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axis diplomat 2008 ModulesWarehouse Management ModuleDesigned to improve efficiency in warehouse stock control and provide solutions to a multitude of warehouse management issues, the Warehouse Management module combines technologies such as bar code printing and scanning, wireless networking and handheld computing for real-time data capture.
Can’t find an item you know should be in stock? • Sent the wrong item on an order? • Order not picked or sent because the paperwork got lost? • Re-ordered something that days or weeks later turns up somewhere else in the warehouse? • Can’t tell whether an order has or hasn’t been picked?
The warehouse management module provides an integrated solution to help with these and many other day-to-day warehousing issues.
Key benefits:Positive identification of stock items – Use of bar code technology prevents miss-identification of items during goods received, picking and stock take.
Paperless picking process – Eliminates lost paper! Picking is carried out using handheld computers linked directly to your axis diplomat system.
Real-time operation – From goods received to picking and stock takes, handheld computers update the axis diplomat system in real-time to provide an up to the second picture of stock availability and sales order status.
Speeds data capture – Bar code scanning can be used both to identify items and show traceability information (e.g. serial numbers or batch references) therefore greatly improving efficiency of data capture, and reducing error.
Audit trail – Records information such as the time and date when each item was picked, and by whom.
Real-time information – Capturing data in real-time means that axis diplomat can show real-time information. For example, functions such as Sales Order Monitor are extended to show who is currently picking an order.
 Figure 1: Industrial quality hand-held computing with integral bar code laser scanner, keypad and touch-screen interfaces.
Warehouse OperationFrom the moment an item arrives at your warehouse, the axis diplomat functions running on the handheld computers help to speed up your operations.
ArrivalsHaving identified the purchase order, items can be ‘inwarded’, or received, using either bar-code scanning or the handheld computer’s touch-screen interface.
For those items received from suppliers who do not bar code their products, these can be labeled at the point of receipt. axis diplomat can print the required number of labels for each item, in real-time.
When goods are packed away, you have the option of enforcing the identification of the bin location by scanning a bar coded shelf label (these can also be printed from axis diplomat).
As items are placed into bins axis diplomat’s stock on hand figures are updated. Once a delivery has been received these items can be back-flushed to back-orders awaiting them. These back-orders then automatically appear as ready to be picked.
Picking & DespatchThe picking of orders is again carried out using handheld computers (although the warehouse management module does not prevent mixed operation alongside a paper based picking process).
Picking can be carried out for an individual sales order, or all outstanding items from all orders/backorders, for a given customer account/delivery address. Items are presented to the picker in bin number order to provide the most efficient picking route around the warehouse.
Exceptions such as under picking and over picking quantities can be handled, and more than one operator may pick for the same customer, or even the same sales order concurrently (useful where you have stock split across multiple buildings or floors).
Picking sessions may be suspended and can be re-started as required, to allow for breaks, or for orders remaining part-picked overnight.
At the end of picking, items can be released directly to an invoice that can automatically send a delivery note to a nominated printer, or to a further stage pending despatch and invoicing.
 Figure 2: Handheld order picking function as seen on handheld computer.
Bar CodingKey to the efficiency of the handheld computers operation is its ability to capture data such as the item reference, bin location, serial number, or batch reference, all by scanning a bar code.
A range of bar code standards is supported including GS1, EAN and UPC; the numerical representation of these is stored against each stock item within axis diplomat. Alternatively you can utilise your own (or your supplier’s) existing stock references represented as bar codes.
Labelingaxis diplomat can produce bar code labels for stock items and for shelves/bins. You can even print labels as a part of the goods received process should you have suppliers who do not bar-code stock, or where you undertake re-packaging or manufacturing yourself.
A range of bar-code labeling solutions are available, covering label formats from 25mm x 25mm to 4” x 3”, using either direct thermal or thermal transfer labeling equipment.
Please discuss your exact labeling requirements with us as this functionality is very specific and implemented for particular hardware.
Stock Rotation, Traceability & “Best Before End” Datesaxis diplomat systems that also have the stock traceability module, will find the functionality extended to maintain traceability information throughout these processes.
Supported options include serial number or batch number reference (with or without Certificate of Conformity). Batch traceability includes support for best before dates, and rotation of stock by best before date, or FIFO (forcing picking of the oldest received batch first).
Trace information (i.e. the serial or batch number) can be scanned from a bar code or entered using a keypad. Again, for suppliers who do not bar code, axis diplomat can generate bar coded labels that include the trace information to speed later identification.
Stock TakingStock-takes can be carried out using either paper based or handheld computers. The stock-take can include all items in a warehouse location, a range of products, or a bin location. Stock-takes can be executed by taking a ‘snapshot’ or ad-hoc (perpetual stock-taking).
The system records stock-take activity and includes indicators showing items counted, approved and those requiring a re-count.
The stock-take can be supervised from the stock-take monitor (shown below). An audit trail of individual counts is retained in the system together with the appropriate user id.
 Figure 3: Stock-take monitor showing real-time information on the progress of the stock-take by bin location.
Management & ReportingMonitoring functions provide real-time information on outstanding sales orders and warehouse activity. An order’s picking status and the operator ID are shown and updated on screen. Warehouse supervisors can assign specific orders to specific operators, orders can be picked in chronological order or by specific sales order number.
Sales orders can be assigned as Normal, Low or High priority, either as they are entered or at a later time. The priority is reflected in the order in which they are shown in the monitor function.
Credit control on an account can automatically affect the picking status of an order; this can change when an event occurs such as a customer account being taken off credit Hold, or an individual order being taken off Stop.
Reporting includes picking reports that show the Date and Time at which each individual item was picked, and also identify the operator. This information is also available from within the axis diplomat ODBC interface, thus allowing you to develop your own custom reporting. An alternative is to use the Business Intelligence module to drill into information.
Purchasing InformationThe axis diplomat Warehouse Management Module software is available for axis diplomat 2006 or later. Part code AXDB1AMWMM.
You will also need a Wireless network infrastructure, Microsoft Terminal services and handheld computers together with axis diplomat client licenses. Please discuss your exact requirements with us.
You may also like to read about the Despatch and Delivery module by clicking here
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