Order Release
The order release module in DATASCOPE WMS is complex with many available processes to assist your distribution center when reviewing and releasing sales orders and interbranch transfers. In this process, much of the optimization of order picking is performed.
BASIC ORDER RELEASING
A simple sales order release function allows your warehouse controller the ability to review specific orders for release. Here the order lines can be released individually or as a group. In this releasing process, the software applies the specific stock reservation rules as designed for your company. These rules allow you to calculate the most optimal stock to be picked for this order. For instance, when releasing an order line, we may want to first find full pallets in the warehouse and then allocate full cartons from a breakbulk area and lastly, we may want to reserve loose units from a pick face area. The reservation rule is written to apply this logic.
WAVE RELEASING
The wave releasing module allows the warehouse controllers to review and release batch orders into the warehouse in user-defined waves (groups). A typical wave may be all order lines due for shipment for a route, geographic area, order type, or customer (to name a few filters). Once the order book has been filtered to the lines required for picking, the controller can group orders into master shipping groupings (groups of orders for shipping to optimize freight costs). The order lines are released as a wave into the warehouse for picking. Numerous waves can be released throughout the day. This works very well when linked with shipping route planning.
STOCK ALLOCATION
SPLIT PICKING
If sales orders are loaded with lines from multiple warehouses, the releasing process will create a linked picking slip for each warehouse with a set warehouse being the master. Each picking slip is picked independently and then delivered to a joint dispatch checkout area.
Orders can also be split by warehouse area if the distribution center is large, and we have pickers assigned to areas.
Pick line limits can be set never to allow a packing slip to include more than a maximum number of lines. This can be set to ensure that we balance the load in the warehouse.
PICKING SLIPS
Picking slips are tracked in detail through the following statuses:
- Created (pick slip number has been assigned)
- Printed/Released (pick slip has been released to the floor)
- Assigned (the picking slip has been assigned to a picker)
- Started (the picking process has begun)
- Picked (picking has been completed)
- Checked (the picking slip has been through a pack station and or a checkout station)
- Shipping (the pick has been linked to a shipping bill of lading or waybill)
- Invoiced/DNote (an invoice or dispatch note has been released in SYSPRO for the pick)
- Dispatched (The picking slip has been shipped)
All aspects of the picking process are recorded, including the operator’s name for each status and detailed records of the stock picked and checked out per order.