TOT
follows the random stock keeping approach. Stock is stored in any
location provided there is sufficient space, which means the same SKU
can (and is often likely to be stored in multiple locations.
This can present challenges for establishing and adopting best working
picking from locations, as the number of variables involved results in
a series of similar but different scenarios.
The best way to overcome these challenges and establish efficient working practice is for an experienced member of staff assess each fulfilment ahead of the pick to determine the optimal method to administer the pick. Once assessed the fulfilment is updated to record the best picking protocol to use. For the member of staff assigned the pick, they only need to follow the predetermined instructions.
Fulfilments
layout, use Can
Pick : Today to return
a foundset of ready to pick records.
See understanding Fulfilment
Filters for supplemental information as to how these filters work.
Review
each
record via its Picker button (i.e. one at a time.)
This
will list all
the locations which contain stock needed on the fulfilment,
together with the Qty of each wanted item held in each location.
Notice
for the above example, the In location balance matches exactly the
required (to be given qty) for each of the four items needed.
At this point you know that
this single fulfilment can be fully satisfied by visiting this location,
but there are other potential scenarios that may exists - for example
the location identified may contain items that are required on other
fulfilment records. If so, then it would be more efficient for the
picking staff member to satisfy the other fulfilment's when visiting
the location.
From within the picking form - click Stock Check.
This displays the contents
of the location .
It also gives more information, notice the following:-
(1) - This is the Subfrantic
requirements that we originally came from in. However we can see a
series (2) of Diddly Squat
items which have been allocated (3),.
i.e. are required in
those qtys, and moreover that these requirements can all be satisfied
in entirety (4) from the location.
It therefore makes sense to
group the Fulfilments for "Subfrantic" and "Diddly
Squat" together. That is, assign
them to the same picker, and use the Group
Pick field to communicate to the picker that they should be
picked together - that is, only one visit to the location Temp
6 is needed.
Now that the method of how to assess fulfilments has been outlined, let's look at the different scenarios that can occur.
Under the first four scenarios, we have a single fulfilment, and the item (or items) required on it, are held in a single location
This is relatively common and occurs when a fulfilment requires one item, stored in a single location which contains the exact qty of stock needed for the pick.
Under this scenario, processing is easy - the picking person will visit the location and retrieve the whole of the SKU balance.
Important: If you have a series of these easy quick small volume picks, you may want to consider grouping them together so that the picking staff member picks a series of unrelated picks in one pass.
This is essentially as simple as above, with the exception that location holds more of the SKU than is required.
However aside from picking the requirement, there are some additional activities that are recommended for best working practice :
Retrieve all stock.
Pick requirement.
Reconcile surplus item.
Condense, Re-box surplus s and relabel boxes.
Relocate boxes into a suitable location - i.e. the surplus contents may now be more suitable for a smaller location.
Important: Depending on the quantities picked, vs stored It may be more efficient to relabel the balance in situ.
This is essentially identical to scenario one with the exception that the fulfilment contains multiple requirements, each of which is satisfied by the entirety of the stock balance stored in a single location.
Under this scenario, processing is easy - the picking person will visit the single location and retrieve the whole of the required SKU balances.
Important: If you have a series of these easy quick small volume picks, you may want to consider grouping them together so that the picking staff member picks a series .
This is essentially identical to scenario two with the exception that the fulfilment contains multiple requirements, each of which is satisfied from a single location,
However, for one or more of the items, the location contains more quantity than is required, and thus a residual balance will result.
For example in the below Qtys 10 and 5 are needed versus the location balance of 24 and 10.
This is essentially identical to scenario 2, with the exception that there are multiple items being picked.
However aside from picking the requirements, there are some additional activities that are recommended for best working practice.
Retrieve all items.
Pick requirements.
Reconcile surplus item(s)
Condense, Re box surplus and relabel boxes.
Relocate boxes into a suitable location - i.e. the surplus stock may now be more suitable for a smaller location.
Under the following four scenarios, we have a single fulfilment, and the item (or items) required on it, are held in multiple locations
A single fulfilment requires one item, with the exact amount that is required stored in two or more locations.
For example in the below screen-shot, 92 lanyards are required, with 46 held in Location D-18K2 and 46 in W-7A5.
Picking for this single fulfilment is therefore easy - both locations need to be visited, with the entire 46 location balance of the SKU picked from each.
Important: If you have a series of these easy quick small volume picks, you may want to consider grouping them together so that the picking staff member picks a series of unrelated picks in one pass. Additionally by using smart relocate the system will create a picking route that is the shortest possible
A single fulfilment requires one item, with surplus amounts of the item stored in one or more locations.
For example in the below screen-shot 10 of the Sky Mobile T Shirt is needed, and two locations hold this stock. Moreover, both locations hold 15 of the item, so whichever location is selected, a residual balance of 5 will result in that location post-pick, or in other words, pre-pick a total of 30 is held, and post pick a total of 20 will be held.
Under this scenario one single location will be visited and the requirement picked.
However aside from picking the requirements, there are some additional activities that are recommended for best working practice.
Retrieve all stock in the location.
Pick requirement.
Reconcile surplus stock.
Condense, Re box surplus and relabel boxes.
Relocate boxes into a suitable location - i.e. the surplus stock may now be more suitable for a smaller location.
Note, there is a variation on this scenario.
Namely, when the requirement for the fulfilment is satisfied across multiple locations but multiple locations will need to be visited, and a location balance will result.
For example, in the screen-shot below the same 10 items are required.
However, neither of the two locations that hold this SKU can satisfy the requirement in entirety - but between them they hold more of the SKU than is required.
In this scenario - a smart relocate is the most appropriate picking method. This method will calculate the most efficient picking route which ensures that the smaller quantity balance is exhausted first which will result in a reduction in the number of locations.
Under this scenario a single fulfilment requires multiple items. These requirements are held in multiple locations. Between the locations, the exact amount of the requirements is held. That is no balance for the items required will result.
For example in the below screen-shot, two items are needed :
30 of SKU 1090945 - and this is held exactly in W-1F5
13 of SKU 1090946 - held is exact qty in D-11M1
Under this scenario, processing is easy - the picking person will visit each location and retrieve the whole of the SKU balance.
Note
Again there can be variations on this scenario where the requirement exact quantities are across multiple locations, but one or more of the requirements is satisfied only when multiple location balances are used.
For example, below two items are needed
5 of SKU 1037652 a Black Medium T Shirt
5 of SKU 1037653 -Black Large T Shirt
TOT holds exactly 5 of each of these - but for each SKU, the holding are stored across multiple (5) Locations:-
Picking for this scenario is easy - all of the 5 locations will need to be visited and the whole of the respective SKU balance picked to satisfy the requirements.
Smart Relocate would be an appropriate pick method to use for this scenario, as even though all locations will need to be visited, part of the smart locate algorithm is to work out the optimum route for the picker - i.e. the shortest/most direct possible walking route.
Under this scenario a single fulfilment requires multiple items. Each of these items is stored in multiple locations.
Further, each location holds a surplus of the items required
Picking for this scenario is easy -as both locations hold a surplus of all the items required - then a single location can be visited for the pick.
Pick requirement.
Reconcile surplus stock.
Condense, Re box surplus and relabel boxes.
Relocate boxes into a suitable location - i.e. the surplus stock may now be more suitable for a smaller location.
Note
The above situation is not always so easy. There will be frequent variations on this scenario where the quantities needed will require visiting multiple locations, and will still result in one or more residual balances.
For example in the below, there are
two requirements to be picked:-
35 of SKU 692751 a Black baseball cap - of which a total of 38 is stored across 3 locations
35 of SKU 1031576 -a large water bottle, of which a total os 39 is held across three locations
Notice that a) no single location holds sufficient balance for a requirement and b) that residual balances for each will result once picked
Thus smart
relocate is the most appropriate picking method. This method will
calculate the optimal pick so that the smaller quantity balance is exhausted first so that the number
of locations is reduced.
In fact, only one location/balances will be left once the pick has been
administered.