In order to handle inventory transactions, you must create inventory locations. An inventory location must be connected to a location group. The purpose of a location group is to group several locations with the same location type. Therefore, you can specify one location type for each location group. This means that you will probably need one group for arrival, one for inspection, one for picking, etc. This provides for quicker handling of your inventory parts. In addition, you can choose to handle parts individually or on pallets. If you choose to handle parts on pallets, you will probably need locations for pallet arrival, pallet inspection, pallet location, etc. (See Location Types below.)
There are 12 predefined location types that can be used to divide different inventory locations into categories and zones. Most types do not have any limit to the quantity of parts that can be stored. The exception to this is the Pallet Location, which is limited to one pallet per location.
Arrival: Parts can be received into an arrival location. These parts are not available until they are moved into an inventory location. Quality inspection can be performed here if defined in a receive case.
Quality Assurance: A quality assurance location is used for thorough inspections of both new arrivals and stored parts with recurring quality inspections. Parts on this location type are not available for reservations.
Picking: A picking location can be used for storing purchased or manufactured parts that normally are frequently consumed. This location type is only used for single-handled parts. This means that pallet-handled parts that are moved to a picking location are converted to individual parts. Only items in a picking type location can be reserved and shipped for customer orders. Shop orders will also pick or kit from this type of location.
Shipment: This location type is often used to group several customer orders for more efficient handling, especially when handling multiple orders on one transport vehicle. Issued and packaged parts can be stored in a shipment location until they are shipped. It is not possible to count parts on this location type.
Pallet Arrival: When pallet-handled parts are received into a pallet arrival location, pallets are created automatically. These pallets are not available until they are moved into stock and can only be moved to another location via transport tasks. Quality inspection can be performed on this location type, and you have the option to move quantities between pallets.
Pallet Quality: This location type is used for thorough inspections of both new arrivals and stored pallet parts with reoccurring quality inspections. Pallets on this location type are not available for reservations and can only be moved to another location via transport tasks.
Pallet: On this location type, only one pallet per location can be stored. The pallets are available for reservation for customer orders, but they cannot be partially reserved. Pallets can be issued via transport tasks or customer order pallet pick lists; they can be moved to both pallet and non-pallet locations. Pallet locations can be prioritized for more efficient physical handling.
Pallet Deep: If you use this location type, multiple (infinite) pallets can be stored on one location. The pallets are available for reservation on customer orders, but they cannot be partially reserved. Pallets can be issued via transport tasks or customer order pallet pick lists; they can be moved to both pallet and non-pallet locations. This location type is a source for automatic refilling of Picking, Floor Stock, and Production Line locations.
Pallet Buffer: This location type means additional deep storage with infinite storage per location space. A pallet buffer location is used for replenishing other locations. Pallets are not available for reservation. This location type is a source for automatic refilling of Picking, Floor Stock, and Production Line locations.
Pallet Delivery: When parts are received manually, not from a purchase order, they go to a pallet delivery location and pallets are created automatically. These parts are not available for reservation until they are moved into stock and can only be moved to another location via transport tasks. It is also possible to move quantities between pallets on this location type.
Production Line: Using this location type, manufacturing operations can be divided into different units in order to decentralize and make all operations more efficient. A production line location can be connected to a specific unit used in the manufacturing process. Parts on this location type can only be reserved from a manufacturing order.
Floor Stock: A floor stock is used to store parts that are going to be used in the manufacturing process. Parts in this location type can only be reserved from a manufacturing order.
A warehouse structure is used to describes the physical layout of a warehouse in different levels: site, warehouse, bay, row, tier and bin. These levels are related to each other like this:
The information on bays, rows, tiers, and bins are optional. Your need to decide on the depth of the defining structure. If a level is not used, it is replaced by a dummy value in the structure. The inventory locations are mapped into this structure via a bin.
On each level of the warehouse structure it is possible to enter attributes in order to describe the locations. Examples of available warehouse attributes are listed below:
Entered warehouse attributes apply to the underlying structure unless the exceptions are entered on lower levels. For instance if every single location in a bay has the same attributes you only have to enter this once on the bay level. Warehouse attributes are visible and can be searched when a location is about to be chosen.
On warehouse and bay level of the warehouse structure, it is possible to enter a single and/or pallet drop-off location. The single drop-off locations are used for moving single-handled parts and the pallet drop-off locations are used for moving pallet-handled parts. The drop-off locations are used for either manually or automatically created transport task lines. To be able to auto assign a drop-off location when creating a manual transport task line, this must be enabled on Site/Extended Site Info/Inventory/Transport Task tab. For automatically created transport task lines, the drop-off locations are automatically assigned if applicable. Drop-off locations on warehouse level are used for moving between warehouses and drop-off locations on bay level are used for moves between bays within a warehouse.
On warehouse level of the warehouse structure it is possible to set putaway controls. The two options available are Automatically Refill Putaway Zones and Putaway Destination:
If you enter a part upon arrival or if you move it, the system automatically suggests an appropriate location. The location suggested can, depending on the receive case that is chosen, be a default location connected to the inventory part, a default location entered on the site (receipt location), or the last used location. If you try to define both a location that is connected to the inventory part and a location on the site, the system will suggest the inventory part location.
The following location types can be connected as default locations: arrival, pallet arrival, quality assurance, pallet quality, picking, and pallet delivery.
The advantage of pallet handling is that it allows management of parts per pallet instead of parts individually, i.e., several individual parts can be grouped on pallets for more efficient handling. Pallets normally consist of a defined number of parts and are identified using a unique pallet ID. Pallet-handled parts need a pallet arrival location; otherwise, they are handled individually.
Both purchased and manufactured parts can use the pallet handling functions. To move the parts into a storage pallet location, you must create a pallet transport task.