Cartonization

[Steve Langley]

Greetings,

Let me pose a problem to the tech board and see if there is a solution to be had. In advance, all responses are appreciated.

Would like to perform cartonization as part of the warehouse process. We’ll use create trip and task application (R46471) to call the server application (x46450) to perform the cartonization. The obstacle to overcome is the way in which the data is processed. According the Pick, Pack and ship Documentation (ODS-02-0084) the data is processed directly off the sale order by sequential line number. Unfortunately, no warehouse is set up in this manner taking into consideration the variations of all sales orders.

Warehouse has some pretty good movement options built into standard picking, most of which has representation in the critical F4611. Two of these are Picking Zones and location sequence.

Here’s the desire result: Start and Stop cartonization based on zone or cartonize an order based on the picking sequence of the location. Either of these would be a monumental improvement over cartonization by sales order line.

I’ve looked at data selection as an option. It would be possible to process and order at a time, a zone at a time; but we’re expecting 700-1200 orders a day. Thus the end of batch processing.

I’ve looked at data sequencing and “Zone” is a sequencing option. You can not perform a page break on it however; and this leads me to believe there may be “down stream” consequences. It may however turn out to be any easy win.

Sorry you RF’ers of the planet, this is a paper based warehouse.

Again, thanks for your guidance.

Steve

[email protected]

ERP8.0, SP1, IBM, AS400D, B2, Web client

 

[BBritain]

Steve,

This is probably not what you want but it might give you some ideas. We are using URRF (User Reserve Reference) field in F4100 to store a priority number for each location within a Warehouse. We also are using URCD (User Reserved Code) to designate a page break for breaking up the Pick Slip output. Using this in conjunction with Create!Print each Sales Order shows up on the Pick Slips in optimal order for the picker to go down the aisles without backtracking. This does require development to allow user input and maintenance of the priority code and page break as well as modification of the Pick Slip. Because of the decision to use Create!Print, the mods to Pick Slip were less than without Create!Print (it managed the reordering based upon the priority code and page break), BUT this could be done without the Create!Print.

Again, this may not be exactly what you want, or, too simplified.........

Ben again

 

[Steve Langley]

Thanks for the response. It sounds like a very clean solution for the picking process. I think the WMS solution lies in parsing the sales order data before the cartonization program is called. By parsing I include reorganizing by Picking Zone and then by location picking sequence. Again, my thanks,

Steve

 

[Steve Langley]

Concluding: A work around was reached instead of modifying the software. Warehouse agreed to multiple (37) executions of the r46471 using different data selection. This would ensure cartonization parameters can be matched up with the desired picking movement.

Regards,

Steven Langley