Allocation strategy

An allocation strategy is used to check for sufficient stock to fill an order. You can either create your own strategies or modify the existing strategies.

The allocation strategies included within the application are:

Name Description Details
N01 Break by UOM - assigned locations required This strategy is configured to require assigned forward pick locations to be configured for the item in case, inner, and each units of measure. If the item does not have an assigned location for one of the UOM breaks, the UOM will not allocate.

The logical progression is to first allocate full pallet quantities (from OTHER type location); case quantities from a CASE location; inner pack quantities from a PIECE location; each quantities from a PIECE location.

N02 Break by UOM - assigned locations optional, minimize pallet breaks This strategy is configured to first attempt to allocate from assigned forward pick locations. If a unit of measure, though, does not have a specific location assigned, the strategy attempts to allocate the UOM from another type of location.

The strategy is also configured to avoid breaking full license plates for non-pallet picks if possible. For example, if there is not an 'assigned' case pick location for the item, the system attempts to allocate cases from a license plate that does NOT contain a full pallet quantity. This leaves the full pallet quantity license plates intact where possible. if a partial pallet LPN is not found, it then attempts to get the quantity needed for case picks from a license plate that does contain a full pallet quantity. Inner pack and each UOM picks are also similarly configured in this strategy.

N03 Break by UOM - assigned PICK locations not used This strategy is configured so it does not attempt to allocate from assigned forward pick locations. It has steps for each standard unit of measure, but does not any provide any restrictions on the LPN quantity to avoid breaking full license plates.

The primary sort is by the designated lot rotation, then sort in location sequence.

N11 Match Qty, then Best Fit

This strategy does not break by UOM; everything is considered by the master unit of measure. The primary sort is by lot rotation. The inventory allocated is then selected based on the quantity. Here are the types of quantity criteria used:

  • Exact Match - First it allocates a license plate that has the exact quantity available matching the quantity it is trying to allocate. Since the primary rotation is based on lot, it only performs the 'exact match' from the first lot.
  • Bigger Fit (LPN quantity available > quantity to allocate) - If there is not an exact match found, it searches for a license plate that has a quantity available greater than the quantity needed. Since the primary rotation is based on lot for this step, it only selects a license plate from the first lot.
  • Best Fit (LPN quantity available < quantity to allocate) - If there is not an exact match found, it searches for a license plate that has a quantity available less than the quantity needed. Of the potential license plates found, it allocates the one with the most quantity. Since the primary rotation is based on lot for this step, it only selects a license plate from the first lot.

The primary sort for each step of this strategy forces the system to use the oldest (in the case of FIFO rotation) product first. The oldest lot would NOT be required if Date Code Days is configured on the item and the primary sort of the strategy is changed to 'Quantity' instead of 'Lot Rotation'. This opens a window of possible dates so the system can search for a quantity match outside of the oldest lot.

N12 Match Qty, then clean locations (quantity low to high) This strategy does not break by UOM; everything is considered by the master unit of measure. The primary sort is by lot rotation. The inventory allocated is then selected based on the quantity. Here are the types of quantity criteria used:
  • Exact Match - First it allocates a license plate that has the exact quantity available matching the quantity it is trying to allocate. Since the primary rotation is based on lot, it only performs the 'exact match' from the first lot.
  • Lot to High Quantity - If there is not an exact match found, it searches for a license plate that has the least quantity available. This allows the system to more quickly empty locations and free the locations up for new items to be stored.

The primary sort for each step of this strategy forces the system to use the oldest (in the case of FIFO rotation) product first. The oldest lot would NOT be required if Date Code Days is configured on the item and the primary sort of the strategy is changed to 'Quantity' instead of 'Lot Rotation'. This opens a window of possible dates so the system can search for a quantity match outside of the oldest lot. A variation of this strategy might be to change the primary sort to 'Quantity' for the 'Exact Match' step, then use Lot Rotation for the next sort to get the oldest material shipped.

N13 Match Qty, then minimize picks This strategy does not break by UOM; everything is considered by the master unit of measure. The primary sort is by lot rotation. The inventory allocated is then selected based on the quantity. By looking for license plates greater than the quantity needed, it minimizes the number of picks for the item. Here are the types of quantity criteria used:
  • Exact Match - First it allocates a license plate that has the exact quantity available matching the quantity it is trying to allocate. Since the primary rotation is based on lot, it only performs the 'exact match' from the first lot.
  • Bigger Fit - Attempts to allocate a license plate that has a larger quantity than needed. If found, selects the license plate with the quantity nearest to the quantity needed.
  • Best Fit - Attempt to allocate a license plate that has a quantity less than the quantity needed. Selects the license plate with the most quantity.
N14 Match Qty, then location sequence This strategy does not break by UOM; everything is considered by the master unit of measure. The primary sort is by lot rotation. The inventory allocated is then selected based on the quantity. By searching for license plates greater than the quantity needed, it minimizes the number of picks for the item. Here are the types of quantity criteria used:
  • Exact Match - First it allocates a license plate that has the exact quantity available matching the quantity it is trying to allocate. Since the primary rotation is based on lot, it only performs the 'exact match' from the first lot.
  • Location sequence - If there is not an exact match, the inventory is allocated in location sequence.
N21 Location sequence This strategy does not break by UOM; everything is considered by the master unit of measure. The primary sort is by lot rotation. The inventory is then allocated in location route sequence.
N22 Clean Locations (select location with lowest quantity) This strategy does not break by UOM; everything is considered by the master unit of measure. The primary sort is by lot rotation. The inventory allocated is then selected by the license plate with the lowest quantity. This could cause more picks but allows empty locations to be made available quickly.
N23 Full pallet UOM, then clean out all locations - order by lot and location This strategy first allocates full pallet quantities using lot rotation. Less than full pallet quantities are allocated in lot and location route sequence.
N31 Dynamic picking with UOM breaks This strategy uses soft allocation, meaning inventory is not reserved during allocation but instead determines the specific information to the picker on RF during the pick.

The strategy is configured to allocate full pallets first before allocating quantity for less than a full pallet.

N32 Dynamic picking with cartonization This strategy uses soft allocation, meaning inventory is not reserved during allocation but instead determines the specific information to the picker on RF during the pick.

The strategy is configured to allocate full pallets first before allocating quantity for less than a full pallet. Cartonization logic is used for these other units of measure to assign Carton IDs to the demand information created for the order. This allows the system to determine the quantities of non-pallet quantity that can be picked together into the same pick container.