E-WMS - Multi-user transfers

Introduction

This document describes the functionality of E-WMS 'multi-user' transfers, as introduced in release 410. 

Description

'Multi-user' transfers refers to the fact that transfers scanned in separate issue- and receipt scans, can be handled by two (or more) different warehouse employees. In release 409 and earlier, the receipt scan had to be done by the same person (scanner logon) as the issuer.

From product update 410 it is possible to have transfer receipts scanned by one or more other scanner users. In practice this means:

• a transfer is started in warehouse 'MAIN' by scanner user John, by a 'multi-user' transfer issue in menu 'Transfer from'
• this stock is pending the 'transfer buffer', visible as workload count in menus 'Transfer to' and 'Transfer to one' for users which are allowed to receive 'multi-user transfers'
• the stock is transported from the main warehouse to external warehouse 'EXT1'
• In warehouse 'EXT1', scanner user Pete scans this pending receipt in menu 'Transfer to'

This document contains following sections:

• Transfer basics
• Configure multi-user transfers
• Rules and consequences
• Sample scenario 

Transfer basics

E-WMS Transfers knows following methods of transfers, represented as different scanner menus:

• Transfer from to: stock is transferred directly from one specific warehouse or location to another specific target warehouse or location, in the same session
• Transfer from: only the issue part of the transfer is scanned, the stock is placed in a buffer (in reality: probably a pallet, cart or truck, holding several items to be transferred)
• Transfer to: the receipt part of a buffered transfer (in 'Transfer from') can be scanned, allowing to receive parts in different target warehouses or on target warehouse locations
• Transfer to one: the receipt part of a buffered transfer, but all buffered stock is now transferred to one specific warehouse and/or warehouse location. This option is renamed to 'repacking' when SKU Management is enabled.

After stock has been scanned and issued in 'Transfer from', the 'transfer buffer' is visible as transaction count for menu 'Transfer to' and 'Transfer to one' (the count indicator for 'Transfer to one' is only shown since release 410):

Configure multi-user transfers

To enable the functionality of 'multi-user transfers' following settings are involved:

1. Setting 'Multi-user transfers' in menu System, General, Settings, WMS Transfers.
   This setting enables the 'multi user' functionality for transfers in general. Enabling this setting has following consequences:
   • the transfer scanner settings 'Multi-user issues' and 'Multi-user receipts' become available
   • all transfers scanned in menu 'Transfer from' are saved as separate transactions, whether they are scanned as 'multi-user' issue or not.
     A new transaction ID is created when starting the scan menu again.
     When this setting is disabled, all transfers scanned in 'Transfer from' stay in the same single transaction (as in 409), even when starting 'Transfer from' again.
   • in menu 'Transfer to' and 'Transfer to one' a browser is shown, where the operator can choose the right pending transfer based on the details in the browser
      
2. Settings 'Multi-user issues' and 'Multi-user receipts' in menu System, E-WMS, Scanners, Stock transfers.
   These settings are disabled when the module setting (see above) is disabled.
    
   Multi-user issues
   When set to 'No': transfers scanned in menu 'Transfer to' can only be received in 'Transfer to (one)' by the same scanner user
   When set to 'Yes': transfers scanned in menu 'Transfer to' can only be received in 'Transfer to (one)' by scanner users for which setting 'Multi-user receipts' is enabled
   
   When set to 'Ask user': when ending a transfer in menu 'Transfer to' the question is asked whether someone else will receive this transfer:
   
      
       When answering 'Yes', the transfer can be received by any scanner user for which setting 'Multi-user receipts' is enabled
       When answering 'No', the transfer can only be received by the same scanner user
   
   Multi-user receipts
   This setting determines if the scanner user is allowed to receive transfers which have been issued as 'multi-user' (without specific scanner ID).
   When set to 'No', the scanner user can only receive transfers issued on the same scanner
   When set to 'Yes', the scanner user can receive transfers issued as 'multi-user transfers'
   
   

Rules and consequences

Using multi-user transfers has following rules and consequences:

• The workload count for Transfer menu 'Transfer to' and 'Transfer to one' show the count of following pending transfers:
  • transfers scanned in 'Transfer from' issued by the same scanner while not using 'multi-user' transfers ; and:
  • pending 'multi-user' transfers (when scanner setting 'Multi-user receipts' is set to 'Yes')
     
    
• The 'scanner ID' or scanner user is always the 'issuer' for multi-user transfers in WMS report 'Transaction history' (available after processing the transfer), so the 'receiving' scanner is not visible in this report. The scanner user who scanned the receipt is however stored in table csPickitStatistics.
    
• In scanner menus 'View transfers' and 'Delete transfers', pending multi-user transfer issues are visible only to the creator (the issuer)
   
  
• The browser shown in menu 'Transfer to' and 'Transfer to one' when multi-user transfers is enabled, shows following information:
  • Reference
  • Full name of the issuer (creator of the transfer)
  • Source warehouse
  • 'Maximum' item code within the transfer (alphabetically highest item code)
  • Total quantity of all items in the transfer
  • Number of item codes in the transfer

Sample scenario

Scanner 01 is operating in warehouse 1, and sometimes issues stock to be transferred to warehouse 2.
Transfers from warehouse 2 to 1 are not received by this scanner.
Transfer scanner settings for scanner 01 (specifically linked to scanner 01 in menu System, E-WMS, Scanners, Scanners).     

Scanner 02 is operating in warehouse 2, and can receive stock transferred from warehouse 1, and sometimes transfers stock to warehouse 1.
Transfer scanner settings for scanner 02 (specifically linked to scanner 02 in menu System, E-WMS, Scanners, Scanners).  

Scanner 01 starts a transfer:	In total, 2 item codes are issued:	The transfer is completed:
By answering 'Yes', the transfer is set ready to be received by another user:	Back in the menu, no pending transfers are indicated because for this user, 'multi-user receipts' are disabled:
When receiving the stock in warehouse 2, scanner 02 logs on and sees:	The user selects 'Transfer to one':	The target location is scanned:
and the transfer is completed

Related documents

• Product Update 410: E-WMS 'Multi-user' transfers - scan receipt by other warehouse employee
• WMS start page