Business value

Items that are purchased-to-order, are generally inspected by the receiving worker. He or she should immediately tag the item, to avoid mistakes upon picking. When a purchase order line is directly linked to a sales order line, standard Microsoft Dynamics 365 for Finance and Operations can put the received item on a specific cross dock zone or cross dock location.

Challenges in standard Microsoft Dynamics 365 for Finance and Operations :

• The label does not contain any information about the sales order.
• It is not possible to consolidate all receipts for a single sales order on one specific location.
• It is not possible to enforce the LP that must be picked. So if 2 customers need exactly the same item, LP1 on location XD1 might be picked for SO2, and vice versa. This must be avoided because we will need to print a shipping label upon receipt.
• The sales order should not be released when cross docking items are received but not arrived at the cross dock location, but there is no suitable way to avoid this risk.

Warehouse Management supports the cross docking process for purchase-to-order items in an efficient way.

In Microsoft Dynamics 365 for Finance and Operations it is possible to setup Document routing layouts to print labels on a Zebra printer or similar. The label printing can be triggered from a work creation process on the mobile device, or from a work line print step.

Challenges in standard Microsoft Dynamics 365 for Finance and Operations :

• No shipping label printing from the packing station
• Common fields like item barcode, external item ID, package number, total number of package, carrier depot number etc. are not available on the label layout
• Cross docking labels not supported
• Pick label printing during the picking process is not supported

Warehouse Management adds this functionality and more, e.g. example shipping labels for common carriers.

License plate labels

Warehouse management > Setup > Document routing > Document routing layout

The table license plate labels contains the data for label printing.

• Microsoft Dynamics 365 for Finance and Operations supports two types of label printing, and a third is added recently.
• Warehouse Management adds three addtional types of label printing.
• Warehouse Management gives direct access to the labels for an inbound or outbound shipment through a button in the Shipment - Transportation ribbon tab.

Each field can be included as a variable in the ZPL code of the document routing layout. Each field can be used in the criteria of the document routing. E.g. define a specific label layout for certain customers, carriers etc based on a query on the license plate label.

Warehouse Management creates the labels with the following data (note that some fields were not filled by standard Microsoft Dynamics 365 for Finance and Operations  functionality):

Additional fields and display methods 

Pick up in store / local delivery by store (supplied and labeled from DC) / Production for sales line

The Marked by ... methods below can be used on the label document routing layout when a transfer order is shipped from the DC to a local warehouse, and the transfer order receipt is 1:1 marked by a local sales order.

Also on a production order finished goods put away label, these Marked by information can be printed on the label.

Intercompany order information

Scenario: original sales order is in a commercial company, intercompany sales orders in a logistics company, intercompany-2 sales orders in a production company. Print the correct original order information on the production order labels.

The following methods on both WHSLicensePlateLabel and ProdTable can retrieve the data when used in a ZPL layout. Only available if the configuration key Small warehousing is active.

Content list on ZPL label

To print a column with a list of items on the work label or the ship label, these display methods can be included in the ZPL.

For each column, the start position ^FO and the box size ^FB must be defined.

The elements in each column are separated by \& which is translated into a line break.

The Labelary.com viewer does not support the list unfortunately, but the result is visible by copying the actual ZPL code to the web page.

Example ZPL:

^XA

^CF0,50

^FO50,100
^FD$LicensePlateId$^FS

^CF0,20

^FO25,300
^FB200,80,,
^FDItem number\&$DYSDWAItemList()$^FS

^FO150,300
^FB200,80,,
^FDDescr.\&$DYSDWAItemNameList()$^FS

^FO300,300
^FB200,80,,
^FDQty\&$DYSDWAItemQtyList()$^FS

^FO400,300
^FB200,80,,
^FDUnit\&$DYSDWAUnitList()$^FS

^FO500,300
^FB200,80,,
^FDExternal\&$DYSDWAExternalList()$^FS

^FO600,300
^FB200,80,,
^FDBarcode\&$DYSDWABarcodeList()$^FS

^XZ

Custom label layout

Display methods

Custom ZPL labels can be based on many standard tables. Warehouse Management adds a set of useful display methods. The expression including the both $ signs can be used in the ZPL layout.

Production orders (ProdTable)

Cross dock labels

Purchase line with reference to sales line / transfer order issue / production material

Scenario: a sales order contains 7 lines:

• 2 of the sales lines are on stock
• 5 sales lines must be purchased to order, at 3 different vendors.

In the coverage group of the purchase-to-order items, specify coverage code = Requirement. This will establish a direct link between sales order line and purchase order line.

When the first purchase order line that serves this sales order is received:

• print a label with the name and address, number and reference of the sales order
• store the goods at a free location in the cross dock zone. 

For the second, third, fourth, fifth purchase order line for this sales order:

• print a label with the name and address, number and reference of the sales order
• collect all cross dock items for the sales order in one location, so store the goods at the same location in the cross dock zone. 

In a similar scenario, the purchased components and raw materials for a production order, or the purchased products for an outbound transfer order can be crossdocked to one location per production order / transfer order.

When a cross docking template is set up, cross docking work is created instead of purchase work. If cross dock labels are set up as well, the label contains the address of the sales order or the address of the warehouse to which the goods must be transfered.  

Warehouse management > Setup > Warehouse > Warehouses

When the parameter Print cross dock labels is activated on the warehouse, cross dock labels can be printed for purchase order lines that are directly related to e.g. sales order lines.

The parameter Block release until cross docked will prevent automatic release of the sales order line until the connected line is put away (i.e. the put away work is closed).

Warehouse management > Setup > Mobile device > Mobile device menu items

If "Print label" is switched on in the mobile device menu item, and there is a reference order line (e.g. the purchase order line has a reference to a sales order line), the label will contain the cross dock information like sales order, customer, delivery address etc.

Warehouse management > Setup > Location directives (Purchase put)

The item to be cross docked can be directed to a location in the cross dock zone.

• In the location directive header, Edit query, select purchase order lines where Reference type = Sales order.
• In the first location directive action, use strategy "Cross docking for linked orders", and set a query on the cross dock zone. All the goods for the same sales order will be directed to the same location, as long as the capacity on that location is sufficient and other constraints defined in the location profile are met. This directive is used when there is already a purchase line received connected to the current sales order, and will attempt to store the next incoming purchase order line on the same location.
• In the second location directive action, use strategy "Empty location with no incoming work" and set a query on the cross dock zone. This directive is used when this is the first purchase line that is received for this sales order.

Warehouse management > Setup > Location directives (Sales pick)

The item that was cross docked can be picked from the location in the cross dock zone.

• In the first location directive action, use strategy "Cross docking for linked orders". This strategy finds the location where the goods where put to, and only applies to sales order lines with a reference to a purchase order line.
• Other location directive actions: in the query, exclude the cross dock zone, to make sure that other sales order lines do not have the cross docking zone as last resort.

Warehouse management > Setup > Document routing > Document routing 

Specify a document routing layout for sales orders. This will be used when the cross dock label is printed.

Purchase line with reference to transfer line

Scenario: the item is purchased in the central warehouse, and then transfered to a subsidiary warehouse.

When receiving the item in the central warehouse, in stead of a purchase put away label, a transfer label with transfer order number must be printed.

A label is generated similar to the purchase put away label, but the work order type is Transfer issue, the order number is the transfer order number and the lot id is the reference lot (the transfer order shipment lot id).

Setup a document routing for Transfer issue, and corresponding document routing layout.   

Purchase line with reference to production BOM line

Scenario: when the BOM line type is vendor, and the production order is estimated, the raw material is purchased for this specific production order.

Upon receipt, in stead of a purchase put away label, a production raw material pick label with the production order must be printed.

A label is generated similar to the purchase put away label, but the work order type is Raw material picking, the order number is the production order number and the lot id is the reference lot (the production BOM line lot id).

Setup a document routing for Raw material picking, and corresponding document routing layout.

Pick label printing

In Microsoft Dynamics 365 for Finance and Operations wave label printing the labels will be printed when processing the wave, before the picking process is started. So the picker will take a physical strip of labels into the warehouse. 

Challenges:

• Requires elaborate setup
• In practice, the risk of sticking the wrong label on the product, or loosing a label is considerable.
• Practical problem: what to do with a pick label that is found on the floor

Therefor Warehouse Management adds the functionality to print a label during the picking process, on a printer that is mounted on the reachtruck or trolley or similar.

The functionality uses the Microsoft Dynamics 365 for Finance and Operations document routing framework for license plate label printing.

Warehouse management > Setup > Warehouse > Warehouses

When the parameter Print pick labels is activated on the warehouse, pick labels can be printed for

• Sales order pick lines
• Transfer issue pick lines
• Raw material pick lines
• Finished goods put away lines
• Co/by producs put away lines

When the parameter Deferred pick label printing is activated on the warehouse, the worker does not have to wait for the physical label to be printed, but can proceed with the next pick line immediately, while pick labels are printed for the previous line.

Warehouse management > Document routing > Pick label print policy

The pick label print defines for which work template lines one or more labels are printed. Print pick labels must be switched on at the warehouse. 

On the pick label the field handling quantity reflects the quantity for this label.

In case of a shortpick, the authorized worker may opt for reallocation. Microsoft Dynamics 365 for Finance and Operations will cancel or reduce the current work line, cancel the upcoming put line, and create a new work line for the same item on an alternative location. This new work line has no reference to the original work template line, but the pick label can still be printed automatically for the new work line. 

Advised setup for the Transportation number sequence SSCC (Serialized Shipping Container Code):

Transportation management > Setup > Engines > Generic engines

Create an engine for calculation of the CheckDigit.

Transportation management > Setup > Carriers

Create a number sequence for SSCC or PostNL 15 characters code or PostNL 13 characters code or internal 7 digits.

In case an SSCC number is required per shipment, link this Pro number sequence to a carrier. The Pro number will be assigned when the shipment is created for this carrier.

In case an SSCC number is required per pick label, link this Pro number sequence to the pick label print policy for the applicable work template line.

Reprint license plate label

Warehouse management > Inquiries and reports > Reprint license plate label

The mobile device menu items include an activity code to reprint a label. The functionality can be used on a mobile device, and by scanning the license plate ID, the label can be reprinted to the same printer as before. Technically the label information is handled again by the document routing. 

In standard Microsoft Dynamics 365 for Finance and Operations it is not possible to:

• direct the label to a different printer,
• print the same information on a label in a different layout
• print a label that has no license plate ID  

The Warehouse Management  PC function Reprint license plate label can be used to reprint one or more labels in an efficient flow. Use a wireless or wired USB scanner and have a ZPL printer installed near the PC.

Optionally, the user ID which was stamped on the original license plate label, can be changed to a new user ID. This allows the printing of the label on a different printer, with a different layout. Specify an additional document routing setting for the new user ID, with the applicable printer and document routing layout.

Clean up license plate labels

Warehouse management > Periodic tasks > Clean up > Clean up license plate labels

As described above, license plate labels can be generated from various processes. Name and address information is stored on the license plate labels. The clean up functionality can, after a number of days, and only if the sales order is invoiced:

• overwrite the name and street and other reference data on the license plate label with a dot, or
• delete the license plate label 

Work audit template custom methods

Warehouse management > Setup > Work > Work audit template lines update

On the setup of mobile device menu items that handle work it is possible to specifiy a work audit template. This functionality is a standard frame work that allows to record extra information upon receipt and put away processes, or when executing existing work.

The data is stored in the Work audit capture data. There is no validation on the entered value, so the mobile device menu label must be self explaining to the worker.

In Warehouse Management  extra custom methods are available to update and print a generated license plate:

Suggested use:

Receipt labels: upon mobile receipt, the required number of labels and the optimal size can depend on the actual packing appearance. A4 label on a pallet, A3 label on a carton, A2 label on small boxes etc. The worker can decide on the mobile device the required set of labels. Create a work audit template while capturing data with the methods:

• AWHSSetQtyPerLabel (Function = Capture data, optional)
• AWHSSetLabelFormat (Function = Capture data, optional)
• AWHSPrintLabels (Function = Capture data)

Link the mobile device menu item to this work audit template.

Reprint product labels: execute a movement by template in the mobile device, and set the qty per label, the format and the number of labels. Create a work audit template with the methods: 

• AWHSInsertLabel (Function = Custom)
• AWHSSetQtyPerLabel (Function = Capture data, optional)
• AWHSSetLabelFormat (Function = Capture data, optional)
• AWHSPrintLabels (Function = Capture data)

Link the mobile device menu item to this work audit template.