Topic overview

For the put-away, the automatic storage location finding for the put-away is very flexible and takes many parameters into account. Nevertheless, situations can occur in which, for example, no applicable storage locations can be found.
For manual assignment of items to storage locations, the [Assign storage locations] action is available. With the action, a dialog window is opened that is described below.

The [Assign storage locations] action is available in the Receipts of goods and Inventory requisitions application.

Assigning storage locations to inventory requisitions

Storage location assignments can only be created for the inventory requisition line items for which a structured warehouse (no warehouse zone, no storage location) has been defined.

As long as the dialog window for assigning the storage locations is open, the inventory requisition cannot be changed and the inventory order generation for the inventory requisition cannot be initiated.

If an inventory requisition is to be deleted, a warning is first displayed that storage location assignments exist. Once the warning has been confirmed, assignments and reservations are deleted.

As soon as assignments exist, the warehouse, warehouse zone and storage location may not be changed for the inventory requisition line item. The quantity can be increased, but it can only be reduced down to the assigned quantity.

Assigning storage location to receipts of goods

The dialog window for assigning storage locations can be opened for every receipt of goods that is not canceled and not invalid. Only the partial quantity of a receipt of goods line item that has not yet been packaged can be assigned to storage locations.

As long as the dialog window for assigning the storage locations is open, the receipt of goods cannot be changed and the inventory order generation for the receipt of goods cannot be initiated.

If the receipt of goods is to be deleted or canceled, a warning that storage locations assignments exist is displayed first. When deleting, canceling or reorganizing, all assignments including reservations are deleted at the same time.

The import of receipts of goods does not support the import of assignments.

Definitions of terms

Identifiers 
An identifier enables the identification of a specific item. For example, in addition to the item number, a television is also identified by the serial number identifier and is therefore unique. As identifiers, batch, lot, and serial number are supported.

Loading units
A loading unit is a combination of items in or on a suitable storage unit in order to store or ship them. A loading unit can also include other loading units.

Inventory requisitions
An inventory requisition is a means of recording the relevant data for inventory movements in storage locations. From inventory requisitions, concrete inventory orders are generated, applying put-away or withdrawal strategies, for example.

Inventory order
An inventory order determines the transport of item inventories. Inventory orders specifies which item with which quantity is to be transported from a warehouse zone, from a storage location or from a slot to another location. A manual inventory order is formulated in the form of an inventory requisition.

Warehouses
A warehouse is a logically or physically defined area in which items are maintained. A warehouse can be subdivided into warehouse zones and storage locations if storage location control is activated in Customizing. The exact structure of the warehouse is defined by the warehouse organization.

Storage location
A storage location is the exact point in a warehouse where items can be stored. A storage location within a warehouse always lies in a warehouse zone and is determined precisely on the basis of a row, a level, and a storage location  number. Each storage location has a storage location category that establishes the use of the storage location. The availability of storage locations is essential for storage location control.

Warehouse zones
If storage location control is activated in the Customizing application, a warehouse can be subdivided into warehouse zones. A warehouse can have any number of warehouse zones.

Serial numbers
Serial numbers are possible identifiers for items. Serial number identification means that every unit of an item is given a serial number that identifies it uniquely throughout the system. In contrast to batches and lots, a serial number applies to exactly one base unit of the item. The allocation of serial numbers is divided into serial numbers with inventory management and serial numbers without inventory management.

Slot
A slot is a subunit of a storage location. It is the smallest component of a warehouse and can accept exactly one storage unit. The number of slots is the maximum number of storage units allowed for the storage location.

Receipt of goods
An incoming delivery is recorded in the system in a receipt of goods voucher, where item, quantity, and receipt of goods date are specified. Receipts of goods always have an order reference.

Assign storage locations dialog window

In the Assign storage locations dialog window, the quantity of warehouse zones, storage locations or slots to be  withdrawn can be assigned for the reference line item. Reference line items include a receipt of goods line item, a loading unit in the receipt of goods or a line item of an inventory requisition of the put-away category.

When generating inventory orders, inventory order line items are generated from the preset assignments. For the receipts quantities that are not assigned, inventory order line items are generated from the inventory management server with the use of the automatic put-away algorithm.

The dialog window is divided into three panes:

• Voucher line item structure (in the left-hand column)
• Display pane (in the upper pane)
• Work pane (in the lower pane)

The Voucher line item structure tab lists all reference line items (receipt of goods line item, loading units in the receipt of goods, line items of an inventory requisition of the put-away category) with assignment information. Next to the Voucher line item structure tab, a Messages tab is available, displaying the messages as they appear.

The data of a reference line item are displayed in the display pane. The data are processed individually per item  (assignments are created, changed or deleted) and saved. Therefore, you can only switch to another reference line item
if the changed assignments were first saved or changes were discarded. For this purpose, you have the standard actions available in the toolbar above the display pane. When closing the dialog window, a confirmation is required if the
data have been changed.

The work pane includes the Storage location assignments grouping that is divided into a query pane and an assignment table.

Voucher line item structure

In the left part of the dialog window, the Voucher line item structure tab shows the reference line items in a list. Loading units in the receipt of goods are displayed according to the receipt of goods line items in the list.

Voucher line items are shown with the line item number, the item and the receipts quantity. Loading units in the receipt of goods are indicated only with the loading unit number. Inventory requisition line items with loading units are displayed with the line item number and the loading unit.

Under the relevant reference line item, the assigned warehouse zones/storage locations, assigned quantities and the status are displayed.

If batches or lots are assigned to a receipt of goods line item in the Receipts of goods application, first the identifiers (with the relevant receipts quantity) are output under this line item and then the assignments.

This area does not show voucher line items that cannot be assigned as a matter of principle, such as, for example, a receipt of goods line item without order assignment, a receipt of goods line item with a kit item, a receipt of goods line
item with a service item, an inventory requisition line item with an exact address, a completely packaged receipt of goods line item, etc.

By clicking on the reference line item or its identifiers or assignments, the data of the reference line item are displayed in the display pane of the dialog window.

The [Update] button and the [Assignments] detail button are available in the toolbar below the tab. The assignments are only displayed if the [Assignments] detail button is selected.

In the toolbar under the tab, the Update and the Assignments detail buttons are available. The assignments are  displayed only when the Assignments detail button is selected.

Detailed description of the columns in the line item list:

Line item – this column displays the number of the receipt of goods or inventory requisitions line item.
Due to the fact that loading units in the receipt of goods are displayed for all line items, no line item numbers are displayed for them.

Item – this column displays the item or the loading unit.

Receipts quantity – this column displays the receipts quantity in the entire reference line item. No quantities are displayed for loading units.

Row for the identifier data (ony receipt of goods)

Identifier – this column displays the batch or the lot of the identifier assignment in the receipt of goods.

Receipts quantity – this column displays the receipts quantity of the relevant identifier.

Row for the assignments ([Assignments] button)

Storage location – this column displays the warehouse zone or the storage unit or slot of the assignment.

Assigned quantity – this column displays the assigned quantity of the item or the relevant identifier.

Status – this column shows the status information of the storage location assignment with an icon.
Possible statuses are:

• Assignment generated
• Inventory order partially generated
• Inventory order generated

The Assignment generated status is assigned to a new storage location assignment. If an inventory order line item has already been generated for a storage location assignment, it receives the Inventory order generated status. If the inventory order line item was partially reported and then completed or the assignment quantity was increased after the
completed reporting, the status of the assignment is changed to Inventory order partially generated.
See also the chapter Status and status changes.

Display pane

In the right upper section of the dialog window, the data of a receipt of goods line item, an inventory requisition line item or a loading unit as well as information on the already executed assignments are displayed.

If batches or lots of a line item were assigned in the receipt of goods, they are displayed in an identifier list. The assignment can be applied to each identifier that has not been completely assigned. A new assignment is created for the
identifier that is selected in the list.

If the full receipts quantity has not been distributed to batches or lots in the Receipts of goods application for a receipt of goods line item, then only this partial quantity can be assigned.

In the case of a serial numbered item in a receipt of goods, individual serial numbers are not directly assigned. The serial numbers are automatically assigned to individual inventory order line items when generating inventory orders.

If an identifier-managed item with an inventory requisition is put away, a specific identifier must be entered for the line item. Exactly this identifier is assigned in the dialog window. It is not displayed in a table, but in a field in the display pane.

Different fields are displayed depending on the type of data to be displayed.

Data of a receipt of goods line item

The following fields are displayed for a receipt of goods line item. The respective data cannot be edited.

Receipt of goods line item – display of the receipt of goods type, receipt of goods number and receipt of goods line item number

Item – the item of the receipt of goods line item

EAN – the EAN of the item

Inventory item classification 1 – the inventory item classification 1

Warehouse – the warehouse for the receipt of goods line item

Inventory owner – owner of inventory for the receipt of goods line item

Inventory order quantity – the quantity for which inventory orders have already been generated

Quantity received – the full quantity of the receipt of goods line item

Quantity to be put away – the quantity that can still be put away. No inventory orders have been generated for this quantity yet, and the quantity has not been packed yet

Packed quantity – the quantity packaged in loading units

Assigned storage location quantity – the total quantity of all assignments

Assignable quantity – open quantity that can still be assigned.

A table with the following columns is displayed below. The respective data cannot be edited.

Identifier – the respective identifier that is assigned to the receipt of goods line item

Quantity received – total quantity of the identifier

Inventory order quantity – the identifier quantity for which inventory orders have already been generated

Packaged quantities – the identifier quantity packaged in loading units

Quantity to be put away – the identifier quantity that can still be put away. No inventory orders have been generated for this quantity yet, and the quantity has not yet been packaged yet

Assigned storage location quantity – the total quantity of all assignments for the identifier

Assignable quantity – open identifier quantity that can still be assigned

Data of a loading unit in the receipt of goods

The following fields are displayed for a loading unit from the receipt of goods. The respective data cannot be edited.

Receipt of goods – receipt of goods type, receipt of goods number

Loading unit – the number of the loading unit and description of the storage unit are displayed

Warehouse – the warehouse of the goods receipt item

Inventory owner – owner of inventory for the receipt of goods line item

Storage location assigned – Yes or No indicates if the loading unit is assigned to a storage location

Inventory order generated – Yes or No indicates if an inventory order was generated for the loading unit

Data of an inventory requisition line item with an item

The following fields are displayed for an inventory requisition line item with an item. The respective data cannot be edited.

Inventory requisition line item – inventory requisition type, inventory requisition number, inventory requisition line item number

Item – the item of the inventory requisition line item

EAN – the EAN of the item

Identifier – the identifier of the inventory requisition line item, if applicable

Inventory item classification 1 – the inventory item classification 1

Warehouse – the warehouse of the inventory requisition line item

Quantity received – the full quantity of the inventory requisition line item

Inventory owner – owner of inventory for the inventory requisition line item

Quantity to be put away – the quantity that can be still put away. No inventory orders have been generated for this quantity yet, and the quantity has not been packaged yet.

Inventory order quantity – the quantity for which inventory orders have already been generated

Assigned quantity – the total quantity of all assignments

Assignable quantity – open quantity that can still be assigned

Data of an inventory requisition line item with a loading unit

The following fields are displayed for an inventory requisition line item with a loading unit. The respective data cannot be edited.

Inventory requisition line item – inventory requisition type, inventory requisition number, inventory requisition line item number

Loading unit – the number of the loading unit and description of the storage unit are displayed

Warehouse – the warehouse of the inventory requisition line item

Inventory owner – owner of inventory for the inventory requisition line item

Storage location assigned – Yes or No indicates if the loading unit is assigned to a storage location

Inventory order generated – Yes or No indicates if an inventory order was generated for the loading unit

Work pane

In the work pane, you can find the Storage location assignments grouping. It contains the Assignment filter query pane and the table for the assignments.

Assignment filter

The data in the assignment table can be queried using the query fields of the assignment filter. Pressing the Enter key in one of the query fields executes the “Update” action. If the assignment data has not been saved, the confirmation dialog opens.

Using the query fields of the assignment filter, you can execute a query for the data in the assignment table. Upon pressing the Enter key in one of the query fields, the [Update] action is executed. If the assignment data have not been
saved, a confirmation dialog will open.

Detailed description of fields:

Warehouse zone – enter a warehouse zone as a search criterion in this field, if required. Only assignments in this
warehouse zone are displayed.

Storage location – enter a storage location as a search criterion in this field, if required. Only assignments to this storage location are displayed.

Storage location category – if required, select one or more storage location categories in this field. Only assignments to storage locations of this storage location category are displayed.

Storage location type – enter a storage location type as a search criterion in this field, if required. Only assignments to storage locations of this storage location type are displayed.

Storage location priority – enter a storage location priority as a search criterion in this field, if required. Only assignments to storage locations of this storage location priority are displayed.

Display full storage locations (checkbox) – if you activate this parameter, the storage locations that are full or overfilled are also displayed.

Assignment table

The assignment table displays all assignments that have already been carried out by the user. The assignments always apply to the reference line item that is open in the display pane.

You can enter new storage location assignemnts using the [Find and add warehouse zones], [Find and add storage locations] or [Suggest empty storage locations] actions. The assigned quantity equals then zero.

Both positive and zero quantities can be entered and saved. Upon saving, storage location reservations are directly created for the changed assigned quantities.

If the warehouse logistics server rejects the change to the reservation data, error messages are displayed under the Messages tab and saving is canceled.

If the inventory management server deprecates change of the reservation data, corresponding error messages are displayed under the Messages tab and saving is canceled.

If the inventory management server is not active, a change of assignments cannot be saved.

Detailed description of fields:

Warehouse zone – this column displays the warehouse zone. The warehouse zone can be changed if the storage location assignment has the Assignment generated status.

Storage location – this column displays the storage location and the slot, if required. The storage location/slot can be
changed if the storage location assignment has the Assignment generated status.

Storage location type – this column displays the storage location type of the storage location. The data cannot be changed.

Storage location priority – this column displays the storage location priority of the storage location. The data cannot be changed.

Identifier – this column displays the identifier and it is only visible if the item is managed in batches or lots and the reference line item is a receipt of goods line item. The identifier can be changed if the storage location assignment has the  Assignment generated status.

Inventory – this column displays the inventory of the item in the warehouse zone/on the storage location. The data cannot be changed. The column is not displayed if the reference line item contains a loading unit

Open put-aways – this column displays the open put-away quantities for the item in the warehouse zone/on the storage location or the slot. The data cannot be changed. The column is not displayed if the reference line item contains a loading unit.

Assigned quantity – this column displays the assigned quantity of the item. The quantity can always be changed, but it cannot be less than zero or less than the inventory order quantity. This column is not displayed if the reference line item contains a loading unit.

Loading unit assigned (checkbox) – if the line item is selected with the use of the check box, it means that the loading unit is assigned to the storage location. If the check box is deactivated, this assignment is removed. This column is  displayed only if the reference line item contains a loading unit.

Count of storage units – this column displays the count of the storage units that will be included in the put-away. The data cannot be changed. This quantity will be determined automatically upon saving.

Storage unit – this column displays the storage unit that will be included in the put-away. The data cannot be changed. The storage unit will be determined automatically upon saving.

Status – this column displays the assignment status. Possible statuses are:

• Assignment generated
• Inventory order partially generated
• Inventory order generated

The Assignment generated status is assigned to a new storage location assignment. If an inventory order line item has already been generated for a storage location assignment, it receives the Inventory order generated status. If the  inventory order line item was partially reported and then completed or the assignment quantity was increased after the
complete reporting, the status of the assignment is changed to Inventory order partially generated.

See also chapter Status and status changes.

Application-related actions

The following application-related actions are available in the toolbar of the assignment table:

[All assignments]
[All inventories]
[Find and add warehouse zones]
[Find and add storage locations]
[Recommend empty storage locations]
[Set/remove deletion marker]

All assignments

The assignment table displays all storage location assignments that have already been carried out by the user and for which no inventory order line items have been generated yet. You can find the line items in the Assignment generated status.

The “All assignments” button also displays the storage bin assignments for which warehouse order items have already been created. These items have the status “Stock order partially created” or “Stock order created”.

Using the [All assignments] button, you can additionally view the storage location assignments for which inventory order line items have already been generated. You can find these line items in the Inventory order partially generated
status or the Inventory order generated status.

All inventories

Using the [All inventories] button, you can additionally view all warehouse zones/storage locations or slots that either have an inventory of the line item or show an open reservation.

These new line items constitute default values for storage location assignments. Assigned quantities are recommended with the quantity 0. As soon as an assigned quantity of more than zero is entered and assignments are saved, this line item is saved as a new assignment and is displayed even if the button is not activated. If no quantity is entered, the  recommended line item is automatically removed from the table again, as soon as the button is deactivated.

If a reference line item with a loading unit is open, the button cannot be selected.

Find and add warehouse zones

New line items can be added to the table with the use of the [Find and add warehouse zones] button. An unstructured warehouse zone can be selected. The new line item is saved as a new assignment after entering and saving of a quantity that is greater than zero.

Assignments to warehouse zones are also mentioned in this article under the Storage location assignments term,  although the quantity is assigned to a warehouse zone.

Find and add storage locations

New line items can be added to the table with the use of the [Find and add storage locations] button. A storage location or a slot can be selected. The new line item is saved as a new assignment after entering and saving of a quantity that is greater than zero.

Recommend empty storage locations

This action opens the Recommend empty storage locations dialog window. In this dialog window, a query for the inventory management server is formulated regarding creation of defaults for put-away to empty storage locations. The
query is: How would the inventory of this item be put away at this warehouse on empty locations.

In the dialog window, you can enter the required storage location type and storage location priority as well as the count of the necessary assignments. The action can be limited to one specified warehouse zone.

Using the [Recommend storage locations] button, you can transfer the item, the warehouse, the inventory owner and the four query parameters to the relevant inventory management server. The inventory management server determines the first matching storage locations with the standard put-away logic and returns the information. Then, the dialog window is closed and the corresponding count of line items with empty storage locations is added to the assignment table.

The quantity that has not been assigned yet is equally distributed to the generated line items. The storage location capacity is not taken into account at the time of distribution of the quantity.

Detaild description of fields:

Warehouse – this field displays the warehouse in which the empty storage locations are determined. This entry
cannot be changed.

Warehouse zone – in this field, you can enter the warehouse zone in order to limit the search for empty storage locations.

Storage location type – in this field, you can enter the storage location type in order to limit the search for empty storage locations.

Storage location priority – in this field, you can enter the storage location priority in order to limit the search for empty storage locations.

Count of locations – in this field, you can enter the count of the storage locations for which the inventory management server should  recommend empty storage locations.

Set/remove deletion indicator

This action sets a deletion marker for an assignment. Upon saving, such an assignment is removed together with the storage location reservation. An assignment can only be deleted if no inventory order has yet been generated for the assignment or the inventory order quantity = 0.
If the action is repeated, the deletion marker is removed.

Status and status changes

Storage bin assignments can have the following statuses:

• Assignment generated
• Inventory order partially generated
• Inventory order generated

Assignment generated

A new assignment receives the Assignment generated status. The quantity of an assignment can be changed as required in this status.

As soon as an inventory order line item is generated for this assignment, the assignment receives the Inventory order generated status. If an inventory order line item is reported, the status is not changed.

Inventory order partially generated

If a partially reported inventory order line item is completed without reporting, the status is changed to Inventory order partially generated. Another inventory order line item can be generated for such an assignment. Then, the status is again changed to Inventory order generated.

The assigned quantity can be increased to any quantity in this status, but it can be reduced only down to the inventory order quantity. The status then changes to Inventory order generated.

Inventory order generated

As soon as an inventory order line item is generated for this assignment, the assignment receives the Inventory order generated status. If an inventory order line item is reported, the status is not changed.

If a partially reported inventory order line item is completed without reporting, the status is changed to Inventory order partially generated. Another inventory order line item can be generated for such an assignment. Then, the status is
again changed to Inventory order generated. As soon as the second inventory order line item is reported, the  assignment achieves the end status (Inventory order generated status).

If the total receipts quantity has not yet been assigned for the reference line item, the quantity in this assignment can be still increased. Then, the assignment status is changed back to Inventory order partially generated.

The assigned quantity can only be increased in this status, but only if all inventory order line items are completed.
Upon increasing, the status is changed to Inventory order partially generated.

Customizing

The following functions are relevant for the [Assign storage locations] action in main function Inventory management in the Customizing application:

Storage location control – this function must be active so that you can assign storage locations.

Identifiers – if this function is active, you can create storage location assignments for identifier-managed items. If this function is not active, the columns for entering identifiers are not visible.

Business entities

The following business entity is relevant for the Assign storage locations application, which you use, for example, to

• assign authorizations
• set up activity definitions or
• import or export data

Storage locations assignment: com.cisag.app.inventory.obj.StorageAssignment

Authorizations

Authorizations can be assigned by means of authorization roles as well as by assigning an organization. The authorization concept is described in the technical article Authorizations.

Special capabilities

There are no special capabilities for the Assign storage locations application.

Organization assignments

An organization assignment is not required for the Assign storage locations application.

Special features

The following special features must be taken into account for the Assign storage locations application:

If a user wants to assign storage bins or change existing assignments in the “Goods receipts” application, they need authorization to change the business entity for both the business entity of the goods receipt and the business entity of the storage bin assignment.

If a user wishes to assign storage locations in the Receipts of goods application or change the existing assignments, he/she needs, both for the business entity of the receipt of goods and for the business entity of the storage location assignment, authorization for changing the business entity. The same applies to the Inventory requisitions application.

Business entity for the receipt of goods: com.cisag.app.purchasing.obj.ReceiptOfGoods

Business entity for the inventory requisition: com.cisag.app.inventory.obj.WarehouseOrder

Authorizations for business partners

The Assign storage locations application is not released for business partners.