Navigator Solutions

Inventory

One of the core Navigator features is the ability to accurately track and report on your inventory. Each Navigator module is tightly integrated with inventory, allowing you to view at a glance, your inventory levels, view inventory transactions, and see the history of individual items in your warehouse(s).

The Locate Inventory Screen

To locate inventory recorded within the WMS, select:
Warehouse Operations -> Locate Inventory

Inventory status may be queried by selecting the required parameters, entering the part number or location (if applicable) and clicking Search. Once the query completes, information on inventory is displayed.

Inventory Screen Details

The fields on this screen may have been customized. The field list which follows is the default configuration.

Field Name	Description
Type	Either BIN or CONTAINER. Inventory stored on containers (CONTAINER) is shown alongside items stored loose in the location (BIN).
Location Code	Bin number
Part Number	The product code for the item.
Part Description	The item's description.
QOH	The current quantity on hand specific to this location.
Minimum Qty	Minimum quantity used for the generation of automatic replenishments.
Last Count	The date on which this product/location was cycle counted. The cycle count date is cleared the next time inventory is added or removed from the location.
Fixed	The ‘fixed’ flag prevents the WMS from removing the inventory record once it becomes empty. When performing a put-away transaction, a fixed location will be suggested first (before an empty location).
Requires Replenishment?	Indicates if Navigator believes the location is in need of replenishment.
Replenishment Assigned	The date/time a user was assigned to the replenishment task.
Replenishment Priority	The priority level for the replenishment (100 is the highest).

To edit a bin setting, click on the ellipse (...) button.

Location level changes can only be effective if the “Fixed bin location?” check-box is selected. This setting ensures that when the inventory level in the bin reaches zero, information (such as last count date/counted by and min/max values) is not automatically deleted. Enter the minimum and maximum levels in whole numbers of the appropriate unit.

Locating Inventory Transactions

To view the lowest level transactions affecting the inventory balance, select the View Transactions menu entry. Enter the parameters you need to accurately define the data you are searching for, including:

Location Code;
Part Number;
Start Date;
End Date;
Record limit (set this to a manageable value - less than 1000 to ensure adequate system performance)

Searching for Inventory - (231)

To locate inventory items while in the warehouse, run transaction 231 (Locate Inventory). This screen allows the user to search for stock items either by location or by product. Using this screen, it is possible to answer the questions:

"where is this item stored?" (search by product); or
"what is stored in this location?" (search by location)

To change between these two modes, use the F3 button. The prompt at the top of the screen will change to indicate what type of data the scanner is expecting.

	Product Search When in product mode, scan the barcode of the item, or type the part number. Navigator will give you an error if the product code is not valid. The scanner presents a list of items in the location along with the quantity of goods stored in the location. The description of each item is displayed underneath the grid as it is highlighted. To conduct a new search, simply scan the next barcode, or press ESCAPE to return to the product/location prompt and re-enter a new search term. To exit the screen, press ESCAPE from the product/location prompt or just press ENTER from the search results.
	Location Search When in location mode, scan or type the location code. As before, the scanner displays a list of items in the location, and allows a new location to be selected by scanning it, or pressing ESCAPE then typing a new location.
	Clearing a Pick Location If a product has no stock on hand, it is possible to clear a picking location set using the "931 - Set picking location" transaction. Perform a search by location or product, then use the arrow keys to select the location/product combination to remove. Press the DELETE button and confirm by pressing ENTER. Note: In order for this transaction to succeed: The product must have a zero balance. The user performing the request must have the permission INV_SETLOC (Set inventory locations).
	Additional Functions Press F5 to access additional functions from this screen. From this menu, it is possible to: 1. Assign pick location - this option runs the "931 - Assign Pick Location" screen, copying the selected part number into the relevant field. 2. Product Barcode Allocate - this option runs the "PBA - Product Barcode Allocate" screen, allowing barcodes to be assigned to stock items. 3. Print label - this option requests the production of a single label.

Additional Shortcuts:

Press F4 from the "search" prompt to search for products.
Press F5 from the "search" prompt to run the "Barcode Allocate" screen.

Adjusting Inventory

Navigator allows three methods of adjusting the quantity on hand for a particular item. In all but the last case, the preceding inventory rules and additional processes apply.

Perform a 'location to location' transfer (transaction code 243). This transaction type is the fastest, allowing one-off movements of stock to be recorded from one location to another. This transaction only allows the transfer of stock between two locations within the same site. It does not send a notification to the accounting system.
Create an 'Inventory Adjustment' document (transaction code 214). This is a manually created pickslip allowing the user to record the transfer of items from one location to another. In the past, Navigator terminology referred to this as an 'Ad Hoc' pickslip. This document allows you to select a 'Source' and 'Destination' site, in addition to a 'Source' and 'Destination' location. Products, in addition to multiple serial numbers may be transferred from one location to another.
Perform either an ad-hoc or planned cycle count.

For the first two methods, Navigator enforces that stock must be sent both 'from' and 'to' a location. In order to perform an inventory 'write down' or 'write up', you must select a location which has the 'Adjustment Location' flag set. Adjustment flagged locations NEVER hold inventory - Navigator ignores all requests to add or remove inventory from these locations, resulting in a net increase or decrease in your stock levels. To ensure that these locations are not used to artificially inflate inventory figures, Navigator's security module allows the location to be marked as a 'Quarantine' location. This setting prevents stock from being removed from a location without the 'QUAR_REM' permission.

Another approach to adjusting inventory involves using the 'Inventory Adjustment' document and moving the stock to a different Navigator site. In this scenario, the destination site holds the adjusted quantity as a positive figure. Since the stock has 'moved' between warehouses, Navigator can then upload the inventory movement to your accounting system, providing full visibility to your accounting staff of inventory alterations.

Inventory Adjustments (214)

Navigator allows warehouse users to transfer stock from one warehouse to another using a scanner transaction. As stock is moving between warehouses, Navigator alerts the accounting system that stock is being moved. This transaction can also be used to 'write up' or 'write down' inventory values.

An inventory adjustment is also known as an 'Ad hoc' pickslip. Transactions created in this way are visible via the pick slip overview screen.

	To access the Inventory Adjustment process, run transaction 214 on the scanner. When you load the form, Navigator shows a list of all incomplete adjustments. If you have started an adjustment and have not yet 'finalised' the document, it will be listed here. To continue working on an adjustment, select the document and press ENTER. To create a new inventory adjustment, press F3.
	When creating an inventory adjustment, Navigator asks the user to confirm a "source" and "destination" site. If you are writing stock off, you would select your warehouse (in the example, this is the Default Site). Stock will be removed from this warehouse. Press ENTER to select the warehouse. Select the destination warehouse for the stock. The warehouse selected will be determined by your accounting system. Typically, an accounting system will hold separate inventory balances for each warehouse. The adjustment process used by Navigator assumes that a separate inventory location will be set aside solely for the purpose of recording inventory losses/gains. When this document is completed, Navigator will have moved stock from one warehouse to another (internally) and will alert the accounting system that stock should be moved. Note that you can transfer stock from an adjustment warehouse into the main warehouse in the same way (to cope with stock which has been 'found').
	Navigator prompts you to enter a reason code. The list is customisable, and may be changed through Navigator's web interface. To edit the list, go to System Administration -> System Setup -> Pick Reasons. Navigator forces the user to enter a reason for the adjustment. Typical reason codes are: damaged missing quarantined Press ENTER once you have selected the reason. Enter a reference number for the transaction. This is displayed on the pick overview screen, and can be used to search for inventory transactions in the future.
	Once the adjustment transaction is created, Navigator displays the pick menu. The same menu is displayed if you open an exist (parked) adjustment. To add items to the adjustment, press ENTER. You may also review items previously scanned against the adjustment by pressing F3. To complete the inventory adjustment and post the information to your accounting system, press F5. Note: If you select the same warehouse as both the source and destination for the stock, Navigator will not alert the accounting system, since the net result would be no change to the inventory balance. Navigator will, however, perform an internal inventory transaction.
	Scan or type the location from which stock is to be taken. Navigator will give an error if the location entered is not valid for the 'Source' warehouse/site. Scan or type the location into which stock is being transferred. Navigator will give an error if the location entered is not valid for the 'Destination' warehouse/site. Performing a stock 'Write Up' To increase the balance in Navigator, the location entered in the 'Source Location' field should be designated as an 'Adjustment' type location. This ensures that you do not end up with a negative inventory balance in this bin. Performing a stock 'Write Down' To increase the balance in Navigator, the location entered in the 'Destination Location' field should be designated as an 'Adjustment' type location. This ensures that you do not end up with a negative inventory balance in this bin.

	If the stock item being transferred is designated as being tracked by serial number, Navigator will prompt for you to scan the serial numbers of the items to write up/down in place of requesting a quantity. Scan each serial number, and press F4 when you are ready to process the batch of numbers. To cancel entry of serial numbers (e.g. to change to a different stock code), press ESC. Note: Navigator will give an error message if you scan the same serial number more than once onto the adjustment document. Navigator will also check to ensure the serial number is present in the bin location from which stock is taken.
	From the pick menu, you may review a list of items picked by pressing F3. To return to the main menu, press ESC.

Inventory Transfers (243)

Navigator allows warehouse users to transfer stock between locations within the warehouse using a simple scanner transaction.

From the main menu, run transaction 243 to access the transfer function. To move stock between bins:

Scan the location from which stock is to be taken (source).
Scan the product barcode to be moved. Note - you may also enter a product code or press the UP arrow to review a list of items in the location. Select the item from the list by pressing ENTER.
Navigator displays a list of other bin locations in the warehouse containing this item. You can use this screen to assist in consolidating inventory which is located in multiple bin locations.
Enter the quantity you wish to transfer.
Scan or type the location into which the stock will be moved.

Navigator will update inventory in both locations. For details on this process please see 'Inventory Movements' below.

This screen may be used to perform an ad-hoc inventory adjustment. To do this, either the 'source' or 'destination' location must be designated as an adjustment type location. The inventory balance in an adjustment location is always zero, and the usual rules for updating inventory (e.g. no negative stock) do not apply.

Inventory Movements

When you move inventory from one bin location to another, the system updates its internal inventory view in real-time. This is also true for other transaction types which affect inventory, including receipting and order picking.

Navigator enforces a set of basic rules to control the movement of inventory. Each of these rules are enforced before the transaction can be saved. This means an operator will see an error message as soon as they attempt to perform work which is not permitted by the system.

The most basic rule Navigator enforces is that inventory levels within a location / bin cannot be negative. This is because Navigator is only interested in the physical stock you hold on the shelf (and is not concerned with stock in the process of being returned due to customer credits etc).

When attempting to perform an inventory transaction, the following sequence of events occur on the server:

The system checks to make sure the transaction would not lead to a negative inventory situation in a bin or pallet. If this rule is enabled (default) and too many items are being moved, the transaction is cancelled.
The 'quarantine' flag is checked on the 'from' location. If this flag is set, security is enabled for Navigator, and the operator does not have access to the appropriate permission, the transaction is cancelled.
The inventory is decreased in the 'source' location /container and increased in the 'destination' location / container (if applicable). The only exception to this rule is if the location has the 'Adjustment' flag set. In this case, inventory is neither added, nor removed from the location.
An audit log is recorded indicating the from/to bin, the operator performing the task, the date/time and other relevant parameters (e.g. serial number or batch number)
The 'current daily balance' for the bin/product is updated. This allows you to go back in time and track the closing stock level as at a particular date.
Cycle count rules are checked. If a cycle count rule matches the transaction and there is no 'pending' count in the system, a new cycle count transaction is created.
The location is flagged for replenishment if the quantity on hand is outside the minimum/maximum range or the demand for stock from a location (calculated as the sum of quantity remaining to be picked) is greater than the quantity in the location.

Setting Picking Locations (931)

Navigator records a single primary picking location for each item in each site. This is automatically assigned to pick slips when they are imported into the WMS for processing.

	Assigning Pick Locations To set the primary picking location for a stock item within a warehouse, use scanner transaction 931 (Set Picking Location). This screen performs the following steps: Sets the location entered as the 'primary' picking location for this item, in the current warehouse. All pending pick transactions for the item are redirected to the current location. Depending on configuration, Navigator may also perform the following steps: Check to see if the location is set as the 'primary' location for a different stock item. Automatically clear this link if the quantity on hand is zero or Give the user an error message - preventing the location from having mixed stock items. To enable this functionality, set the system parameter 'INV_ALLOW_MIXED_LOCATIONS' to '0'. Tip: From the product prompt, press F5 to review a list of products which appear on pick slips, but do not have a location code assigned to them. Press ENTER on the product to select it, or ESCAPE to return to the product prompt. Minimum / Maximum After the quantity is entered, Navigator can also request the minimum and maximum quantity for this picking location. To toggle this request, press F8. Additional Shortcuts: - From the product prompt, press F3 to assign a barcode to the product. - From the location prompt, press F3 to run the "Create Location" screen. - From any prompt, press F8 to turn on/off the prompt for minimum/maximum quantities. - From any prompt, press F9 to turn on/off the label printing function.
	Minimum and Maximums In order to assist in replenishment operations, you should set a minimum and (optionally) a maximum quantity per item per location. Navigator includes a screen to manually change these figures during the warehouse setup phase. In the 931 transaction, press F8 to toggle the Min/Max request. Once you have confirmed the location/product mapping, Navigator will look up and display the current minimum and maximum values for this picking location. You may accept these figures by pressing ENTER, or type over the values to set new values. Scheduler Navigator's scheduler can automatically set the minimum quantity for the location based on historical daily picking volume. If you wish to manually set minimums, you will need to turn off the automatic calculations by setting the system parameter 'REPLEN_AUTO_MIN' TO '0'.
	Labelling Bin Locations Navigator allows labels to be produced which contain both the location code and the stock code and description (along with other relevant information). These are printed as soon as the transaction to link product to location is complete. Note: This option should NOT be used if the warehouse has a high turnover of stock lines or if picking locations change frequently. Press the F9 button to turn labelling on and off. You may also set the initial value of this check box with the system parameter: PRINT_LCID_LABEL. Set this to '1' to enable label printing by default. To adjust the label format you are using or to change to a different printer, press the 'Cfg >' button at the bottom of the screen. Select the label format you want to use. Navigator will automatically determine which printer is assigned to this format. Note: As the label format required can only be determined by the person standing in front of the particular shelf, these parameters are not saved between labelling sessions. You must ensure that, each time you run the screen, the correct label format and printer is selected. You can select a different printer for this format by pressing the "..." button. This process is described here. Press the '<Back' button to resume the labelling process.

Clearing Picking Locations

Each time a new primary picking location is set for an item, any existing pick location within the current warehouse is automatically cleared. This means you do not need to manually remove the existing location-product mapping.

If you have a stock item which has been removed from inventory completely, you may remove the mapping between location and product using transaction 231 (Locate Inventory). Scan the location to display the list of products mapped to this location. You may then select a product and remove it by pressing the DELETE button.

This function can be used to prevent Navigator Voice from automatically reading out the description for a stock item when the picker visits a pick location (because it believes there might be two items in the location).

Note that Navigator will not remove a mapping if an inventory value is recorded in the location.