Using the Order Release Request Run Control

The Order Release Request process can release orders in the unfulfilled and releasable states to the released state in order to start the picking process. With the auto-processing feature, the Order Release Request run control can send the order farther downstream to the confirmed, shipped, or depleted states. The picking process can involve generating:

  • A picking plan (SQR) report.

  • A picking extract file for downloading into an electronic data collection system that allows bar code-driven picking.

  • The Shipping Order Release EIP to send order data to a third-party system.

  • Shipping carton labels which can be applied to each carton and provide shipping information for shipping personnel and carriers, build shipping containers, and provide customer-specific information identifying items within the cartons.

  • Item usage labels to aid in the tracking of material usage.

The Order Release Request process can take the following actions on the selected demand lines:

  • Create Allocations: The order release process uses the specified picking rules to determine the most appropriate material storage location from which to pick each item, then creates an allocation to reserve the requisite quantity in the storage location. This is known as a push or system-defined picking plan.

  • Make Suggestions: The order release process suggests storage locations from which to pick each item but does not make an allocation. Because there is no allocation of quantity, the picker is not limited to a specific location, nor is the item necessarily excluded from other order release processes or picking plans. When picking is complete, the picker enters the actual storage location information using the Material Picking Feedback page, the Shipping/Issues - Picking Feedback page, or an electronic data collection device. This is known as a pull or user-defined picking plan.

  • Release Only: The order release process puts the selected demand lines in the released state and assigns a pick batch ID but does not allocate or suggest storage locations for picking.

    This action can improve system performance when using the Shipping Order Release EIP.

  • Regenerate Output: The order release process reprints one or more pick plans that have already been created.

  • Return to Releasable: The order release process returns the selected demand lines in the Releasable state and can remove any allocation of stock to the lines.

    You have the option to keep any allocation by using the Keep Lot Allocations, Keep Pre-Allocations, and Keep All Allocations check boxes in the Selection Criteria group box.

  • Return to Unfulfilled: The order release process returns the selected demand lines in the unfulfilled state and removes any reservation and allocation of stock to the lines. You have the option to keep any reservation or allocation by using the Keep Reservations, Keep Lot Allocations, Keep Pre-Allocations, and Keep All Allocations check boxes in the Selection Criteria group box.

The Order Release Request process page uses the default parameters defined at the SetID level, inventory business unit level, and unit/item ID level. Most options for order release are defined on the Setup Fulfillment component and the Setup Item Fulfillment component. To use the Order Release Request, you need to establish the following default parameters:

  1. Define fulfillment engine default values at the SetID level for the Order Release Request process using the Fulfillment Engine Options page.

  2. Establish default order release options for the business unit.

    Define order release defaults, including picking rules and selection criteria, on the Setup Fulfillment page, the Setup Fulfillment-Order Release page, and the Setup Fulfillment-Fulfillment Task Options page. These options govern basic picking operations for the entire business unit.

    If you are using an electronic data collection system, define defaults for creating picking extract files and labels on the Setup Fulfillment-Electronic Fulfillment page and the Setup Fulfillment-Pick Plan Label page.

    If you are using an external materials management system that receives the Shipping Order Release EIP, select the Use External Warehouse Control option on the Inventory Definition - Business Unit Options page.

  3. Define any criteria particular to a specific item in the business unit.

    To set up different order release options for a specific item, override the business unit defaults on the Setup Item Fulfillment page.

  4. Establish parameters for an individual order release process.

    Using the Order Release Request process page and its subsidiary pages change the default values and add additional parameters for a specific run control. These parameters determine which orders appear on the report, how orders are sorted, and whether the Order Release Request process generates a picking plan (SQR) report with a full picking plan or just a location summary. To pick a subset of the eligible orders, select individual orders on the Order Release Selection group box.

    If you have an electronic data collection system, use the links from the Order Release Request process page to the File Overrides page to change the default information for the picking extract file and any labels that you want to generate.

Page Name

Definition Name

Usage

Order Release Request Page

RUN_IN_FULFILL_RLS

Enter search parameters and settings to release demand lines to the released state and generate picking plans, picking extract files, generate item usage and carton labels, and launch the Shipping Order Release EIP.

Rule Overrides Page

IN_FUL_RLS_RO_SEC

Review or change the default picking options from the Order Release Run Time Options group box on the Setup Fulfillment-Order Release page.

Additional Options Page

IN_FUL_RLS_AO_SEC

Select additional options for sorting and printing the picking plan and the picking plan's location summary.

Processing Controls Page

INV_PROCESS_SEC

Review or change the fulfillment engine processing options defined for the Order Release Request on the Setup Fulfillment-Fulfillment Task Options page by selecting the Processing Options link on the Order Release Request page.

The Pass-through Level field on this page has no impact on the picking portion of the process.

Fulfillment Engine Options Page

INV_FUL_DFLT_BU

Review the fulfillment engine processing options defined for the Order Release Request on the Setup Fulfillment-Fulfillment Task Options page by selecting the View Process Defaults link on the Order Release Request page.

File Overrides Page

IN_FUL_RLS_EX_SEC

Review or change the file directory and file name for the picking extract file, item usage labels, or carton labels. The default values are set on the Setup Fulfillment-Electronic Fulfillment page.

Order Release Detail Page

IN_FUL_RLS_OD_SEC

View order line information for the orders that appear on the Order Release Selection group box.

Use the Order Release Request page (RUN_IN_FULFILL_RLS) to enter search parameters and settings to release demand lines to the released state and generate picking plans, picking extract files, generate item usage and carton labels, and launch the Shipping Order Release EIP.

Navigation:

Inventory > Fulfill Stock Orders > Picking > Order Release Request

This example illustrates the fields and controls on the Order Release Request process page (1 of 2). You can find definitions for the fields and controls later on this page.

 Order Release Request process page (1 of 2)

This example illustrates the fields and controls on the Order Release Request process page (2 of 2). You can find definitions for the fields and controls later on this page.

 Order Release Request process page (2 of 2)

Field or Control

Description

Business Unit and To Business Unit

If this run control should process one PeopleSoft Inventory business unit, enter the unit in the Business Unit field. If you want to process a range of business units, enter the starting unit in the Business Unit field and the ending business unit in the To Business Unit field. The system processes all Inventory business units, sorted alphanumerically, that fall between the starting and ending unit.

All Business Units

Select to process all PeopleSoft business units in this run control.

Action

Defines the action to be taken by the Order Release process. The options are:

  • Create Allocations: The order release process uses the specified picking rules to determine the most appropriate storage location from which to pick each item, then creates an allocation to reserve the requisite quantity in the storage location.

    This is known as a push or system-defined picking plan.

  • Make Suggestions: The order release process suggests storage locations from which to pick each item but does not make an allocation.

    Because there is no allocation of quantity, the picker is not limited to a specific location, nor is the suggested location necessarily excluded from other order release processes or picking plans. When picking is complete, the picker enters the actual storage location information using the Material Picking Feedback page, the Shipping/Issues - Picking Feedback page, or an electronic data collection device. This is known as a pull or user-defined picking plan.

    Note: If you work with an electronic data collection application that transfers material from a material storage location to a shipping area before sending the shipping transaction, use the Make Suggestions action.

    Note: When picking serialized items using an electronic data collection system, a push picking plan directs the picker to a specific set of allocated serial numbers. This may present a problem if the specified items are not easily retrieved, as serial number substitution can result in a transaction error if the alternate serial number has been allocated for another plan. For this reason, you may also want to use a pull plan for serialized items.

    Note: The Make Suggestions action cannot be used for return to vendor MSRs.

  • Regenerate Output: The order release process reprints one or more pick plans that have already been created. When you select this option, the Selection Criteria group box changes to include a Select Released check box and a Select Confirmed check box. Once you have choose the fulfillment states of the demand lines you want to reprint, select the Specific search criteria to display the Pick Batch ID and To fields along with the Release Instance field. Enter either a range of pick plan IDs or to regenerate output for all demand lines released in a previous run of the Order Release process, use the Release Instance field. The demand lines that appear on the preprinted pick plan are controlled by the Select Released and Select Confirmed check boxes.

    Note: If you elected to create an extract file when you reprint a pick batch ID, the system sets the reprint flag on the extract file.

    This enables the data collection system to identify the new file as a replacement for the original version. The Shipping Order Release EIP sets the REGEN_ORDER_TRANS flag when regenerating output with the Shipping Order Release selection.

  • Release Only: The order release process puts the selected demand lines in the released state and assigns a pick batch ID but does not allocate or suggested storage locations for picking.

    This action can improve system performance when using the Shipping Order Release EIP.

    All return to vendor MSRs are processed as Release Only The Order Release Request run control can only process a return to vendor MSR if there is an existing pre-allocation to the material storage location containing the returning stock.

  • Return to Releasable: The order release process returns the selected demand lines in the Releasable state and removes any allocation of stock to the lines. In your selection criteria, you must specify a pick batch ID, release instance, or order selection.

    You have the option to keep any allocation by using the Keep Lot Allocations, Keep Pre-Allocations, and Keep All Allocations check boxes in the Selection Criteria group box.

  • Return to Unfulfilled: The order release process returns the selected demand lines in the Unfulfilled state and removes any reservation and allocation of stock to the lines. In your selection criteria, you must specify a pick batch ID, release instance, or order selection.

    You have the option to keep any reservation or allocation by using the Keep Reservations, Keep Lot Allocations, Keep Pre-Allocations, and Keep All Allocations check boxes in the Selection Criteria group box.

Auto-Processing Option

Select the auto processing option to move your orders downstream to the desired state. Options include:

  • Use Auto-Processing Default: Select to have the system use the auto-processing option defined for the Order Release Request process on the Setup Fulfillment-Fulfillment Task Options page (business unit level).

    If no value is entered, then use the value in the Fulfillment Engine Options page (SetID level).

  • No Auto-Processing: Select to have the system only complete the Order Release process that you are initiating on the current page.

    No additional processing will be launched.

  • Advance to Confirmed: Select to automatically process the orders to the picking confirmed state.

  • Advance to Shipped: Select to automatically process the orders to the shipped state.

  • Advance to Depleted: Select to automatically process the orders to the depleted state.

Auto Pick

Select this check box to use the pick action Create Allocations and to automatically set the Confirm Flag to yes. If the confirmed flag is set to yes, then the line can advance to a confirmed, shipped, or depleted state without going through picking feedback.

Validate Delivery

Select an option to validate the deliveries in this process run. The process confirms that the attributes of the delivery and the demand lines that are assigned to the delivery are still valid. The process looks for demand lines on the delivery that do not match the values in the delivery key fields defined on the Inventory Definition - Business Unit Options: Delivery Management page used to build a delivery. For example, if the carrier ID must be the same for all demand lines on the delivery but not all the demand lines have the same carrier ID, then the process produces an error. The process also recalculates the total weight and volume, total number of containers, and total number of packages.

The options are:

  • Do Not Validate: The process does not validate the delivery

  • Reassign/Consolidate: The process validates the deliveries and also removes invalid demand lines from a delivery and places them onto a new or existing delivery. Invalid demand lines are removed only from deliveries with an open status. The process creates new deliveries as needed. Before removing any demand lines from a delivery, the process first verifies that the action is allowed based on the processing rules. The processing rules prevent the removal and reassignment of a demand line to an existing delivery based on certain values in the IN_DELIVERY table. Processing rules prevent addition and removal when; the delivery status is closed or complete, the delivery is out for a freight request (Freight Status field is Rate Requested), a manifest has been created for this delivery (Manifest Status field is Manifest Requested or Manifest Received:), or the Commit Freight for Billing field is Y (yes).

  • Validate Only: The process only validates the demand lines and deliveries. If demand lines are invalid for a delivery, then a message is written to the process log. It does not assign or remove any demand lines from deliveries. Use the Delivery Management Workbench to reassign any demand lines.

  • Validate/Assign to New: The process validates the deliveries and places any unassigned demand lines onto new deliveries. The process creates new deliveries as needed. Unassigned demand lines are not placed onto existing deliveries. If demand lines are invalid for an existing delivery, then a message is written to the process log. It does not remove any demand lines from deliveries. Use the Delivery Management Workbench to remove and reassign any demand lines.

  • Validate/Auto Assign All: This option is similar to the Validate/Auto Assign Open option except that invalid demand lines can be removed from deliveries in both the open and closed status. The process validates the deliveries, places any unassigned demand lines onto new or existing deliveries, and also removes invalid demand lines from a delivery and places them onto a new or existing delivery. Invalid demand lines are removed only from deliveries with an open or closed status. The processing rules prevent the addition or removal of a demand line to an existing delivery based on certain values in the IN_DELIVERY table. Processing rules prevent addition and removal when; the delivery status is complete, the delivery is out for a freight request (Freight Status field is Rate Requested), a manifest has been created for this delivery (Manifest Status field is Manifest Requested or Manifest Received:), or the Commit Freight for Billing field is Y (yes).

  • Validate/Auto Assign Open: The process validates the deliveries, places any unassigned demand lines onto new or existing deliveries, and also removes invalid demand lines from a delivery and places them onto a new or existing delivery. Invalid demand lines are removed only from deliveries with an open status. The process creates new deliveries as needed. Before adding or removing any demand lines from a delivery, the process first verifies that the action is allowed based on the processing rules. The processing rules prevent the addition or removal of a demand line to an existing delivery based on certain values in the IN_DELIVERY table. Processing rules prevent addition and removal when; the delivery status is closed or complete, the delivery is out for a freight request (Freight Status field is Rate Requested), a manifest has been created for this delivery (Manifest Status field is Manifest Requested or Manifest Received:), or the Commit Freight for Billing field is Y (yes).

See Understanding PeopleSoft Delivery Management and Freight Calculations.

Defer Depletions

Select the value of Override to Yes or Override to No to change the value of the Defer Depletions field on each demand line selected by this page. When this field is left blank, the default value is derived from the Carrier page; if there is no default value on the Carrier page then the system uses the default value on the Setup Fulfillment-Shipping page.

This field does not display if you have selected the value of Do not use this feature on the Setup Fulfillment-Shipping page.

For more information in the Defer Depletions feature, go to the "Shipping Inventory" topic, "Delaying the Billing and Costing of Inventory Shipments" section.

See Delaying the Billing and Costing of Inventory Shipments.

Output Options

Select the reports and files to generate when the Order Release process is run.

Field or Control

Description

Picking Plan

Select to generate the Picking Plan (SQR) report based on the settings under the Additional Options link of this process page.

Picking Extract File

Select to create an extract file containing information generated by the Order Release process. This is an optional file that is sorted according to the options specified on the Order Release Group/Order By group box under the Additional Options link of this process page. The file can be downloaded into an electronic data collection system that allows bar code-driven picking. Define file parameters under the File Overrides link of this process page or on the Setup Fulfillment-Electronic Fulfillment page.

Item Usage Labels

Select to create item usage labels automatically when you print the picking plan. These labels aid in the tracking of material usage. Define file parameters under the File Overrides link of this process page or on the Setup Fulfillment-Pick Plan Label page.

Shipping Order Release

Select to generate the Shipping Order Release EIP. The sort selections available under the Additional Options link of this process page or the Setup Fulfillment-Order Release page do not control the sequence of the orders in the shipping order release transaction. Order release data sent to the third-party system is separated into logical orders based on breaks in the following sort sequence: business unit, demand source, source business unit, order number, customer ID, ship to ID, address sequence code, carrier ID, and ship via. If the address information for an order is modified before order release, the address fields are added to the sort sequence.

Carton Labels

Select to create shipping carton labels automatically when running the Order Release process. These labels (which can be applied to each carton) enable you to provide shipping information for shipping personnel and carriers, build shipping containers, and provide customer-specific information identifying items within the cartons. File parameters for the shipping carton labels are defined under the File Overrides link of this process page or on the Setup Fulfillment-Pick Plan Label page. You can identify the label unit of measure using the Additional Options link of this process page.

Note: When using the processing groups feature, it is important to remember that each processing group creates a separate processing run. When the processing group feature is used with the Shipping Order Release service operation, each separate process group creates a separate pick plan ID, separate picking extract file, separate Shipping Order Release transaction, and separate set of labels. For example, if the Order Release process picks up 1300 demand lines for processing and the processing count is 500 and the processing level is line, then three separate pick plan IDs are produced from the three separate process runs; two groups of 500 lines each and one group of 300 lines. The processing groups feature is defined on the Setup Fulfillment-Fulfillment Task Options page or the Fulfillment Engine Options page.

See Understanding Fulfillment Engine Processing Groups and Commit Levels.

Selection Criteria

Define the search criteria to select demand lines for order release. You can select a wide variety of criteria by using the Specific field to include only those demand lines associated with a specific carrier, item, load, order or range of orders, route or route group, TMS ID, ship to customer or location, or ship via. You can also select Advanced Search Criteria to use a combination of numerous search fields.

Note: Work order created in PeopleSoft Maintenance Management cannot be selected or processed by the Order Release Request process.

Field or Control

Description

Select Unfulfilled

Select this check box to include demand lines in the unfulfilled state that meet the search criteria.

Select Releasable

Select this check box to include demand lines in the releasable state that meet the search criteria.

Note: To retrieve any demand lines in your search criteria, you must select either the Select Releasable check box or the Select Unfulfilled check box. The default values for these check boxes are defined for the Order Release Request on the From States tab of the Setup Fulfillment-Fulfillment Task Options page (business unit level) or the Fulfillment Engine Options page (SetID level).

Backorder Only

Select this check box to include only demand lines that are currently backordered.

Export Shipments Only

Select this check box to include only demand lines that are export shipments.

TMS Lines Awaiting Upload

Select this check box to pick lines that have been downloaded to the TMS and are waiting to be uploaded to PeopleSoft. This check box overrides the check box on the Setup Fulfillment - Transportation Interface page.

Exclude RTVs

Select this check box to exclude return to vendor MSRs from the process run.

To include just return to vendor MSRs, select Advanced Search Criteria in the Selection Criteria group box and then enter the value of Material Return in the Demand Source field. All return to vendor MSRs are processed as Release Only in the Action field, since a pre-allocation exists to the material storage location containing the returning stock.

See Processing Return to Vendor Stock Requests in Demand Fulfillment.

Keep Lot Allocations

Select this check box to keep the lot allocations, if any, on the demand lines when using the Actions of Return to Releasable or Return to Unfulfilled.

Keep Pre-Allocations

Select this check box to keep any pre-allocations created when the demand line was in the Unfulfilled or Releasable fulfillment state. This check box is available when using you select the Actions of Return to Releasable or Return to Unfulfilled.

Keep All Allocations

Select this check box to keep any allocation (pre-allocation, lot-allocation, or standard allocation) currently assigned to the demand line. This check box is available when using you select the Actions of Return to Releasable or Return to Unfulfilled.

Keep Reservations

Select this check box to keep the reservation, if any, on the demand lines when using the Action of Return to Unfulfilled.

Select Orders

Select this check box to open the Order Release Selection group box where you can select to release a subset of the orders meeting the selection criteria.

Date / Time Selection

To narrow the selection even further, you can release orders based on their scheduled shipping dates and times. For example, you might want to pick orders scheduled to ship next week or orders shipping today within the next two hours. These selections can default from the Order Release Date/Time Select group box of the Setup Fulfillment-Order Release page.

Field or Control

Description

Date/Time Range

The order release process includes demand lines scheduled to ship within the specified From and Thru parameters. For example, you could release orders for picking that are scheduled to ship between 8 a.m. next Monday and 5 p.m. next Friday.

Lead Days/Minutes

The order release process includes demand lines scheduled to ship on or before today's date, plus the specified picking lead time entered in the Lead Days and Minutes fields. For example, you could release to picking orders scheduled to ship tomorrow at 3:00 p.m. by using the values 1 day, 180 minutes (if the current time is 12:00 p.m.).

Note: If the business unit requires closure calendar validation for shipping activities as defined on the Closure Calendar page, and the calculated scheduled ship date falls on a defined closure date, the system adds one day for every closed day to the picking lead time to compare against the scheduled ship date. Times are not included in these calculations.

Today/Until

The order release process includes demand lines scheduled to ship today until the specified time.

Locations Selected By

These options determine the manner in which the order release process suggests storage locations from which to pick stock.

Field or Control

Description

Picking Rules

Select to use the picking rules defined by the picking algorithm entered in the Location Option field of the Setup Fulfillment-Order Release page or defined for the individual item on the Setup Item Fulfillment page.

Rules Override

Select this link to access the Rule Overrides page where you can review or change the default picking options from the Order Release Run Time Options group box on the Setup Fulfillment-Order Release page.

Default Shipping Location

Select to use the Default Ship Location defined on the Setup Fulfillment-Shipping page or defined for the individual item on the Setup Item Fulfillment-Shipping Options page.

Specific Location

Select to define the material storage location in the fields to the right.

Single Location Only

Select to have the picking plan suggest only one material storage location for picking each demand line. This check box is applied when you select either the Default Shipping Location option or the Specific Location option (above).

Order Release Selection

This group box can limit picking to a subset of the orders meeting the selection criteria. Click the Select Orders button to retrieve all orders that match the search criteria entered above on this Order Release Process page, then you can select individual orders to be released. This option is particularly useful when time is short or when you want to reduce the picking workload to small batches that are easily handled by a single picker. Detailed information for each order that you select is available on the Order Release Detail page.

Note: Although you select orders based on order numbers rather than on specific order schedule lines, only schedules meeting the selection criteria are actually released, and only these schedule lines appear on the Order Release Detail page. For example, suppose that you release orders using item A. Two of the schedule lines on the order contain item A and the third schedule line contains item B. According to this group box, the order can be released for picking, but only the two schedule lines containing item A are actually picked. Therefore, depending upon the selection criteria, a single order can be split among multiple picking plans.

When you save this Order Release Request process page after selecting individual orders in the Order Release Selection group box, PeopleSoft Inventory automatically assigns a unique pick release ID to the active run control and to each selected demand line. The Order Release Request run control will process only the demand lines associated with this pick release ID. If you do not select individual orders in the Order Release Selection group box, the run control processes all demand lines that meet the selection criteria.

The pick release ID gives you the flexibility to exit and reenter the Order Release Request process page without reselecting orders. When you click the Select Orders button, the system retrieves any previously selected orders in addition to those matching the current search criteria. The system assigns any new orders to the same pick release ID that you assigned to the original selections. After you run this Order Release Request run control the system resets the pick release ID to 0. The system also resets the ID for any demand lines that you cancel before running the process.

Field or Control

Description

Select Orders

Click this button to search for orders that meet the selection criteria and place them in the Order Release Selection group box where you can select to release a subset.

Sel

Select the check box for each order that you want to release.

Order Group

This information appears if the installation includes PeopleSoft Order Management and the order source is OM.

Total Weight and Total Volume

These values appear (along with the number of pieces) if you selected the Show Total Pieces check box on the Setup Fulfillment-Order Release page and enter the weight and volume units of measure in the Setup Fulfillment page.

If the options to show totals for weight, volume, and number of pieces are active for the business unit, the system adds these parameters for all selected orders and displays the grand totals at the bottom of the page.

Use the Rule Overrides page (IN_FUL_RLS_RO_SEC) to review or change the default picking options from the Order Release Run Time Options group box on the Setup Fulfillment-Order Release page.

Navigation:

Select the Rule Overrides link on the Order Release Request page.

This example illustrates the fields and controls on the Rule Overrides page. You can find definitions for the fields and controls later on this page.

 Rule Overrides page

Field or Control

Description

Use Default Values

Select to use the default picking options from the Order Release Run Time Options group box on the Setup Fulfillment-Order Release page. Clear this check box to change the picking options for this run control.

Location Option

Review or change the directed picking algorithm:

  • Container Option: Pick from single-item containers.

  • Default Putaway Location: Pick from the default putaway locations assigned on the Default Putaway Locations page.

  • Default Shipment Location: Pick from the Default Ship Location Option assigned on the Setup Item Fulfillment-Shipping Options page, or if no location is assigned at the business unit/item level, pick from the Default Ship Location Option assigned on the Setup Fulfillment-Shipping page (the business unit level).

    If available quantity is not found at the Default Ship Location then the All Available Locations option is used.

  • Fixed Pick Location: Pick from the sequence of fixed picking locations assigned on the Fixed Picking Locations page.

  • Pick by Date: Sort locations containing lot-controlled or staged date-controlled items chronologically and pick according to the specified Date Option.

  • All Available Locations: Select picking locations based on the defined picking zones (in order of priority) and on the specified Tiebreaker.

Date Option

If you select Pick by Date in the Location Option field, select one of these options:

Earliest Available Lot (FIFO): Pick from locations containing lots with the earliest creation dates.

Earliest Expiration Date (FEFO): Pick from locations containing lots with the earliest expiration dates.

Earliest Staged Date (FIFO): Pick from locations containing items with the earliest staged dates.

Latest Staged Date (LIFO): Pick from locations containing items with the most recent staged dates.

Tiebreaker

If you select Container Option, Pick by Date, or All Available Locations in the Location Option field, specify a tiebreaker to be used when multiple storage locations qualify for picking:

FL (fewest locations): Pick from the fewest locations possible, beginning with those containing the most available quantity.

PC (pick to clear): Empty locations whenever possible, beginning with those containing the least available quantity.

Shortage Release Option

Select a shortage release option for situations where there is not enough available stock to fulfill the planned release quantity. Shortage release options are:

  • Release Shortage: Release demand line to picking as a shortage.

    The system sets the demand line to the released state and assigns a pick batch ID. If you choose the Action of Create Allocations on the Order Release Request process page (push pick plan), the system allocates any quantity available to the demand line. This option is useful when stock is often received into the business unit after the pick plans have been run or when you want to float the shortage downstream to print on the shipping documents as a zero or partial shipment.

  • Do Not Release Shortage: Do not release the demand line to picking if there is a shortage.

    The system does not allocate any partial quantities and the demand line is not set to the released state.

  • Use Partial Quantity Logic: This option further defines a shortage using the demand line's Partial Quantity flag.

    If there is not enough available stock to fulfill the demand line and the Partial Quantity flag is set to no, then do not release the demand line. In addition, if there is zero available stock, then do not release the demand line. If the Partial Quantity flag is set to yes and there is a quantity greater than zero available, then release the demand line.

Note: If the demand line is released with an available quantity less the planned release quantity, then the label (shortage) is printed next to the planned release quantity on the picking plan.

Print Substitutes

Select to have the picking plan list alternate items that can be used to fulfill the order. For order lines that allow substitutions and have insufficient quantity available to fulfill the order, any substitute items that can fulfill the order line are listed on the picking plan under the requested item in order of priority. Selecting this option also includes substitute items on bar-coded picking plans and picking extract files.

Print options include Print All the Time, Print At Partial, and Print At Zero.

Use Fixed Pick Workflow

Select if you are using the Fixed Pick Location algorithm and you want the picking plan to initiate the Fixed Pick workflow automatically whenever there is insufficient quantity in the fixed picking locations to fulfill an order.

Role Name

Indicate who should be notified when the Fixed Pick workflow is activated. The role that you assign refers to a type of position—a supervisor or manager, for example—rather than an individual person.

Route Control Type

Specify the level of your organizational structure to which the workflow should be directed. You could, for example, indicate that the workflow affects supervisors at the business unit level.

From Value and To Value

Use to narrow the route control selection. For example, you could specify that the workflow affects only supervisors in a particular business unit.

Use the Additional Options page (IN_FUL_RLS_AO_SEC) to select additional options for sorting and printing the picking plan and the picking plan's location summary.

Select to print bar codes and bar code control flags.

Navigation:

Select the Additional Options link on the Order Release Request page.

This example illustrates the fields and controls on the Additional Options page (1 of 2). You can find definitions for the fields and controls later on this page.

 Additional Options page (1 of 2)

This example illustrates the fields and controls on the Additional Options page (2 of 2). You can find definitions for the fields and controls later on this page.

 Additional Options page (2 of 2)

Order Release Group/Order By

Specify up to three sort levels for the order release and picking plan report. Within each level, you can sort by address sequence number, carrier, freight terms, item, load, load stop number, ship to location (for internal orders and interunit transfers), order number, order priority, parent product ID (product kit), route, route stop, ship to customer (for external, intercompany transfers, and sales orders), ship via, and TMS reference ID. For example, you might want to sort the picking plan first by carrier ID, then sort the orders assigned to each carrier by order number, and then sort the lines of each order by item ID.

For each level, indicate whether the results should appear in Ascending or Descending order.

Field or Control

Description

New Page

Select this check box to insert a page break at this sort level.

New ID

Select this check box to create a new pick plan ID at the first sort level

Allow Split

If using the processing groups feature (defined on the Setup Fulfillment-Fulfillment Task Options page or the Fulfillment Engine Options page), this check box controls how the processing group is split.

  • If you select this check box, then the processing group count is strictly maintained and a separate processing group is created for additional demand lines even though a break in the first sort key has not been reached.

    For example, let's assume your processing group is 1000 lines and your sort key is Carrier ID. You have 1200 lines to be processed that all use the same carrier. If you select this check box, then the process has two processing groups; one group with 1000 lines and a second group with 200 lines. Both processing groups have the same carrier ID.

  • If you clear this check box, then the processing group includes all demand lines within the selection criteria until there is a break in the first sort order key.

    For example, let's assume your processing group is 1000 lines and your sort key is Carrier ID. You have 1200 lines to be processed that all use the same carrier. If you do not select this check box, then the process has one processing group of 1200 lines.

Note: When using the processing groups feature, it is important to remember that each processing group creates a separate processing run. When the processing group feature is used with the Order Release process, each separate process group creates a separate pick plan ID, separate picking extract file, separate Shipping Order Release transaction, and separate set of labels. For example, if the Order Release process picks up 1300 demand lines for processing and the processing count is 500 and the processing level is line, then three separate pick plan IDs are produced from the three separate process runs; two groups of 500 lines each and one group of 300 lines. Within each processing group, the demand lines are sorted according to the criteria in the Order Release Group/Order By group box.

See Understanding Fulfillment Engine Processing Groups and Commit Levels.

Note: If the Use External Warehouse Control option is active for the business unit, these sort options do not affect the sort and breakout of the keys used to send records to the WMS application.

Field or Control

Description

Print Kit Header

Select this check box to include a product kit subheading on the picking plan report. When your demand lines contain kit components, the pick plan report generates a subheading with the product kit ID, description, and any other information common to all the kit component demand lines. The kit component demand lines are grouped below the kit heading and include the item's quantity and UOM to be applied per kit assembled or order (quantity per information); for example, 1 EA per ASY. In addition, if you have selected the Print All Quantity Fields value in the Print Pick Quantity Only field on this page, then the Kit Quantity Requested is printed in the kit header. This value is the total number of product kits requested on the order line.

If you do not select this check box then the product kit ID and description are printed within the item's pick line.

This check box is only available if you have selected Parent Product ID (product kit ID) for any of the three Sort Order fields.

Location Summary Option

If you are using a push picking plan (the Action of Create Allocations on the Order Release Request page), you can print a Location Summary report with or without a full Picking Plan report. The Location Summary report sorts the demand lines according to where the items are physically stocked within the warehouse (Inventory business unit). The layout of the printed report reflects the actual positions of stock to be picked, enabling your personnel to fulfill all orders on the picking plan without revisiting locations. The Location Summary report includes two different sorts:

  1. Sort Order: This sort is based on the physical location table (PHYSICAL_INV) that contains the location, quantity, and other details about every item stocked within each inventory business unit. You can select up to three sorts related to the physical location table. For example, if you select Area, as the highest-level ascending sort order, the Location Summary report groups together all demand lines to be picked from storage area A, then groups all lines to be picked from storage area B, and so on. In addition to the layout of the business unit (for example, zones, storage areas, material storage locations), you can also select sort order values based on the stock stored within the business unit, including; item ID, lot ID, serial ID, staged date, and so on.

  2. Location Detail Sort Option: This sort is based on the demand fulfillment tables (IN_DEMAND and its child records) that contain information on the order itself, such as, order number, customer, or carrier. This sort occurs within the higher-level Sort Order. For example, if you select Area, as the highest-level ascending sort order and Order No as the highest-level ascending location detail sort option, then the Location Summary report groups together all demand lines to be picked from storage area A and, within storage area A, sorts the demand lines by order number, and next groups all lines to be picked from storage area B, and within B sorts the demand lines by order number, and so on.

For each location to be picked, the report displays a row with the full information, including; zone, ASRS ID, material storage location, item, lot, serial, staged date, storage container, quantity to be picked, and the stocking unit of measure (using the sort order). Below this row, the order demand lines are displayed (using the location detail sort option). For example, if you are picking lot-controlled stock using sort orders of storage location and then lot with a location detail sort option of order no, then the Location Summary report might look like this:

Storage Area A, Aisle 42, Cabinet 12, Shelf 3 (the material storage location), Item ID LT5001, Lot ID 3000, 25 EA (the quantity to be picked and stocking UOM)

Order 1, Line 1

Order 1, Line 2

Storage Area A, Aisle 42, Cabinet 12, Shelf 3, Item ID LT5001, Lot ID 3001, 50 EA

Order 1, Line 1

Order 1, Line 2

Storage Area B, Aisle 18, Cabinet 55, Shelf 1, Item ID LT5001, Lot ID 7000, 100 EA

Order 2, Line 1

Note: It is possible to complete all of the picking using only the Location Summary report; however, you can only view details such as picking errors or picking line and schedule orders and notes if you print out a full Picking Plan report.

Field or Control

Description

Picking Plan Only, Location Summary Only, and Picking Plan and Loc Summary (picking plan and location summary)

Indicate which version of the picking plan you are printing. Location summary options are only available when you enter the following values on the Order Release Request page:

  1. Enter Create Allocations in the Action field.

  2. Select the Picking Plan check box in the Output Options group box.

Sort Order

Select up to three sorting levels to sort demand lines on the Picking Plan Location Summary report. These sort orders are based on the locations within the inventory business unit (physical location table). For each level, indicate whether the sort is in ascending or descending order and whether a page break should occur.

Values for the highest-level Sort Order field are:

  • ASRS ID: (automated storage and retrieval system ID): Sorts numerically by the ASRS ID number assigned to each material storage location. The ASRS ID is assigned to a material storage location using the Material Storage Locations page.

  • Area: Sorts by storage area within the inventory business unit.

  • Area/Zone: Sorts by storage area and then sorts each storage area by picking zone.

  • Area/Zone/ASRS: Sorts by storage area, then by picking zone, and then by the material storage location's ASRS ID.

  • Area/Zone/Stor Loc: Sorts by storage area, then by picking zone, and then by material storage location.

  • Storage Location: Sorts by material storage location.

  • Zone: Sorts by picking zone.

  • Zone/ASRS: Sorts by picking zone and then sorts each picking zone by the material storage location's ASRS ID.

  • Zone/Stor Loc: Sorts by picking zone and then sorts each picking zone by the material storage location.

Once a value has been used at a higher-level sort order, the same value cannot be repeated in a lower-level sort. The values for the two lower-level Sort Order fields are:

  • ASRS ID: (automated storage and retrieval system ID): Sorts numerically by the ASRS ID number assigned to each material storage location. The ASRS ID is assigned to a material storage location using the Material Storage Locations page.

  • Area: Sorts by storage area within the inventory business unit.

  • Container: Sorts by the storage containers with stock to be picked.

  • Item: Sorts by the item ID of the stock to be picked.

  • Lot: Sorts by the lot ID of the lot-controlled stock to be picked.

  • Serial ID: Sorts by the serial ID of the serial-controlled stock to be picked.

  • Staged Date: Sorts by the staged date of the stock to be picked.

  • Storage Location: Sorts by material storage location.

  • Unit of Measure: Sorts by stocking unit of measure for the stock to be picked.

  • Zone: Sorts by picking zone.

Location Detail Sort Option

Select up to two location detail sort options. The detail sort options are based on values located on the demand line, not the physical locations within the warehouse. For each level, indicate whether the sort is in ascending or descending order. Once a value has been used at the higher-level sort order, the same value cannot be repeated in the lower-level sort.

Values for the location detail sort option fields are:

  • Address Seq Num: Sorts by the sequence number of the customer's address. This option would require that the Ship To option is used as a higher level sort or is used within the selection criteria.

  • Carrier ID: Sorts by carrier on the demand line.

  • Customer ID: Sorts by customer ID on the order.

  • Delivery ID: Sorts by deliver ID used in the delivery management feature to group demand lines that are to ship together.

  • Freight Terms: Sorts by freight term used on the demand line.

  • Load ID: Sorts by load ID assigned to the demand line.

  • Load Stop Number: Sorts by the load stop number. This value is only used if PeopleSoft Inventory is integrated with a TMS (transportation management system).

  • Location: Sorts by location code used for internal orders.

  • Order No: Sorts by the order number assigned on the sales order or material stock request.

  • Order Priority: Sorts by the shipping priority code assigned to sales orders in PeopleSoft Order Management or to interunit transfers coming from PeopleSoft Supply Planning.

  • Parent Product ID: Sorts by the value in the parent product ID field of the demand line. This field is populated when the demand line contains one of the components of a product kit. This sort option groups the components of a product kit together.

  • Route: Sorts by the route code on the demand line. This sort option groups demand lines together with a particular transportation grouping and transportation route used to deliver the order.

  • Route Stop: Sorts by the route code, and then sorts each route code by route stop number. This option would require that the Route option is used as a higher level sort or is used within the selection criteria.

  • Ship To: Sorts by the Ship To Customer ID on the demand line.

  • Ship Via: Sorts by the Ship Via code on the demand line. This sort option groups demand lines together with the same shipping method.

  • TMS Reference ID: Sorts by the TMS reference ID assigned to the demand line during the interface to the transportation management system.

Order Release Print Options

Field or Control

Description

Output Destination Type

Identify the type of output for your picking plan. Options are Email, File, Printer, Web, or Window. This option is used if you do not select the Order Release process from the PeopleSoft Process Scheduler page.

Output Destination Format

Identify the type of format for your picking plan. Options vary depending on the Output Destination Type chosen. This option is used if you do not select the Order Release process from the PeopleSoft Process Scheduler page.

Output Destination

Enter the directory into which you want to save the picking plan. This option is used if you do not select the Order Release process from the PeopleSoft Process Scheduler page.

Picking Notes

If you select the Picking Plan check box to generate the picking plan SQR report, then you can select a message to print at the top of each page of the Picking Plan report:

Broken Pallet First: Instructs the picker to pick any broken pallets first.

Largest Batch First: Instructs the picker to pick the largest batch first.

None: No message prints.

Smallest Batch First: Instructs the picker to pick the smallest batch first.

Print Pick Quantity Only

For each demand line, select to print all the quantity fields on the pick plan or just the pick quantity.

Pick Quantity Option

Select the pick quantity to be displayed on the pick plan. Options are:

  • Use Available Balance: Display only the available balance when there is a shortage.

    For example, if the demand line's planned release quantity is 10 units, but only 6 units are available in inventory, the system displays 6 units on the picking plan.

  • Use Planned Pick Quantity: Display the planned release quantity on the report even if the full planned quantity is not available.

    For example, if the demand line's planned release quantity is 10 units, but only 6 units are available in inventory, the system displays 10 units on the picking plan. This option is useful when stock is often received into the business unit after the Order Release process has been run.

Max Pull/Sub Locations

Indicate the maximum number of storage locations to include on pull picking plans or the maximum number of substitute item storage locations to print on the picking plan. The default value is 6.

Print Bar Code on Report Flag

Select to print code 128-formatted bar codes on the Picking Plan report, so that they can be scanned during the picking process. A bar code containing the pick batch line number and the five optional bar code scanning control flags appears next to the pick batch ID (located in the report's header) and on each detail line.

Print Bar Coded Control Flags

Select to attach an item's control flags to the bar code printed on each line of the Picking Plan report. These control flags enable the electronic data collection system to prompt for the lot ID, serial ID, staged date, line number, or shipping serial ID immediately after the user scans the bar coded line number field. For cases that do not require control flags, such as when you are using a wedge to scan the pick batch ID or pick batch line number bar codes directly onto the Picking page, you may prefer not to activate this option.

The format for the bar code printed for each detail line is LSDAH:99999. The format elements are the following:

  • L = lot ID control flag

  • S = serial ID control flag

  • D = staged date control flag

  • A = actual cost control flag

  • H = shipping serial ID control flag

  • : = constant

  • 99999 = line number

Note: PeopleSoft Inventory delivers printer settings for all SQR output to a generic line printer. However, when printing bar coded information on reports on a PCL printer (HP Laser Jet), you must first define the printer type accordingly. You may do this by changing the printer type settings delivered in SETENV.SQC from LINEPRINTER to HPLASERJET.

Label Unit of Measure

Select the order, standard, or standard pack UOM for the item. This is used to:

  • Define the number of pieces for EIP transactions.

  • Determine how many labels to print when generating carton labels.

    The number of labels printed depends upon how you defined the units of measure when you set up the item.

Use the File Overrides page (IN_FUL_RLS_EX_SEC) to review or change the file directory and file name for the picking extract file, item usage labels, or carton labels.

The default values are set on the Setup Fulfillment-Electronic Fulfillment page.

Navigation:

Select the File Overrides link on the Order Release Request page.

This example illustrates the fields and controls on the File Overrides page. You can find definitions for the fields and controls later on this page.

 File Overrides page

The default values come from the Setup Fulfillment-Electronic Fulfillment page and the Setup Fulfillment-Pick Plan Label page.

Field or Control

Description

Override File

Select to override the default file directory and file name for the picking extract file, the shipping carton labels extract file, or the item usage labels extract file.

The directory is selected according to the following hierarchy:

  1. The file directory that you specify here takes precedence over the default directory.

  2. If you do not specify a directory, the system uses the defaults defined on the Setup Fulfillment - Electronic Fulfillment page and the Setup Fulfillment - Pick Plan Label page.

  3. If no directory is specified on the Setup Fulfillment component, the directory name is the FILEPREFIX specified in SETENV.SQC during the initial system setup. (For information about setting the FILEPREFIX in the SETENV.SQC, see the PeopleSoft Installation and Administration .)

  4. If no FILEPREFIX was specified during system setup, the directory name automatically changes to the current directory on the server or client where the label program is running.

The file is named according to the following hierarchy:

  1. The file name that you specify here takes precedence over the default name.

  2. If you do not specify a name:

    • For the picking extract file, the file is named according to the file prefix and file suffix defined on the Setup Fulfillment-Electronic Fulfillment page, combined with the picking extract file ID (defined on the Inventory Definition - Business Unit Counters page).

    • For the carton labels and item usage labels, the file is named according to the file prefix and file suffix defined on the Setup Fulfillment - Pick Plan Label page.

  3. For the picking extract file, if nothing is specified on the Setup Fulfillment-Electronic Fulfillment page and the Setup Fulfillment - Pick Plan Label page, the picking extract file ID defined on the Business Unit Counters page becomes the file name and the FILESUFFIX specified in SETENV.SQC during initial system setup becomes the file suffix. (For information about setting the FILESUFFIX in the SETENV.SQC, see the PeopleSoft Installation and Administration .)

  4. For the picking extract file, if no FILESUFFIX was specified in SETENV.SQC during system setup, the picking extract file ID defined on the Business Unit Counters page is used as the file name and no suffix is appended.

Use the Order Release Detail page (IN_FUL_RLS_OD_SEC) to view order line information for the orders that appear on the Order Release Selection group box.

Navigation:

Click a linked order number in the Order Release Selection group box of the Order Release Request page.

This example illustrates the fields and controls on the Order Release Detail page. You can find definitions for the fields and controls later on this page.

 Order Release Detail page

Note: Order release processing only retrieves schedule lines that fall within valid scheduled ship dates and times. If the business unit requires closure calendar validation and processing for shipping activities as defined on the Closure Calendar page, and if the picking lead days include closure dates, the system adds one day to the number of picking lead days for every closed day and compares the result to the scheduled ship date. Therefore, the lead days include only open business days. Times are not included in these calculations.

Field or Control

Description

Export

Identifies whether the shipment is a sales order or an intercompany transfer requiring export shipment documents.

Weight and UOM

The weight of the pieces in this order line, expressed in the unit of measure defined on the Setup Fulfillment page.

Volume and UOM

The volume of the pieces in this order line, expressed in the unit of measure defined on the Setup Fulfillment page.

Note: The weight and volume are based on the stocking weight and volume established on the Define Business Unit Item - Inventory: Weight/Volume page; if this information is unavailable, the weight and volume are based on the item weight and volume established on the UOM Weight/Volume page.