CCNews3_1
Release Notes - WDLS 3.1
Table of Contents
Directed Putaway Enhancements – Real Time 10
Release Notes - WDLS 3.1
These release notes explain WDLS 3.1 updates. Release 3.1 of WDLS is bundled for distribution and installation. This release consolidates a substantial number of program updates and enhancements. The following list highlights these enhancements.
EDI Related
Support for Inbound 947's
Inbound 947's are supported this allows the Storer to control stock conditions of inventory in the warehouse. The 947's are brought in and matched to the current inventory. Storers and items are matched to accounts and verified. Standard exit points for verification are supported.
Support for 844's - Externally Supplied Work Orders
Inbound 844's allow customers to deliver work orders for standard kits. This process validates that the Kit and components are valid items for this storer. If they are and if it is not identified as a Kit, the components will be added, and the Work Order created.
Addition of 849's for Work Order Release Completions
Outbound confirmation of the completion of a work order release back to the customer has been added. An attribute is tied to each work order release called 'TRANSMIT' to control which releases have been communicated.
Support for 850's as Purchase Orders
An 850 inbound EDI process was developed to receive these transactions, validate them as is done with all inbound EDI processing, and post them to the purchase order files. Exit points were introduced to support extra data maintenance at both the header and detail levels.
Modifications to the 852 Extract
The capability to send back at the Item/Lot level on the 852 was added. This was accomplished by the addition of the EDP856P2 to the extract and the creation of a new File Set within EXTOL.
Item Matching on 943's Made Consistent - UPC/Tail Codes
The 943 Validation program is now checking against the UPC/Tail Code.
Receipt Synopsis on Inbound 943's
An Inquiry option was added to the Work with Incoming Receivers panel that shows the Inbound Synopsys.
Support of Events and Event Comments for 940's
Event comments were added to the 940 processing programs.
EDI 940 Force Validation Failure
A validation program for 940 processing was added that fails every order. Adding the EDV940/FAIL program to the 940VBODY exit point stops orders from passing through the holding files. Set this Exit Point whenever you don't want stop all orders for all or an individual storer from passing validation and processing into WDLS production. An example of where this may be used is during an inventory.
Treat International Order Consignees as ONE-TIME
Logic was changed to the 940 process to support international addresses using the new internationalized transaction address file structure. If the ONSIGNE zip code is blank, the program will check for an "ST" record in the International Address file for this Bill of Lading. If one is found the validation treats this as a ONE-TIME and allows the Validation.
Support Carrier or SCAC on 945 Extracts
The 945 extracts were modified to support either the carrier code or the SCAC code. The extracts default to SCAC which is consistent with existing mappings. A parameter was added to the extract commands to designate which should be used.
Added Inventory Unit of Measure, UPC & Tail Codes to 846 Stock Status
System Generated Emails
Receipt Confirmation Emails
Total weight was added to the Tally Email format.
The adjustment comments feature was originally given a limited amount of space in an email which could lead to truncation. In Version 3.1, the feature was expanded by creating a separate section for comments so that all comments could be displayed.
Shipment Confirmation Emails
The building address and storer number were added to the list of fields available for inclusion in the order related emails. This was done for customers that ship from different locations or have multiple accounts. All tracking numbers for multiple parcel shipments are now shown in the emails.
Reporting and Inquiries
Charge Total Added to "Work With Special Charges" Panel
Special charges are used more and more. As the number of charges relating to a tally or order increases, getting a handle on the total charges becomes important. A total was added to the "Work With Special Charges" panel for a transaction to address this.
Date Ranges and Variance Percentage Added to Cycle Count Reporting
The cycle count report was modified to accept new parameters for a count date range. An additional parameter was added to suppress counts with no inventory variance. Report totals were added.
Item Aging Extract
An item aging extract was added to the list of self-service web extracts. The standard aging calculator is used to determine the age of the inventory. The extract produces a file with item balances and columns for less than 30, 30, 60, 60, 180, and 365 or more.
Item Balance Report
The item balance report supports parameters that allow you to specify the stock condition you wish to list. There are also parameters to list lot codes or locations. The logic was modified so that lots or locations will only be listed if they have inventory for the specified condition.
Historical Item Balance Report Email Option Added
Parameters were added to the "Historical Item Balance Report" to support creating an extract of the balance data and emailing it to the specified email address.
Zone Filter Added to Map Status Report
A zone filter (Zone Code) was added to the Map Status Report. This simplifies the task of pulling a list of empty locations for a given area of the warehouse or locations of damaged or held stock in that area.
Building Handling Charge Analysis - Scheduled or Actual
The report prompt was modified to allow the selection of scheduled or actual dates for the record selections. This replaces the former parameter that allowed specification of confirmed versus all transactions and provides better support for projected activity and revenue as well as a historical review of actual activity.
Updates to Location & Zone Percent Available Calculations
The percentage utilized calculations were modified to better handle mixed items and lots in a location on the "Work With Warehouse Map" panel. Percentage utilized was also added to the "Work With Warehouse Zones" panel.
Serialized Staging Inquiry - Added Quantity & Totals
A column for the item quantity was added to the serial staging inquiry panel. A total for the quantities was also added to assist the operator in reconciling receiving issues from the warehouse floor.
Addition of Mismatch/Missing Serials Inquiry for Orders
An inquiry panel was added that can be launched from the "Work With Orders" panel to help identify mismatched order configurations when the line item details do not sum to the serial details for that line. For each mismatch, the line number, item, lots, location, quantities, and variance are reported.
Item and Location Status Updates
The location and Stock Status Inquiry panels had several updates to improve the visibility of the real-time quantity in the location. The real-time calculator considers completed moves where the related transaction has not been shipped or the receipt confirmed.
Order Prioritization Enhancements
The "Work With Order Prioritization" panel is used when the 3PL is tasked with managing orders based upon inventory availability. This is sometimes done in a cursory way by pressing a key to automatically assign the priority based upon the scheduled shipment date or can be a more complex manual process that considers the consignee and other customer defined business rules. The <F7>=Prioritize function is now controlled by a "Work With Option" entry. By assigning the option to an individual group or user, a warehouse can control who may use the option.
Shelf-Life Report Email Option
The *EMAIL selection was added to the Shelf-Life Report Prompt.
Web Extract
An extract was developed for self-service retrieval of shelf-life information off the web.
Duration Labels
Item attributes of SHELFLIFE1,2,3-4 were added to control the description displayed on the "Maintain Shelf Life" Panel.
Support for Carrier Sort and Break on the Outbound Activity Report
A carrier sort and break were added to the outbound activity report. *carrier was added as an option for Report Order.
CGI and Web Access
Extensive web capability was added to this release via the CGI interfaces. This will be the future direction of web interfacing and it is beginning to follow the WDLS architecture and core services. The improvements include:
- Multiple account users supported
- Navigation menus with drop-down submenus supported
- Hyperlinks to Carrier Sites for Tracking delivery
- Item Aging Extract Added
- Item Requirements Forecast Added
- Shelf-Life Extract Added
- Account status inquiry - CGI - supports quantity conversions
- Web notes capability supported
Office/CSR
Third Party Billing Support for '3P' Freight Coverage Code
Logic was added to support a new freight coverage code of '3P' for third party. The new address was added to the internationalized transaction address file. During manual entry, if the freight code is 3P, a maintenance panel is displayed to record the address as the second panel in the series when a new order is added. An option was added to "Work With Orders" to maintain the third party address.
Dock Scheduler Enhancements
Dock Scheduler Enhancements include
- Direct entry from tallies/orders/loads
- Ability to print tallies from "Work With Appointments"
- Cross pollination
- Non-exact searches
Other enhancements added related to the Dock Scheduler include:
- Dock Scheduler enhancements were added to support master bills for appointment entry and matching.
- The appointment - Priority - was added to the dock appointment listing.
- A new option was added to "Work With Dock Scheduler" to print the tally-sheet(s) for an appointment.
- A Dock Schedule option was added from "Work With Tallys" to maintain the related appointment.
- Cross pollination of data back to orders, batches, tallies, and all orders on a load were built.
- Masterbill search support and indication of load out were added to the "Work With Appointments" panel.
Work With Load Enhancements
Several load level tools were developed that allow a simple entry to affect all orders on a load like some of the functionality introduced in batching. These include options to update the PRO number (tracking number) for all orders and to place those orders in the move queue.
Added Exit Point to Protect Storer Reference on Tally Maintenance
In an earlier release, an Exit Point of SREFCHG was added to block users from making changes to the storer reference number on orders. This exit point is now checked for warehouse receipts. This has become especially critical in EDI accounts where the storer reference number is used by the client to process our outbound EDI documents.
Account Activity Report New Sort Sequence
A version of the account activity report was produced that runs the prior period activity and sorts it into activity date sequence by date/time rather than item/lot. Totals and daily subtotals are shown for inbound and outbound counts and volumes. This provides an alternative to an item/lot-based activity as a report to substantiate monthly billings.
New Panel Addition to Set UCC 128 Case Label Requirements
Case level labeling has become more and more of a requirement for the UCC 128 type of case label. WDLS supports pallet labels and case labels in its processing and uses an attribute on the order to determine if pallet labels, case labels, or both are to be produced. This is typically set via the inbound EDI document. This panel was revised to allow changes to the setting, or to set the appropriate value in a hand-keyed order.
Add Check for Mandatory PRO Number at Ship Confirmation
An exit point (EXITPOINT=SCPROREQ) was added that when set requires the entry of a PRO number during shipment confirmation.
Recalculate Variable Special Charges at Shipment Confirmation
Logic was added to the shipment confirmation process to automatically recalculate special charges that are variable - based upon quantity, number of lines, etc. While this is already being done by accessorial invoicing, this provides a more up to date charge picture for various inquiries and reports.
Alert the Operation of Stock Issues During Confirmation
A dialog box is now displayed during shipment confirmation if a stock issue is encountered when processing the details of the order.
Allow 24 Hour Window to De-ship an Order
When operations are running multiple shifts and run into issues with orders that were ship-confirmed in error, but could not be de-shipped and corrected, because midnight had passed, the de-ship program was changed to allow de-shipping and order for 24 hours after ship confirmation.
Bill of Lading Body Updates
The logic that builds the body of a bill of lading was modified in this release to include the following:
- Hazmat Placards. - Hazmat placard information can now be defined for hazmat items and the appropriate text will be included in the body of the bill. Hazmat regulations now require secondary/tertiary clauses for a Hazmat item. When specified, these classes will be printed with the proper description after the primary class in parenthesis. One example is: UN2359, Diallylamine, 3, (6J,8), II.
- More Serial Capacity. - The serial capacity was expanded to support detailed lines with up to 1,000 serials per line.
- Support Exit Point for BOL Overlay. - An exit point (BOLOVR) was added to the bill of lading logic, so that different overlays can be used for different accounts. This was introduced because of the need to print the appropriate address for each facility.
Tally sheets - quantity expanded
VICS Bill Number derivation options, can support more than 15 orders on a bill
IT/Setup
Account Import Utilities - Items, Locations, Opening Adjustments, Shelf Life
Utilities were added to streamline the import of new accounts from spreadsheet data. Emphasis was on new accounts and facility setup. Critical key values must be present and in the leading columns of the spreadsheet. The balance of the information is optional and can appear in any order. The first row of the spreadsheet is used to identify the data mapping that will take place. This row contains a list of field names that identify where the column is to be posted. Any field that does not match the field in the resulting file will be ignored. The processes support both adds and updates. When a record is added, the logic checks for a BASE record for default settings. This addresses many of the required fields not supplied in typical import data. For an update, only the fields supplied in the spreadsheet are affected.
Increase Account Restriction Logic
The following WDLS panels were modified to respect account restrictions:
- Work With Inventory Adjustments
- Work With Warehouse Maps
- Work With Locations
- Work With Pick Lines
Adjustment Renumber Tool
A tool was developed that finds holes in the adjustment history and renumbers transactions to compress the missing number and provide additional adjustment entries.
Added charge reasonableness check to Inbound Confirmation
A check was added to the validation process run at warehouse receipt confirmation to determine if the charges associated with the receipt exceed the reasonable value set for the account. If they do, the operator will not be allowed to confirm the receipt. If the storer reasonableness setting is zero, this check will be bypassed.
Added Inbound Events--details?
Hazmat Handling Updates
Secondary hazmat classes are now supported in a hazmat group along with tertiary and quaternary classes. Placard types have been added to the hazmat class file. Proper descriptions have been modified to support the additional classes. The UM code was moved to the front of the proper descriptions per changes to the Federal guidelines.
Support for Mixed Case Item Descriptions
Logic was added to support mixed case item descriptions on the item maintenance panel as well as on the item attribute maintenance panel. Also, searches have been modified to support mixed-case descriptions.
Support for Details on Summary Receiving Invoices
A parameter was added to the summary receiving invoicing process to list line details on the report. In the prior iteration, only a summary was listed for each receipt.
Support for No Charge (NC) Rate Basis
A no-charge basis of “NC" was added to both the storage and handling charge calculators. This makes it far easier to track an item in inventory, but not apply any charges for storage, handling, or both. A common use of this may be for pallets or shipping materials.
Allow Duplicate Inbound Order Reference Numbers (if older than xxx days)
The inbound order processing validation logic was modified to allow for client re-use of reference numbers if the last use of the number was more than a set number of days. An exit point (EXIT POINT =OREFREUSE) was added to specify the number days for re-use by account. If the exit point is not set, the default is 9999 days.
FTP New EXIT POINT - Script Library
A new EXIT POINT (FTPSRCLIB) was created to set up the scripting library for an FTP relationship. Prior to this, the scripts were assumed to be in the library used to exchange electronic data.
Updates to Pallet/Layer Case/Charges (P/L/C) Calculations
Updates have been made to the P/L/C calculations to streamline the setup when no layer charge exists. The PLC charge calculation required cases per tier and tiers per pallet information to calculate loose case quantities. When layer charges are not a part of the rate structure this breakout may not exist. The logic was modified to charge for full pallets and loose cases based upon units of measure if these breakouts do not exist. The line squisher was also introduced to ensure that warehouse created line splits do not impact the loose case equation.
Automated - PRO Number Logic
The original logic for automated PRO number generation was included in WDLS 3.0. Several modifications were made to flesh out the process. Logic was added to auto-generate PRO numbers for loads and cascade the number to the underlying orders. Exit points were added to launch the process to generate and assign the number during bill of lading production and to accommodate custom number generators. NOTE : New Exit Point choices are: BILLPRNT=PBP10R assigns the PRO number and SCPROREQ=checks for a PRO# exit.
Warehouse Operations
Print as You Go Receiving Labels
Logic was built to print receiving labels based upon what was captured during staging. This combined with a tally-sheet that has bar-coded item information from the 856 can be used very effectively to capture stock information during receiving for non-labeled product and produce labels to support put-away and picking activities.
License Plating in the Warehouse
A new inventory model was introduced that utilizes internal license numbers. These license numbers are associated with item/lot/quantity at the time of receipt. The license number is then used to scan the inventory during its time in the facility. A serial adjustment file was introduced to transfer from one license to another, such as when partial picking.
Serial Inventory Validation Enhancements
Serialized floor moves were enhanced to handle mixed pallets and verify that enough of each underlying item is available for the move. Logic was also added to ensure any new location was given the appropriate locater sequence based upon the rules of the account.
Location Auditing Updates
Location auditing gained quite a bit of momentum during the period. In addition to the audits generated during pick operations, based on the remaining quantity and threshold setting, audits were added to the scheduled move logic. More flexibility was added to the audit inquiry and reporting capabilities and tools were created to handle what to do with discrepancies. Improvements were also made due to the real-time logic to reduce reporting of false discrepancies.
Directed Putaway Enhancements – Real Time
Location Freeze
A location freeze option was put into place. This process uses the reservation file to lock a location from being considered for directed put-away schemes. The lockout period can be specified by the user when the freezing is made.
Location Over-commitment
Lots can now be over-committed in RF based pick schemes. If the account is set up to allow any lot from the location to be picked, you are basically supporting a location level of stock commitment. The commit logic will still play by the rules and attempt to commit the oldest inventory. If there is inventory available in that location, the stock will be committed. When the operator picks the stock, they scan the lot they picked up. This can result in a lot being overcommitted. When the last pick on the order is made, logic is executed to reset the order to the actual lots that were picked.
Labor Performance supports load-out activities, enhancements
Operator based ranking by account for labor planning
Labor performance was enhanced to support labor assignments. Labor assignments allow you to specify preferred associates and associate pools for accounts to aid in labor planning.
RF Moves
New Document alert w/appointment info, equipment capacity, assignment updates, 99 IN/TRAN auto-problem, use real-time, prevent over-pick, recover pallet configuration on dropped session, location audit with exit processing, scheduled moves, "any lot" and "not picked" support
A panel displays to alert an operator when they are working on a new order that now contains the dock appointment information.
A move queue load program was added that places the entire amount of a location move onto the queue as a single record. During picking, an operator is asked for their type of equipment and from that, the move is parceled out in a quantity that they can handle.
When orders are forced onto the move queue with insufficient stock, the 99/IN/TRAN moves are automatically set to a problem status.
Real-time calculations are used throughout move processing and auditing. They use move history to keep track of exactly what moves have been completed to return an "actual" quantity.
Edits were added that prevent an operator from recording an over-pick of product.
The logic was modified to recover an open pallet configuration when a user signs back on from a dropped session.
An option was added to record the moves on the queue with "ANY LOT" if the account is set for this. When the operator picks, they record the lot taken as part of the process and that lot is written to the move history.
An option was added to the w/w Move Queue to indicate that a line was not picked. A move history record is written to record this, and any move exit logic is run. This allows order cleanup to occur, which will de-commit the line and set the lot to "Not Picked" which will result in a non-stock (NS) status.
Manufacturing Operations
Kanban Processing Added, commit and auto-print requisitions
Auto-print non-stock requisitions on receipt confirmation
A standard process was created to automatically commit and print labels for back-ordered requisitions upon receipt confirmation.
Performance improvements on auto-build of order from picked requisitions
A new view was added, and the logic improved to significantly reduce the system resources used to identify picked, unshipped requisitions and auto-build and order for shipment.
Requisition Processing supports user accounts
The typical implementation of requisition processing is in a facility supporting a single manufacturing operation. We are now encountering situations where there are discrete projects with their own independent items and independent parts storage. These are handled as separate accounts. The requisition process has been updated to support multiple accounts and has account restriction support to keep associates in one group from viewing and accessing requisitions for another group. Exit points were added to the requisition process to allow logical control of commit program, over-picking, under-picking, and automatic label production.
Requisitions Added to Purge
The requisition file structures were added to the standard WDLS purge and archiving processes.
Order Scan Out, back-end building of orders
Financial Application
Month to date, prior period comparison
A revenue comparison inquiry was added to the system. It supports filters by customer range, building range, and special attributes. The resulting inquiry shows a cost center summary of revenue for the current month to date along with the MTD revenue for the previous period.
A/R Extract
We have built several custom A/R extracts that feed a variety of accounting software packages, but they have largely remained custom. A stock extract process was created to streamline the effort involved in these activities. A GL accounts file was supported, and maintenance created to link GL numbers to specific combinations of building/ledger code/sub-code.
Summary Receiving Invoice - support level of detail to show
An option was added to the summary receiving invoice that will show the item details and charges under each receipt. This can provide a sufficient level of detail that copies of the individual warehouse receipts are not needed to support the invoice.
Utilities
XML String Handling Utilities
Utilities were added to deal with large strings of un-escaped XML data coming into WDLS and to build large strings of un-escaped data going out. Support was added for tag attributes to the general XML parser.
Business Hour Duration Calculator
A business hour calculator was added that calculates the elapsed business hour duration between two timestamps. The account hours and date exception information from the dock scheduler are used to determine which hours fall within the business day.
Determine Report Dates Using System Date
Codeworks has had a utility for quite some time that is used throughout our reporting to determine a variety of date ranges such as today, yesterday, this week, last week, etc. It is used heavily by published reports and uses the job date as the basis for constructing date ranges. A new version was built that uses the system date as the basis to support web access use of the calculations. This was necessary since web server jobs often run for many days or weeks, so the job date will not reflect the appropriate period range.
PDF Publishing Utility
Several java utilities and jar files were combined with Codeworks written code to provide a PDF publishing utility for general use throughout WDLS. The capability was added to the standard report publishers much the same as HTML and TIFF support was added. AFPDS data streams are not supported, however, forms overlays can be set as backdrops for the resulting PDF files. This replaces the traditional overlays with simple graphic images. Images for specific reports can be defined, as can general images for landscape and portrait printing.
Web Access Logging
WDLS contains security logic that supports logging for users, groups, functions, and menus. This same logging was extended to the web access programs. It allows for better tracking of web access and user activities and is typically used for compliance verification and troubleshooting.
Value Selection With Optional Comment
A value checking utility was added to WDLS that allows definition of a value group and the related set of values. An alternate value selection panel allows entry of a comment that can be tied to the value selected.
Copy Storer to a New Library
Several files were added to the copy storer utility to assist with the setup of testing accounts.
Physical Inventory Auto Tag Number Entry
WDLS supports both tagged and worksheet based physical inventories, that both have their strengths in different operations. Worksheet inventories work well when the locater accuracy is high, RF is unavailable, or the package markings are poor or lack barcodes. Tagged inventories are very auditable, conducted blind, and work well with RF devices and scannable labels, but they do require preparatory work and inventory tagging prior to the count. A hybrid counting process was added that makes it easy to conduct a single count tag style inventory without the tag labels and tagging requirement. The count process generates tag numbers during entry. Once all the inventory has been counted, the tags are matched to the book, differences identified, and then standard physical processing takes over from there.
Unbuild a Kit
Programs were added to un-build a kit that is on an order. Prompting is used to determine if the inventory is to be returned to its original location or if a new location will be specified for the inventory.