WMS Glossary Flashcards
ABC Cycle Count
Performance of cycle counts in reference to the velocity of product. ABC cycle counting may be set up through the use of zones, areas, inventory class, or product class through automatic, planned, and/or triggered cycle counts.
Advanced Ship Notice
Typically referred to as an ASN. An ASN is a communiqué (e.g. EDI transmission, phone call, fax) from the vendor indicating what will be included in the upcoming shipment. Typically includes packing list and invoicing information, such as which items, from which P/O, the ship via, the scheduled delivery date and time and any other pertinent information.
Aging
Aging is used with invoicing to define time intervals. For example: 30, 60 and 90 days. An invoice ages as soon as it passes the payment due date.
Aging intervals are used to monitor late payments and possibly add interest charges or change dunning messages according to the aging date.
Alias
An alternate identification of product to item/package codes. The WMS supports an infinite number of aliases for any given item/package code. Generally used for receiving product with the vendor ID rather than the internal item/package code.
Allocation
Inventory is allocated to commands. While allocated, inventory is unavailable for other uses, including inventory selection (i.e. inventory “hard” allocation).
Area
A location attribute that controls the following:
• The locations a user can access during task management
• Cycle count characteristics
• Whether commands to perform commands in the location are to be destined for desktop or mobile computer users
• How commands are to be confirmed
• Task aging parameters
AS/RS
Automatic Storage and Retrieval Systems. An automated system that stores and retrieves product from locations.
Automatic Cycle Count
Cycle counts generated by the system in response to a period of time elapsing since the last cycle count performed on some location. Used to guarantee that every location in the warehouse will be cycle counted at least once every X number of days, where X is configurable by item and area.
(WMS) This allows configuration of automatic cycle counting in response to ABC velocity. May be disabled if desired.
Availability
(DMS) Every item that is placed on an order draws potential inventory from what is physically on hand, therefore reducing the sellable inventory quantity.
Stock availability of an item is calculated based on a setting defined in the Item Warehouses resource. The flag name is Availability Calculation Method. This setting determines which formula will be used to calculate the available stock for this item (in a particular warehouse). There are four different formulas.
Barcode
A machine-readable format for printing out information. Used in conjunction with mobile computers, bar codes may be printed on labels to be applied to inventory, locations, and containers for easy identification and reading of information. Bar coding is done in accordance with one of several different formats, including Code 2 of 5, Code 39, UPC, and Code 128.
Basic Receiving
A process of receiving without use of purchase orders or any other system notification of incoming product. Also called blind receiving, basic receiving is distinguished from inbound receiving, which is the process of receiving against a purchase order or some other notification of incoming product. Beyond the use of basic receiving as a receiving process at a receiving location, basic receiving is also used to create inventory records for product found in the facility that is not entered in the system. This latter function can also be performed using demand cycle counts.
Batch Order
A means of consolidating picks within a wave. The line items within a wave are consolidated into as few picks as possible by creating a dummy batch order for all products within the wave. Picks are then issued against the batch order rather than each individual order in the wave; for example, two line items requesting half loads each would be consolidated to a single pick request for a full load. Batch picking frequently involves a consolidation area, where the product is separated and packed into different shipments.
Batch Picking
A method of picking that involves picking items for numerous orders at once and then bringing them to a consolidation area, where the product is separated and packed into different shipments.
Bill of Lading
A document generated for any less than truckload or truckload shipments to be given to the driver of the trailer, indicating the contents of the trailer.
Break Unit of Measure
The unit of measure for an item/package code below which no commands may be generated. If desired, it is possible to construct units of measure for product, such that the lowest unit of measure defined is used for tracking purposes only, but not for handling. For example, a drum of liquid may be defined with two units of measure, drum and gallon, so that the number of gallons might be tracked. However, as shipping a gallon of liquid might be inconvenient or impossible, the break unit of measure might be set to drum so that no commands for quantities of gallons would be generated.
A break unit of measure of NONE indicates that all inventory tags for this item may be split to satisfy the requested quantity. This value may be set by the DMS to support less than full unit (decimal) quantities. If set to NONE by the DMS, and the Upload flag in the WMS items table is set to Yes, it cannot be changed by a WMS user.
Bulk Location
A location type. A bulk location is a location in the warehouse where multiple item/package codes can be stored. It is not designated for specific items. It can also be used to store many loads of a single item. Forward pick, FIFO, and LIFO location types only allow inventory of one item/package code to be stored at a time.
• The difference between a BULK TYPE location (many items in the same location) and the more generic BULK location is that the latter is used to store many loads of a single item (drive in racks, floor fronts, and so on).
Carrier
A transportation company that either delivers inventory to the facility or is used to deliver outbound orders to a customer. EliteSeries WMS maintains a carriers table.
Carton
For reference on shipping documentation, a shipping unit that is less than a full skid.
Carton Unit of Measure
The unit of measure for an item/package code at which inventory will be identified as a carton on any bill of lading generated that refers to that inventory. Cartons are differentiated from full skids on the bill of lading.
Cascading Replenishment
A replenishment scheme involving replenishment from one forward pick to a second forward pick of a lower unit of measure. This is used when multiple forward picks are used for a single item/package code, where each forward pick is set for a different unit of measure. Since the replenishment of any of the forward picks originates from a forward pick of a higher unit of measure, this helps decrease the number of partial loads in locations, because it is not necessary to take a partial from the higher unit of measure for the replenishment. When using a cascading replenishment, the system option Allow Order Planner to Break Forward Pick is set to No.
Check Digit
An alternate name for a location. Check digits are generally bar-coded. When bar-coded, and the confirm option for the location on the areas table is set only to check digit, the user is forced to scan the bar code, helping ensure that the user does not simply key the location name. Check digits may also be used as abbreviations for location names, so that the user may easily key the check digit rather than the location name.
Cluster Picking
Picking into more than one container at a time. Frequently combined with pick and pass, so that the multiple containers, or cluster, is picked by one user in an area and passed to a second user to pick in another area. Also frequently combined with container selection, so that the system will direct the user(s) to pick into properly sized containers.
EliteSeries WMS supports two forms of cluster picking, system-directed and label-directed, both employing pick and pass and container selection. In system-directed cluster picking, the user performing picks is directed to pick for specific orders into specific containers. In label-directed cluster picking, the user chooses which containers to pick into after the system has determined how many containers of which sizes to pick into.
Command
A task to be issued to a user either through a mobile computer or a desktop computer. Commands to be issued are to perform putaways, picks, replenishments, or cycle counts.
Command Sequence
A sequential number assigned to locations to indicate the order in which commands of the same priority will be issued to users using mobile computers. By using a logical command sequence, the amount of time wasted through user travel from one location to another is decreased.
Command Unit of Measure
The unit of measure at which commands are issued during picking and replenishment. How this is to be set depends largely on operational requirements; for example, for an item/package code defined with each, case, and pallet units of measure, where 50 cases make a pallet, a command to pick a pallet might be issued as 1 pallet, which is easier to read, or might be issued as 50 cases, to suggest that the user actually verify the number of cases physically residing on the pallet.
Compliance Labeling
The generation of shipping labels that conform to customer formatting requirements. As there is no standard format across customers, compliance labeling potentially requires maintenance and generation of a different labeling format for each customer.
Consolidation
Storing inventory of the same item/package code in a location. Consolidation of inventory in locations creates as many empty locations within the warehouse as possible, where the partially full locations are held to a minimum. In a randomized storage environment, consolidation is very useful, especially if the warehouse is not using the BULK location type; if product is to be stored in the warehouse, and many locations are partially full, the system will not perform storage location selection as efficiently as if consolidation is performed. Consolidation opportunities are specified both by item/package code and by storage rule. Several rules govern consolidation opportunities, including ensuring that expired product is not stored with unexpired product, ensuring that product assigned a hold code is not mixed with product with no hold code, and ensuring that multiple lots are not stored in the same location, among others.
Container
A container is generally a box, a tote, or a pallet used to either transport multiple tags from one location to another or to track multiple tags together in storage or shipping.
Container Packing List
A list of the contents of a shipping container.
Container Selection
An algorithm the EliteSeries WMS uses to direct a user to pick directly into a container, generally a shipping container. The container selection algorithm uses fit calculations to determine the smallest container to pick product into, and the fewest number of containers possible. Container selection may be used to decrease traffic within a consolidation area.
Container Type
There are different kinds of containers used in the WMS outbound order process. They are:
• Permanent: Maintained by the system (Example: Totes).
• Temporary: ID is deleted once command is completed (Example: Cardboard shipper).
• Transport: Used to transport multiple inventory records through the warehouse.
• Non-Transport: Used to track multiple inventory records as a single unit.
Cross Dock
A method of filling backorders. When insufficient product exists within a facility to fulfill line items in an outbound order, and product that may be used to fulfill the line item is received into the facility, the product is picked to fulfill the order instead of being stored to a storage location. This functionality may be disabled if desired.
Cycle Count
A method of checking and maintaining inventory accuracy. As opposed to a physical inventory, in which all inventory in a facility is counted in a single day or weekend once every six months or year, which requires that the facility be closed for business and frequently paying overtime to employees, cycle counts are performed a location at a time during regular operations.
(WMS) Cycle counts are issued to users as commands, either on a desktop or a mobile computer, in the same way that any other command is issued to users.
EliteSeries WMS supports five kinds of cycle counting: automatic cycle count, triggered cycle count, discrepancy cycle count, demand cycle count, and planned cycle count.
Daily Logged Transactions
A table maintaining records of transactions performed. Records track inventory changes and completed tasks by the user who performed the task. Daily transaction log records are written to the Historical Logged Transactions at the end of each day and purged.
Demand Cycle Count
A user using a mobile computer may demand a cycle count. To do so, the user simply specifies a location to cycle count and demands the count.
Demand Pick
A function that allows a user either to specify an item/package code or a tag to pick an exit location. Upon delivery, the inventory will be deleted from the WMS. Generally used in kitting to specify product to be consumed in some rework process. Only works if the item’s Upload flag is set to No.
Dimensions
One of two ways EliteSeries WMS uses in determining whether inventory will fit into a location, the other being size code. Both the item/package code and location are defined with length, height, width, and weight. During storage location selection, the WMS will use the dimensions specified for the item, the dimensions of the location, and the dimensions of any inventory already in the location to calculate the fit. If a size code is specified for either the item/package code or the location, no dimension calculations will be used to determine fit.
Direct Store
The process through which inventory is received into a FIFO location, LIFO location, bulk location, or forward pick location, rather than a receiving location. When received into one of those locations, the system will not execute the storage location selection algorithm, but simply records the inventory as being within that location.
Discrepancy Cycle Count
Cycle counts generated by the system in response to a pick short or replenishment short. Any time a user reports an insufficient quantity to perform the pick or replenishment issued to that user, a discrepancy cycle count is generated.
Door Location
A location type. Trailers from carriers are assigned to door locations to load trailers. Inventory being trailer-loaded is moved to the door location.
Drop Shipment
A drop shipment order is a customer order that is shipped directly from the vendor to the customer instead of being shipped from the distributor’s stock.
Dynamic Slotting
The functionality that changes the item/package codes dedicated to forward pick locations based on changes in demand for product, especially seasonal changes in demand.
EDI
Electronic Data Interchange. A standardized format for computer-to-computer communications of business documents, frequently the vehicle for ASN communications.
Equipment Class and Type
When a user signs on to a mobile computer, the user will specify the equipment type the user is using. Locations are defined with an equipment class that may access the location, the equipment class being a group of equipment types. Users will only receive commands from a mobile computer if operating an equipment type that is of the equipment class specified for the location to be accessed.
Equipment Servicing Area
Specifies how commands are to be issued within a given area, whether on a desktop computer, a mobile computer, or mechanically (if using AS/RS). It is not necessary that all commands be issued in the same way; if desired, picks might be performed from a mobile computer but cycle counts might be performed from a desktop computer within the same location.
Exit Location
A location type. If inventory is delivered to an exit location, the inventory is deleted from the WMS, and upload and transaction log records are created. Generally used in kitting operations, where raw materials are consumed to create finished product.
Expiration Date/Time
The date and time at which product is to expire, or already has expired. Expiration date and time is calculated by adding the shelf life to the receipt date and time.
FEFO Inventory Management
A standardized inventory management control for proper stock rotation of expiration sensitive inventory. Allocation for picking and shipment of product is based on the system rotation date for all items. This date is determined by taking the product’s expiration date and subtracting an appropriate lead time (in days) to ensure the product is delivered with sufficient remaining shelf life for end consumer use. FEFO is the acronym for First Expiration Date, First Out. Expired inventory will not be selected.
FIFO Location
A location type. If inventory is selected from a FIFO location during inventory selection, the WMS will check the order in which all inventory was stored to the location to find the tag first stored to that location. If the inventory originally selected in inventory selection is not the inventory first stored to the location, EliteSeries WMS will select the inventory first stored to the location instead of the inventory originally selected. This functionality may be disabled in System Options and is not recommended for use with inventory that is date-sensitive. FIFO locations also prohibit storage of multiple item/package codes within the location.
FIFO Window Warehouse Search
In material selection, a set of rules appended to the warehouse search path. Any rule specified in a warehouse search path may append a FIFO window search path, a second collection of rules analogous to the warehouse search path. While the warehouse search path will find the oldest inventory for the specified rule, the FIFO window search path will conduct an additional search for any inventory in the section that is older than the inventory already selected in the warehouse search path. If the second inventory record is older than the first by a specified number of days called a FIFO window, that age difference being specified by item, the WMS will select the second inventory record rather than the first. If it is not older by the FIFO window, the original inventory record is selected. The intent of the FIFO window warehouse search is only to select the older inventory record if it is older by a significant time frame; otherwise, the inventory selected by the warehouse search path is preferred.
Fillable
A flag that appears during order planning indicating whether or not all line items in an order have been allocated inventory. This flag indicates 100% allocation; if a single each is missing from one line item out of fifty in an order, the flag will indicate No.
Forced Interleaving
A feature of task management used to alternate tasks. Tasks of equal priority configured in task management are issued such that the highest priority command of one task is issued, and then the highest priority command of the second task, and then the highest priority command of the third task, and so on. After issuing one command of each task type, a command of the first task type is issued, repeating the pattern. Commonly used to alternate stores and picks; if the shipping and receiving docks are near each other, the user may take inventory to store from the receiving dock, and then pick something from a storage location to take to the shipping dock, etc., so that the user is performing work both to and from the docks.
Forward Pick Location
A location type. Forward picks are used to maintain inventory that has high velocity and/or is frequently picked in less than load unit of measure. Forward picks are dedicated to a single item/package code and may, if desired, be further restricted to specific lots and user codes. Forward picks are generally located in close proximity to shipping docks, for efficient picking of high velocity inventory. Inventory is maintained in forward picks through putaway of received product and replenishment.
Free On Board
Also known as FOB. This is the point at which liability for the product changes from the point of origin.
This is not associated with any freight charges or delivery expenses, but is the declaration of where liability changes hands.
Full Skid
Specification of a quantity of inventory to be printed on a bill of lading. Full skids are differentiated from cartons on the bill of lading.
Hazardous Material (Hazmat)
Product that is restricted as to how it may be transported and where in a facility it may be stored; such product also requires special labeling.
Hold Code
An inventory attribute. Typically used to differentiate inventory that either requires some quality assurance check or is damaged from inventory that may be allocated in material selection. If inventory is assigned a hold code, the storage rules used in storage location selection will treat the product differently from inventory not on a hold code. If it is desirable to allocate inventory with a hold code to line items during material selection, the line item must request inventory with that specific hold code, or the order planner will have to manually allocate that inventory during order planning.
Hold Location
Typically, a hold type location is a location in which product on hold code may be held until removed from the hold code status. In the WMS, the hold type location is a receiving location. If product is received into the location without a hold code, it behaves as if received into a receiving location. If product is received into the location with a hold code, it may not be released for putaway until the hold code is removed. When the hold code is removed, the product is automatically released for putaway.
