaded in MHTASK is reported, different results can be expected. These types of exceptions should be treated exactly like full reporting. In other words, the quantity reported by the operator via the WMS should be the one used in the M3 transactions. The record in MHTASK should also be deleted when the transaction is processed.

As mentioned in the section above, if the WMS fails to carry out the movement, the reporting back to M3 should still be performed but with the reported quantity set to 0.

If a quantity smaller than expected is reported, it might be because there were not enough goods at the From location. In that case, there is stock on the From location in M3 and in the WMS (if applicable) that in fact does not exist and a manual adjustment of the balance is required. If a quantity larger than expected is reported, there might not be enough available stock from which to take. In that case, the upload message will not go through the validation and it will receive status 45. Then, the balance at the From location must be adjusted before executing the upload message again.

Mass deletion of downloaded data

A mass delete program has been created for the mass deletion of general data that has been downloaded to the WHI using 'Download Data. Mass Delete' (MHS090).

This program is recommended for use by customers who handle large data volumes via the WHI. It enables two main things:

1. Deletion of downloaded data for different download tables at the same time.

2. Deletion of downloaded basic data.

The program has the same functionality as action F10/MASSDE() has in the download programs for transaction data, for example 'Expected Receipt. Display' (MHS800). It applies to the download tables for basic data and transaction data, as in the following instances:

1. Basic data download

   • (MHS630) Item Download: Table MHITMA
   • (MHS635) Alias Download: Table MHIPOP
   • (MHS640) Supplier Download: Table MHDMAS, MHDVEN and MHDADR

2. Transaction data download

   • (MHS800) Expected receipts: Table MHEXRH, MHEXRD, MHFRNS and MHPRNS
   • (MHS805) Preallocation Download: Table MHPREA
   • (MHS810) Picking List Download: Table MHPICL, MHPICD, MHPICA and MHPICT

Selection of download programs/tables to mass delete

On the E panel of the program a check box appears to the right of each of the download programs. The purpose of the check box is to enable the selection of the download data for a specific program to be mass deleted. If a check box is selected, the download tables for the current program are selected for mass deletion.

Selection of data in download tables to mass delete

There are two criteria in the mass delete program that are used to determine the data to delete from the tables for the selected download programs. The first one is the 'Download flag' field, DOWN. The second one is the 'Days before mass delete' field, DBDE.

The criteria for DOWN has a default setting. That is, by default only data with DOWN set to 1 (data that is marked as processed by the external system) will be deleted from the selected download tables. In order to also include downloaded data that has DOWN set to 0 (data that is marked as unprocessed), the check box 'Include unprocessed data' must be selected. When this check box is selected, all downloaded data will be mass deleted, regardless of the value in the DOWN field.

The DBDE field is already used as criteria for mass delete in the currently existing method for option F10='Mass delete' in the download programs for transaction data, for example MHS800/B. In these programs the field is set under option F13=Settings. The DBDE field has the same functionality in the new mass delete program and is applicable for both basic and transaction data. The selection of mass delete based on the DBDE field is done in the following way. The entered number of days in DBDE is compared to the change date of the data that is included in the files that should be mass deleted. The data with change date further back in time than the entered number of days in DBDE counted from today is deleted. Only those programs that are currently checked in each of the two groups will be affected by the setting of the field. The locally set DBDE fields in the download programs for transaction data will not be taken into consideration when the new mass delete program is used.

In order to execute the mass delete program, the DBDE field must be correctly set. If it is left blank when Enter or Next is pressed, this will result in an error message, ''Days before deletion' must be entered'. This also means that in order to be able to select zero days before deletion, 0 must be set in the DBDE field.

Perform check before executing mass delete

When the selection for mass delete has been done and Enter or Next is pressed on the E panel of the mass delete program, a pop-up field is displayed presenting options to either cancel or confirm the mass delete. This is used in order to avoid unintended delete of data. Only if confirm is selected the mass delete of the download data actually takes place. If cancel is selected instead, a jump is made back to the E panel of the program, where the earlier made settings still will remain.

Supported processes

• Warehouse receipts
  • When an order is released (purchase order, distribution order, requisition order, manufacturing order, or customer order return) an expected receipt is downloaded.
  • When the external system receives the goods (order) this is uploaded to M3.
  • Preallocation can also be downloaded to an external system.

  MI Programs - Download

  • Expected receipts - MHS800, MHS801MI, MHS803MI
  • Expected receipts to e-Collaborator - MHS815MI
  • Preallocation - MHS805MI

  MI Programs - Upload

  • Received transactions - MHS850MI
• Warehouse shipments
  • A picking list can be downloaded.
  • The reported picking (picking list) is uploaded.
  • The packaging information is uploaded.

  MI Programs - Download

  • Pick list - MHS810MI

  MI Programs - Upload

  • Received transactions - MHS850MI
• Inventory information
  • Aggregated on-hand balances are downloaded - MMS060MI
  • Request for inventory movements are downloaded - MHS820MI
  • Performed inventory transactions are uploaded - MMS850MI

  MI Programs - Download

  • Stock messages/aggregated on-hand balance - MHS820MI
  • Create stock movement request - MHS177MI

  MI Programs - Upload

  • Stock messages - MMS850MI