Auto-Processing Options

Auto-processing enables you to automate the system steps required to fulfill orders. If you have simple fulfillment requirements, you can streamline all of the steps. If the requirements are more complex, you can choose which steps to automate and which to control manually. Auto processing can be launched from several different process pages, online pages, and EIPs. The default structure for auto-processing can be defined at the business unit level using the Auto-Processing Options tab of the Setup Fulfillment-Fulfillment Task Options page. If the business unit defaults are blank, then the system looks at the SetID level using the Fulfillment Engine Options page. If enabled, the auto-processing option can also be changed for the individual process instance using the process page, online page, or EIP.

The options for auto-processing include:

  • Advance to Released: Select to automatically process the orders to the released state from the Reserve Materials process, Create/Update Stock Request component, the Fulfillment Workbench (when using the reserve action), and Inventory Reservation EIP.

  • Advance to Confirmed: Select to automatically process the orders to the picking confirmed state from the Order Release Request process page, Inventory Picking EIP, the Fulfillment Workbench (when using the pick confirm action), and the Pick Confirm EIP.

  • Advance to Shipped: Select to automatically process the orders to the shipped state from the Order Release Request process page, Inventory Picking EIP, Material Picking Feedback page, the Fulfillment Workbench (when using the pick confirm action), and the Pick Confirm EIP.

  • Advance to Depleted: Select to automatically process the orders to the depleted state from the Order Release Request process page, Inventory Picking EIP, Material Picking Feedback page, Picking Confirmation process, Front-end Shipping Request process, Shipping Request process, the Fulfillment Workbench (when using any action except reserve), and all of the fulfillment engine EIPs except reserve.

Using the Auto Release Run Control

When you use the auto-processing option on the Reserve Materials process, Create/Update Stock Request component, the Fulfillment Workbench (when using the reserve action), and Inventory Reservation EIP, the demand lines can be processed passed the released state by defining a run control ID for the Order Release process in the Auto Release Run Control field located in the Fulfillment Engine Options components. The parameters defined on the Order Release run control are used to process the orders through the Order Release Request process. The run control ID could also release the orders further downstream based on the settings in the Auto-Processing Option field on the run control.

Examples of Auto-Processing Configurations

For example, to streamline the entire fulfillment process using auto-processing:

  1. Define the Order Release run control XYZ and select the Advance to Depleted option in the Auto-Processing Option field of this run control.

  2. Enter the XYZ run control ID in the Auto Release Run Control field located in the Reserve Materials Process row of the Setup Fulfillment-Fulfillment Task Options page. Update the Auto-Processing Options field on this same row to Advance to Released.

This setup tells the system to default the Reserve Materials process page to take demand lines from the unfulfilled state to the depleted state. When you do not need to enter shipping information, you can use this method to streamline the entire fulfillment process, from reservations through depletion, and require little manual intervention. If you choose this fulfillment configuration, you must use the Create Allocations action on the Order Release process page (push picking plan), and you cannot process any picking exceptions that may occur. This configuration is not recommended when processing lot, serial, ship serial, or staged date-controlled items; or if you must enter pro numbers or miscellaneous charges or any other shipping information.

If you want to streamline most of your fulfillment steps but you need to enter picking feedback exceptions, you can:

  1. Define the Order Release run control XYZ and select the No Auto-Processing option in the Auto-Processing Option field of this run control.

  2. For the Reserve Materials Process row of the Setup Fulfillment-Fulfillment Task Options page, select Advance to Released for the Auto Processing Option field and enter the XYZ run control in the Auto Release Run Control field.

  3. For the Materials Picking Feedback or Picking Confirmation rows (or both) of the Setup Fulfillment-Fulfillment Task Options page, select Advance to Shipped for the Auto Processing Option field.

The system then streamlines the reservations, picking, and shipping operations but permits you to enter picking exceptions. In addition, shipping information can be entered on the Material Picking Feedback page or the Picking Confirmation process page.

For more detailed shipping information, you can stop auto-processing in the confirmed state and then use the Shipping/Issues component or the fulfillment engine's shipping request process to enter shipping and picking information. Then use auto-processing to launch the Deplete On Hand Quantity process.

When you want to control the reservations and picking steps but the shipping requirements are simple, you can use auto-processing on the second portion of the fulfillment process. This enables you to use either a push or a pull picking plan and to enter picking exceptions.