Location Assignment
Location Assignment program is used to suggest the Location during Putaway and
Inventory movement. This program is divided into various levels to get the right
location suggestion for any given SKU or Pallet
1. Level one – Finding the Right Zone
In this level we find the right zone that the Pallet or Pack or SKU should be leading
into. There could be multiple scenarios here when we use a pallet.
Scenario 1: Pallet contains SKU A – 100, SKU B – 50, SKU C – 25
In this scenario the pallet should go to the zone where SKU A or the SKU with
maximum quantity in the pallet is there. For example, if SKU A belongs to A Zone,
SKU B belongs to B Zone, SKU C belongs to C zone then we should put away this
pallet into A Zone.
Scenario 2: Pallet contains only one SKU B – 175
In this scenario the pallet should go to the zone in which SKU B belongs to and in
this case, it is B Zone
Scenario 3: Pallet contains SKU A – 100, SKU B – 100, SKU – 100
In this scenario the pallet could go to the zone of the SKU if we can order by the
SKU code
Scenario 4: SKU B – Pack of 50
This case there is a Pack of 50 of SKU B, then it directly goes to the Zone that SKU
B belongs to.
Scenario 5: SKU C – 10 Pieces
These piece quantities and this directly goes to the zone that SKU C belongs to
1.1. Zone override Scenarios
Scenario 1: If we have selected A Zone for a Pallet but in case there are no locations
available in A Zone that have capacity to accommodate the pallet then we should
refer to the Zone override scenarios in the Putzone configuration screen.
For example, if the Putzone configuration states:
A Zone – Alternates are Priority 1 – B Zone, Priority 2 – C Zone
B Zone – Alternates are Priority 1 – C Zone , Priority 2 – A Zone
C Zone – Alternates are Priority 1 – B Zone
Then for a A Zone pallet, if A Zone is full the next option is to look for the B zone and
if B Zone is also full the next option is to choose C Zone
Likewise for a B Zone pallet, if B Zone is full the next option is to look for the C Zone
and if C Zone is full the next option is to look for the A Zone
Scenario 2: If all the Zones are full then we should look for the default location that
will be used like the VPALLET or VSKU
Scenario 3: If the SKU D does not have any zone mapped to them in the SKU
Master, then the SKU D can be suggested to the default zone which is the VPALLET
or VSKU
2. Level 2: Ordering the Zone locations by Fill Sequence
The Fill sequence is the field in the Location master, the fill sequence is calculated
based on the distance from the Dock door to the location.
For example, Location 1 which is closer to the dock door will have Fill sequence as
“1” and the Location that is far away from the Dock door will have a Fill Sequence as
“20” for example. So Lowest number in the fill sequence implies first one to use for
Location assignment and the highest number is the last one to be in Location
assignment logic.
3. Level 3: Load unit Matching
The Load unit currently waiting for Location assignment should match the Load unit
of the Location.
In the Warehouse mapping - Maintain Storage Type screen, each Location group is
matched with the Load unit and the capacity of each Load unit.
Scenario 1 - If the Location group – Rack Locations have been configured for
Loadunits below:
Pallets – Max capacity – 5
Crates – Max Capacity – 10
Totes – Max capacity – 8
The Load unit that is waiting for Putaway will have to match the Load unit of the
location, here if we have a Pallet as the Load unit then it is acceptable for the
Location. If we have Industrial Pallet then it is not acceptable for these “Rack
Locations”
Scenario 2 - If the Location group – Rack Locations have been configured for none
of the Load units
Then this Location group can fit in any Load unit that we have on hand for the
Putaway
4. Level 4: Attribute Matching
Once we have found the right Load unit matching location, then we will have to do an
Attribute matching to see if the SKU attributes and the Location attributes match
each other.
a. Mix SKU
b. Mix MRP
c. Mix Batch
d. Mix Expiry Date
5. Level 5: Season Sequence
Season Sequence is used in the Apparel industry, the idea is to keep the Fresh
SKUs on the ground floor and the Old season SKUs in the first floor or Second floor.
Season Sequence is managed in the Location Master as “1”, “2”, “3” etc. The SKU
Master will also have a season sequence defined.
Scenario 1: Season Sequence in SKU is “1” and Locations also have defined
sequences as “1”.
The SKU should be suggested in the Location which matches the Sequence only.
Scenario 2: Season Sequence in SKU is “1” but there are no free Locations
The SKU should be suggested with VPALLET or VSKU
Scenario 3: If the Season Sequence and Location Sequence are blank or Null
The SKU can be suggested any location and the Season Sequence will not shortlist
any locations, we can skip this season sequence.
6. Level 6: Load Unit Capacity
When we know the Load unit that is Pallet then we look for the Bestfit type for the
Load unit in the Location. These are fields that are important to look at:
1. Max Capacity
2. Utilized Capacity
3. YTF/Reserved Capacity
4. Available Capacity
The Order in which the Location is selected is,
First we fill the SKU in the location that is already available. For example, if SKU A is
present in Location 1234 and there is a available capacity of 2 pallets, then we
should first fill the Location 1234 with SKU A of 2 Pallets rather than going into a New
Location where there is Full capacity available.
In case the SKU is not present in any location or the SKU present in a location that
does not have further additional capacity then we can suggest a new location
If there is no Empty location, then we suggest the VPALLET or VSKU location
The Capacity calculation is based on the BESTFITTYPE for same location there
could be multiple BESTFITTYPES, example
Pallet BESTFITTYPE – 5
Crate BESTFITTYPE – 3
Totes BESTFITTYPE – 7
Based on the capacity the location will be suggested. There is no calculation for
mixed BESTFITTYPES for example if there are 2 Pallets adding 3 Totes instead of a
Pallet is not defined. We stick to one BESTFITTYPE that is defined first.
If the BESTFITTYPE is not defined then it can accept any Load unit in the Location.
Once the Location is assigned, then it will add to the Reserved Capacity or the YTF
capacity of the Location. Once the putaway is done then the Reserved Capacity is
released.