Companies can have many orders throughout the day. Multiple orders can contain the same item. The items could be stored in bulk and pick locations. Items from bulk locations have to be used to replenish the items at pick locations, so that the pick locations can be used for order picking effectively. To avoid empty pick locations, it is important to replenish items at pick locations in time. Dynamics 365 SCM has added a new feature called ‘Slotting’. By using Slotting, Dynamics helps to make sure locations are being replenished in time, based on the actual consolidated demand of sales and/or transfer orders. For example, on Monday, there are 100 sales orders for item X. At the beginning of the day you want at least 100 pieces of item X to be available from a pick location. The Slotting feature of Dynamics checks the actual consolidated demand. Additionally, based on the total demand, Dynamics could propose a movement from the bulk location to the pick location. The benefits for a company are:
- Efficiency. By using this feature, replenishment is based on actual demand and empty pick locations can be prevented.
- Cashflow. With increased efficiency, a company can deliver more orders which may also have a positive effect on the cashflow.
Configuration
​​​​​​​1. A replenishment template of replenishment type ‘wave demand’.
Path: Warehouse management > Setup > Replenishment > Replenishment templates
2. A work class of work order type ‘replenishment’.
Path: Warehouse management > Setup > Work > Work classes
3. A work template for work order type ‘Replenishment’.
Path: Warehouse management > Setup > Work > Work templates
4. A mobile device menu item for replenishment work. This menu item is needed for the execution of the replenishment work via the mobile device.
Path: Warehouse management > Setup > Mobile device > Mobile device menu items
5. Location directives for work order type ‘Replenishment’ and a directive code. The location directives determine the picking and delivering location for the replenishment work, e.g., the items have to be picked from the bulk location and have to be delivered at the pick location.
Path: Warehouse management > Setup > Location directives
6. Slotting unit of measure tiers. The purpose of the slotting unit is the grouping of units for slotting. For instance, ea and box can be grouped in the same area.
Path: Warehouse management > Setup > Replenishment > Slotting unit of measure tiers
7. A slotting template of demand type ‘Sales orders’ and Demand strategy ‘Ordered’. The demand strategy determines the definition of demand, or what does the company consider a demand. For instance, a company might consider the demand to be determined by the number of orders, or rather by the number of reservations.
Path: Warehouse management > Setup > Replenishment > Slotting templates
Demonstration
1. There are four sales orders from different customers. Each sales order contains the item S211202.
2. Item ‘S21112022’ is only available at the bulk locations.
3. At the Slotting template you first need to click on the button ‘Generate demand’. This way, Dynamics checks the total consolidated demand (sales orders with status ‘ordered’) for items with the unit of measure ea.
4. When the user clicks on ‘Slotting demand’, Dynamics shows the total demand. In this example, the total demand is 50 ea for multiple sales orders.
5. Locate the demand to generate the slotting plan.
6. In the slotting plan, Dynamics shows where the demand is located, as well as the put away location (picking area)
7. Run replenishment for the creation of replenishment work from the bulk to pick location.
8. Replenishment work has been created.
9. Execution of the replenishment work via the mobile device.
10. The items of the requested demand are available at the pick location.
11. After the replenishment work, the sales orders can be released to the warehouse for picking.
12. Execution of the picking work via the mobile device.
13. Confirmation of the shipments.
14. Generate packing slip.
15. The sales orders’ status is changed into ‘delivered’.
