Creating an allocation strategy

To create a new allocation strategy:

  1. Select Configuration > Strategies > Allocation. The Allocation Strategy list view is displayed.
    Note:  The Import and Export selections are available in the Allocation Strategy list view. In addition to the functionality defined in the Infor WMS Introduction and Navigation User Guide, the import and export features within the Allocation Strategy list view have been expanded.
    • You can click Import to import Microsoft Excel data to either create new records or update existing records. Infor WMS validates the field values before either new records are inserted or existing records are updated. If a validation fails, the import log record indicates the error file.
    • When you click Export, both header and detail data are exported to a Microsoft Excel file. As in other existing areas within Infor WMS, the header and detail values are exported to separate tabs in the Excel file.
  2. Click New.
  3. Within the allocation strategy header area at the top of the screen, specify this information:
    Allocation Strategy
    Specify a unique code identifying the allocation strategy.
    Description
    Specify a description of the allocation strategy.
    Strict Lot Rotation in Assigned Pick Locations
    Used only by Firm Allocation.
    • If you select the check box (On), the system attempts to allocate the lot (as determined by rotation rules) with available inventory from an assigned pick location. If the Overallocate Assigned Pick Locations (field below) check box is selected, the lot is overallocated. The system does not allocate a different lot even if there is existing inventory in the assigned pick location.
    • If you do not select the check box (Off), the system allocates any lot that has inventory in the assigned pick location using rotation rules. Rotation rules determine the sequence of the lot allocation.
    Overallocate Assigned Pick Locations
    Used only by Firm Allocation.
    • If you select the check box (On) and the location type used on the strategy step is specified as Assigned (type = CASE, PICK, LAYER), the system still allocates from that location even if there is not enough quantity available to fill the needed quantity of the item. Overallocation selects the lot(s) from available inventory determined by rotation rules .
    • If you do not select the check box (Off), the strategy does not allocate from the assigned location if there is not enough inventory.
    Speed Pick Locations by UOM
    You can turn on or off the Speed Pick Locations by UOM functionality at the allocation strategy level. If you select the check box, the consolidation by UOM control logic is activated. If you clear (uncheck) the Speed Pick Locations by UOM check box, the system uses the basic or preexisting consolidation logic. Note that it is not necessary to select the Overallocate Assigned Pick Locations field to use the Speed Pick Locations by UOM functionality.
  4. Within the allocation strategy detail area at the bottom of the screen, specify this information:
    Step Number
    Specify the step number that determines the logical sequence the system follows when processing the allocation strategy. This is a required field.
    Allocation Type
    Select the allocation type. This is a required field.
    • Firm - Allocation creates PickDetail records and TaskDetail records if configured. Picked with task directed methods, RF assisted methods, or on the workstation.
    • Soft - Allocation creates DemandAllocation records. Dynamic picking is used to pick.
    • Soft with Cartonization - Allocation creates DemandAllocation records with Container IDs from cartonization. Dynamic picking is used to pick.
    UOM
    Select the unit of measure level used to break pick quantities such as each, case, and pallet. All nine of the UOM levels available for configuration on the pack can be specified in the strategy. The allocation process uses the quantity to allocate and work through the strategy to locate the correct UOM break. This is a required field. Note that if you have selected the Speed Pick Locations by UOM field, you can determine the UOMs that use speed pick locations by selecting the Speed Line value in the Location Type field for each applicable UOM.
    Location Type
    Select the location type used as select criteria to find inventory for consideration. If this is one of the types within Infor WMS that indicates the item is assigned to the location (CASE, PICK-PIECE, LAYER), the system checks the SKU/Location assignment to find the location to use. If the location type is not one of the assigned types, the system checks the location (LOC table) to select possible locations for the type. Note that if you have selected the Speed Pick Locations by UOM field, you can determine the UOMs that use speed pick locations by selecting the Speed Line value in the Location Type field for each applicable UOM.
    Create one pick by UOM and Location
    Used if cartonization (as configured on the pack) is not being used for the unit of measure allocated. Does not apply for full pallet picks.
    • If you select the check box (On), one pick and task record for the entire quantity is allocated on the step if the lot, location, and license plate are the same. For example, if five cases are allocated, one pick is created for the total quantity if they are from the same lot, location, and license plate.
    • If you do not select the check box (Off), a separate pick and task is generated for each break of the UOM if cartonization is not being used on the strategy step. For example, if five cases are allocated, five picks are created to be confirmed during picking.
    Location Category
    Select the category from the Location configuration used as select criteria within the allocation step to determine the possible locations that can be considered for allocation. You can specify a value in this field to reduce the number of locations that are considered for the allocation step to help the operation target and prioritize where allocation should occur.
    Location ABC
    Select the ABC from the Location configuration used as select criteria within the allocation step to determine the possible locations that can be considered for allocation. You can specify a value in this field to reduce the number of locations that are considered for the allocation step to help the operation target and prioritize where allocation should occur.
    Allocation Zone
    Select the allocation zone.
    LPN Quantity
    Select the criteria for allocation to determine how the process should consider license plates in inventory. This selection can be used to determine if the system should break or not break pallets to fill the order:
    • Lpn Quantity = Pack Pallet Quantity - The step only considers a license plate if the quantity available is equal to the pallet quantity on the pack for the order line.
    • LPN Quantity <> Pack Pallet Quantity - The step only considers license plates that have available inventory that does not match the pallet quantity on the pack for the order line.
    • Any Quantity - There is no restriction considered for the available quantity on the pallet.
    Sort Priority (Sort 1, Sort 2, Sort 3, Sort 4)
    Select values for sort priority fields to determine how all of the inventory records that can possibly be used to allocate the line once all criteria have been applied should be sorted to choose the exact piece of inventory to allocate (or pick). Sort 1 field is a required field.
    • Lot Rotation - Uses the lot rotation rules defined for the order line. This is typically the first sort option.
    • Location - Uses the location route sequence as the sort criteria. This sequence includes three fields to determine the correct sort to follow (InterleavingSequence, LogicalLocation, Loc)
    • LPN Quantity - Uses the quantity available on the inventory (LOTXLOCXID) record and compares to the quantity the system is attempting to allocate to determine which inventory record to allocate. The Quantity choices available are described below.
    • License Plate Number - Uses the license plate number for the inventory being allocated.
    • LPN Rotation in Location - Determines which LPN should be allocated when multiple license plates exist in the location. The system uses the AddDate from the LOTXLOCXID record for the LPN/Location, and allocates either the first license plate placed in the location or the last into the location based on the corresponding setting on the location (FIFO/LIFO). If the location is filled from the back and picked from the front, this should be set to FIFO. If the location is filled from the front, this should be set to LIFO.
    • Location ABC - Uses the ABC code from the location configuration.
    Qty Sort Rules
    Select the rule that determines how license plates are to be considered for allocation only referenced if one of the Sort Criteria uses the LPN Quantity.
    • Low to High (Lowest Quantity) - Sorts the eligible inventory records by the quantity available in ascending sequence.
    • Exact Fit - Selects only inventory records from list of eligible records that have a quantity available equal to the quantity that is being allocated.
    • Bigger Fit - Selects only license plates that have a quantity available that is greater than or equal to the quantity that is being allocated. Once these have been selected, sorts the list in low to high sequence using the quantity available. The result is the LPN is allocated nearest to the quantity needed.
    • Best Fit - Selects only license plates that have a quantity available that is less than or equal to the quantity being allocated. Once these records have been determined, sorts the list in high to low sequence using the quantity available. The result is the LPN is allocated that has a quantity nearest to the quantity needed. This minimizes picks without further breaking of license plates into smaller pieces.
    • High to Low (Highest Quantity) - Sorts all eligible inventory records by the quantity available in descending sequence.
  5. After you create the new allocation strategy, click Save.
    • You can make a duplicate of a strategy to create a new record. When you click Duplicate, you are prompted to specify a unique code key and description for the new record. Click Save to create the new record. All detail rows in the existing record are copied and saved to the detail table.