Accolent ERP’s WMS ( warehouse management software) system allows for the use of mobile wireless devices to maximize the efficiency of warehouse operations. Using a combination of a wireless tablet and a bluetooth-enabled scanner or an all-in-one handheld device, the WMS system automates standard warehouse operations such as picking, packing, shipping, PO receiving and physical inventory counting..
WMS System
- The WMS system works with Accolent ERP, but is an optional module that has to be purchased in addition to Accolent ERP.
- WMS users are not Accolent ERP users and can access only the WMS system but not Accolent ERP.
- The WMS system works with any wireless device that can run a standard web browser (typically this means that the device should be able to run Chrome).
- The WMS system provides the flexibility to pair a blue-tooth scanner with a tablet, or use an all-in-one handheld devices (e.g., Intermec Handheld Computer/Scanners).
- Using standard commercially available off-the-shelf tablets and scanning guns may allow for significant savings.
Product Locations
- For greatest efficiency of warehouse picking operations, products in the warehouse should be associated with locations; this will need to be set up first in Accolent ERP.
- Once products have assigned locations, these locations will be shown on pick tickets and put-away tickets.
- If products have multiple locations asigned to each product, then you might want to track inventory by location; however, this will require specifying which location products were picked from or put-away to on every transaction.
- If products all have only one location each, it may not be necessary to track inventory by location.
- Once product locations are setup, the WMS system allows picking sequences through the warehouse to be set based on location or manually assigned.
Shipping Sub-Statuses
- The WMS system operates on orders that are in the Warehouse (i.e., in fulfillment) and have the status of Shipping.
- In order to perform all the separate steps, their are also a number of sub-statuses which need to be used: Ready to Pick, In Picking, Picked, Packed, Shipped, denoted respectively by these icons
- When an order is moved to Shipping it is automatically given the Ready to Pick sub-status.
- When the order is grouped with others in a Batch and assigned to a picker, the order is given the sub-status In Picking.
- When the order is marked as picked, it is given the sub-status Picked.
- When the order is boxed and labeled it is given the sub-status Packed.
- When the order is handed over to the carrier or put on the truck for delivery, it is given sub-status Shipped.
- Each WMS operation follows from the prior operation so, for example, to Pack an order it must already be in the sub-status Picked.
- To change the sub-status of any order in Shipping at any time, open the order and click on the desired sub-status on the top right-hand side of the screen.
WMS Picking
- The WMS system offers single order picking or, from Accolent ERP, orders may be grouped in a batch and then picked as a batch.
- Single order picking displays the lines in the sequence they were entered on the order, and the picker can pick in any sequence.
- Batch picking allows the batch to be assigned to a specific picker and a pick sequence assigned that will guide the picker through the warehouse.
- Batch picking, particularly if the products are are tracking inventory by location, will support all kinds of wave picking and other picking patterns. For example, one batch can be sequenced to pick from the front of the warehouse to the back and another can be sequenced in the opposite direction to minimize pickers getting in each other’s way.
- To assign a pick sequence to a single order put it in a batch on its own.
- Picking using the WMS system generally follows these steps:
- Select order or batch in WMS,
- Order(s) must be in the sub-status Ready to Pick,
- If picking a batch, the batch sequence guides the user through the warehouse,
- For each product line item, scan or enter Qty Picked; if batch picking, quantities are recorded of each product for each order at each location,
- WMS updates the Location Qty and product locations as each order line is picked, and
- Upon completion, WMS updates the status of the order(s) and the batch as Picked and updates all the locations on the order(s).
Selecting Locations
- For products with multiple locations, the WMS system will by default show the primary location for each product.
- If there is insufficient quantity at the primary location to pick what is required, the picker can at any time click on the location hyperlink to pop-up the Locations screen showing all other locations associated with that product.
- Selecting any location from the Locations screen pop-up will redirect the picker to that new location.
Location Quantities
- In WMS, locations will show Loc Qty which represents the quantity of that product at that location available to be picked.
- If inventory is not being tracked by location, the Loc Qty field will be blank.
- Loc Qty is calculated as Qty minus Committed Qty at that location.
- Committed Qty represents quantity already picked from that location on other Orders that have not yet been moved to Invoice.
WMS Packing
- Once an order is picked, the WMS system can be used to pack the order.
- Orders are packed individually and so are not batched.
- Orders must be in the sub-status of Picked.
- To pack an order, the packer selects from the items on an order, scans these items and then scans or enters the quantity and adds to a box.
- Packer continues item by item until box is full and then ends the box, signifying it is complete.
- When a box is complete, weight and cubes may be entered for the box, and a Packing List generated.
- If desired, the freight charge can also be added.
- Packer continues box by box until all items on the order are boxed.
- Upon completion, WMS updates the status of the order as Packed and updates all the box weights and cubes.
WMS Shipping
- Once an order is packed, the WMS system can be used to ship it
- Orders are shipped individually and so are not batched
- To ship an order, the operator marks each of the boxes in the order as Shipped and enters a Shipped Date and a Shipped Comment
- Upon completion, WMS updates the status of the order as Shipped and updates all the box weights and cubes to Accolent ERP
- If using third-party freight carriers, the carrier, the service and the freight rates can all be added in Accolent ERP
WMS PO Receiving
- The WMS system allows a PO to be auto received or received line by line.
- Auto receiving a PO marks all line items with a quantity that matches the quantity ordered; these values can then be adjusted as needed.
- Auto receiving is not available for products with inventory tracked by location.
- To receive a PO line by line, open each line in WMS and scan or enter the quantity received.
- If products are location-tracked, the WMS system will require location details for each item received.
- The WMS system proceeds line by line until the whole PO is received.
- Receiving a PO using the WMS system generally follows these steps:
- Select PO in WMS,
- For each PO line item, scan or enter Qty Received as well as locations, if inventory is tracked by location,
- Once all lines are complete, update the PO status and the statuses of each of the PO line items,
- Then update the product Ledger cards and recalculate Average Costs,
- Then if inventory is tracked by location, update locations for each of the products on the PO,
- Then generate a Put-Away document to allow for the items to be physically moved to the assigned Locations, and
- Upon completion, the PO is marked as Received and updated in Accolent ERP.
WMS PO Receiving with Separate Put-Away
- The WMS system also supports a two-stage PO Receiving and Put-Away process.
- This might be necessary if, for example, the business process is to unload and unpack a PO in a staging area to verify items and quntities delivered, then subsequently to put the goods away on the shelves.
- There is a specific configuration setting in Accolent ERP to enable this.
- Once verified, line items have a sub-status of V; once put-away they have the sub-status of P.