Location profile

(0) Share

Report

Posted on by Community Member Microsoft Employee

Hi,

It is the first time I'm working with WMS on AX2012R3, and after reading manuals, blogs, etc., I still have some questions about the Location profile setup. In a chaotic warehouse scenario (with batches), regarding the dimensions FastTab, I'm not sure what are the pros and cons of choosing "Usable dimensions" or "Use location volumen" and what are the consequences in processes such us replenishment, cycle counting, picking, etc.

On the other hand, could be an alternative to mark "allow unlimited quantity" for Bulk and Picking locations and not to populate height, width, depth, etc. for the location profiles?

What is the most common configuration for a chaotic warehouse?

Thanks in advance for your help.

Regards.

P.S.: specific documentation or links are welcome as well

*This post is locked for comments

All responses (5)

Answers (2)

Guy Terry 28,626 Super User 2024 Season 2 on at

Like (0)

Report

RE: Location profile

AX does not insist you use any particular unit for the dimensions. You just need to be consistent. If you use meters on the location profile, use meters on the products.

And bear in mind that, where AX is showing total weights or volumes, it will show them in the unit you're using. The volume of a load in cm3 can get quite large!
Community Member Microsoft Employee on at

Like (0)

Report

RE: Location profile

Thanks for your answer Sagar.
Community Member Microsoft Employee on at

Like (0)

Report

RE: Location profile

Thanks for your answer, Guy.

I wonder, if I use dimensions for my locations, what is the unit for height, width and depth (in metric system), mm, m, cm?

Same doubt for containers types (tare weight, max volume...), mm, cm3?

I reckon, there is not a setup related to this, right?
Verified answer

Sagar Suman 5,774 on at

Like (0)

Report

RE: Location profile

Hi Miguel,

The decision about how location profiles should be setup for a warehouse depends upon to what detail the business wants to control the warehouse operation using AX. Also the physical layout and the storage infrastructure should be considered while deciding about setting up locations profiles and location stocking limits.

The decision whether to use volumetric setup or not depends upon the detail in which product master data is maintained in the business as without physical dimensions setup in product master using "physical dimension group ID" the whole effort to setup location volumes will go in vain if the product masters are not updated with respective volumes. So consider appetite of the business users to punch in this information.

With respect to using "usable dimensions" the system will use the "usable location volume" of the location and will consider it while selecting a put away location after calculating the volume of incoming items. This however does not effect picking processes and cycle counting in general. On the other hand using "use location volume" will check for the specified percentage of volume for the location profile against the items to be put away.

Also as you mentioned "chaotic warehouse" and you use batches its also is important to consider the location directive strategy which will be used for put and pick logic and do you allow mixed items, mixed batches and mixed inventory status in one location.

As suggested by you to use "allow unlimited quantity" for location or location profiles again depends upon the physical warehouse layout and the level to which you want AX to control. If you dont want AX to suggest a put away location which has no capacity left to take any inventory further you should setup location stocking limits so as system will calculate the remaining capacity to store the incoming inventory before suggesting the same on put away work.

In general locations such as bulk and pick are marked with "allow unlimited quantity".

So the decision for location profile setup and stocking limit setup depends upon aspects such as physical warehouse layout, locations nature,accuracy with which volumetric data can be maintained and to what level you want to rely on AX to suggest most accurate location for which there should be no reversing of work.

Based on all the above points every business has to take a suitable decision.
Verified answer

Guy Terry 28,626 Super User 2024 Season 2 on at

Like (0)

Report

RE: Location profile

My feeling is that I would only use the dimensions on the location profile if all other possibilities did not work.

For example; picking locations are often one location per item... often a picking location is assigned to one item. In this case, I will probably be filling the location by replenishment. Therefore, my replenishment Min/Max will take care of ensuring I don't try to overfill the location.

If I did decide to try to put a purchase receipt directly into a picking location.... if it is only one item per picking location I can define the Max easily enough by using Location Stocking Limits.

For the bulk locations, are you trying to keep it to one item per location (or even one batch per location). If yes, 'Empty location with no incoming work' might suit... always directing you to an empty location.

Perhaps you receive on pallets into pallet sized bulk locations, you don't need to worry about over stocking if you always look for an empty location.

However, if I was often receiving POs into locations which already have stock.... which contain multiple items of different sizes... then I think if you want AX to suggest put away locations, you could consider using dimensions.

Of course, if the warehouse is really chaotic, you don't have to ask AX to suggest a location at all. Simply let the warehouse users find space as they can and tell the hand held where they put it.