One of your ideas has been delivered from your suggestion.Introduce Consolidation API for Warehouse Automation Distribution Flow

We’ve added a new Consolidation API for the distribution flow that allows you to use robotic vehicles, such as AGVs, ASRS etc., to pick into the intermediate LPN. We’ve also added a new Consolidated Pick Requests View UI, where you can monitor the API requests and reprocess failed requests. These provide increased warehouse productivity and free up warehouse employees for more productive tasks.

CONSOLIDATION API FOR PICK AND PACK OPERATIONS 

The new Consolidation API is designed to support the consolidation phase of the consolidation and distribution flow. pick and pack operations.

This API allows for incremental picking and provides a flexible way to manage the consolidation process. Its features and functionality enable efficient and accurate processing of inventory, reducing errors and improving overall supply chain performance.

This API integrates with MHE systems and handles various scenarios, including batch, expiry, attribute, and serial number tracking.

URL

POST ...lgfapi/v10/pick_pack/consolidate/

REQUEST PARAMETERS

The API accepts a JSON payload with the following parameters:

PICK LIST - REQUEST PARAMETERS

These represent the parameters required for a single pick/short:

Name Required Type Default Description
facility_id   Integer   Facility context by id.
facility_id__code   String   Facility context by code.
company_id   Integer   Company context by id.
company_id___code   String   Company context by code.
task_nbr   String   Associated Task.

order_nbr

  

String

  

Internal picking order associated with the consolidation allocations
wave_nbr   String   Associated Wave.
item_alternate_code C String   Item identifier.
item_barcode C String   Item identifier.
qty X Number 0 Quantity to be picked.
batch_nbr   String   batch/lot of inventory to be picked.
expiry_date   String   expiry date of inventory to be picked.
invn_attr_a to invn_attr_o   String   attributes on inventory to be picked.
serial_list{...}   List of strings   serials of the inventory to be picked.
suppress_serial_warning _flg
(refer other API)
   Boolean False  
allocation_uom   String   allocated uom or the non std uom picked, for the consolidated allocation
uom_qty   Number   Filter on Case or Pack quantity when searching for allocations.
distribution_uom C String  

  • "UNITS", if different from the allocation UOM.

  • System assumes alloc_uom if not passed/blank OR

    explicitly passing ORIG_UOM derives the same result.

  • For anything other than alloc uom/units passed or some failure, fall back to units 
pick_location C String   From Active location.
from_container_nbr C String   From container.
to_container_nbr C String   Intermediate IBLPN number to which inventory is being picked into. Not required for short.
mhe_system_code C String   MHE system.
short_flg   Boolean False short_flg = false; Qty sent will be picked/packed.
short_flg= true; Qty sent will be shorted.
reason_code   String   Reason for Short
close_flg   Boolean False  
update_inventory_on_short_flg C Boolean False  

location_barcode

C

String

  

location of type drop, to locate the intermediate LPN. This is conditional and is required when close_flg = Yes.

REQUEST LEVEL FLAGS

Name Required Type Default Description
mhe_mode_flg   Boolean True When true, enforce that "mhe_system_code" is provided.
async_flg   Boolean True Run API asynchronously

VALIDATION AND ERROR HANDLING

The API performs various validations, including:

  • Checking for mandatory parameters and valid inputs
  • Verifying facility and company context
  • Ensuring that the user has the necessary permissions
  • Handling errors and exceptions, including validation errors and internal server errors

CONSOLIDATION API – SUPPORT FOR SUBSTITUTION 

The new Consolidation API now also supports substitution during consolidation, making it easier to manage multiple allocations for different orders with identical SKUs. This feature allows for more flexibility and efficiency in the inventory management process.

The system performs various validations during substitution, including:

  • Item matching
  • LPN status
  • Allocation type and UOM matching
  • Batch number validation, PO number, and shipment number matching
  • Expiry date validation
  • Inventory attributes(a-o) validation
  • PO number, and shipment number matching, if specified on the order detail

After successful substitution, the system updates the respective allocations, source and destination inventory/lpns and order header/details to the appropriate statuses and updates the respective allocated and current quantities accordingly.

EXAMPLE USE CASES

  • Substituting an IBLPN from the same location during picking
  • Substituting an IBLPN from a different location during picking
  • Substituting inventory with different attribute values during picking from an active location or allocated IBLPN

CLOSE INTERMEDIATE IBLPN API  

The Close Intermediate IBLPN API allows you to close an intermediate Inbound LPN and create distribution allocations from it after a successful close. This API is useful when the close is not sent as part of the last pick using the Consolidate API. This simplifies the process of closing intermediate IBLPNs and creating distribution allocations, and provides flexibility in specifying the distribution UOM and the drop location, after close.

URL

Use the POST method to call the API by id, with the required parameters and options:

POST ...lgfapi/v10/entity/iblpn/{id}/close_intermediate/

Request by ID – Options:

REQUEST JSON EXAMPLE

  {

"options": {

        "distribution_uom": "UNITS",

        "location_barcode": "DRP1" },

      

    }

Request by Filters - Parameters:

These represent the parameters required for a single record:

CONSOLIDATION PICK REQUESTS VIEW MODULE  

The new Consolidation Pick Requests View module provides warehouse managers with a centralized interface to monitor and manage API requests sent through the consolidation API. This feature enhances the visibility and control of warehouse operations, enabling managers to track the status of requests, identify errors, and reprocess failed requests.

Key Features:

  • Consolidated Request View: Displays API requests sent through the consolidation API, including details such as facility code, company code, action code, task number, wave number, and more.
  • Error Handling: Displays error messages for failed requests, enabling managers to identify and address issues.
  • Customizable View: Allows users to unhide hidden fields and save their preferred view.
  • Search and Filter: Enables users to search and filter requests based on various criteria, including status, action code, creation timestamp, and more.
  • Export to CSV: Allows users to export visible fields to CSV for further analysis.
  • Reprocess Failed Requests: Enables users to reprocess selected failed requests, with validation checks to ensure successful reprocessing.

SERIAL NUMBER DETAILS

The View Serial Number hyperlink field displays the count of serial numbers sent in the API request. Clicking on this hyperlink opens a new screen displaying detailed serial number information, including facility code, company code, serial number, and more.

The View Serial Number hyperlink provides a single point of reference for tracking API requests and their status and allows you to reprocess failed requests and address errors.

Reprocess Selected Records 

The "Reprocess Selected Records" action button allows you to reprocess failed requests, so that you can efficiently monitor and manage API requests. The system validates the selected records and ensures that only failed requests with the same action code are reprocessed.

ENHANCED MHE DISTRIBUTION PACK API FOR INCREMENTAL PICKING

We’ve enhanced our existing MHE Distribution Pack API, allowing for incremental picking and improved flexibility in managing distribution operations. This provides you improved flexibility in managing distribution operations and Reduced errors due to incomplete or incorrect picks.

INCREMENTAL PICKING

The API now supports incremental picking, enabling you to send multiple pick requests for a single distribution operation.

CLOSE FLAG PARAMETER

 A new close_flg parameter has been added to the request XML data, allowing you to indicate when the last pick is being sent. Set close_flg to true to close the intermediate IBLPN and create distribution allocations.

ALTERNATIVE CLOSE LPN API

  • In case of the race condition, i.e.,a user errorthe user forgets sending the close with the last pick of distribution, you can use the Pick Confirm – Close LPN API as an alternative to close the OBLPN.

Steps to Enable

Review the REST service definition in the REST API guides to leverage (available from the Oracle Help Center > your apps service area of interest > APIs & Schema). If you are new to Oracle's REST services you may want to begin with the Quick Start section.