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Release items to warehouse by using the picking workbench

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Important

This content is archived and is not being updated. For the latest documentation, see Microsoft Dynamics 365 product documentation. For the latest release plans, see Dynamics 365 and Microsoft Power Platform release plans.

Applies To: Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012 R3

This topic explains how to organize picking operations by using the picking workbench. The picking workbench helps streamline the picking process by letting you customize the number of picking lists per batch, this is also known as a picking wave. You can also customize the maximum number of lines per picking list. A picking wave encompasses a single warehouse, whereas the picking list per batch is the number of orders that one person can pick at a time.

When you run the picking workbench, Microsoft Dynamics AX will search for sales orders that match the criteria entered and then try to reserve inventory that is not already reserved. Picking lists will only be created for items that can be reserved.

Note

Picking lines for a picking list are generated based on the remaining quantity of items that can be physically reserved on the sales lines. If there is a Deliver now quantity entered on the sales line, it will not be used, it will be cleared.

For a picking batch, you can specify attributes such as the maximum orders per batch, lines to include, delivery dates, modes of delivery, payment methods, and warehouse for order selection. After you create a picking batch, you can review the pick lines and print the picking lists. When you create a picking batch, inventory will be automatically reserved, unless the inventory was already reserved when the sales order was created. The process of creating picking lists can also be run in batch mode, which means that you could run a standard daily schedule. In addition, the picking workbench can be used with boxing logic. For more information about how to use boxing logic, see the “Optional: Use boxing logic” section later in this topic.

Prerequisites

The following table shows the prerequisites that must be in place before you start.

Category

Prerequisite

Setup

Data

  • Ensure that there are sales orders available.

Run a picking workbench session

To run a picking workbench session, follow these steps:

  1. Click Inventory management > Common > Picking workbench.

  2. Click New to create a new workbench session.

  3. Optional: Enter a Description for the session.

  4. On the Criteria FastTab, enter search criteria. Search criteria can be set up manually or initialized from a workbench profile. After initialized from a profile, search parameters can be modified without affecting the profile that is used to start a picking session. To use a profile, select the template from the Profile field.

  5. After you have entered the search criteria, click Generate picking batches.

To print the picking list, follow these steps:

  1. Navigation Path Not Found

  2. Expand the Batches FastTab.

  3. Optional: Select a user ID in the Assigned to field.

  4. Click Print batch to print the picking lists in the batch.

  5. When the picking lists have been printed, select the Complete check box.

  6. When all of the picking batches in a picking session have been printed, then the picking session can be marked as Complete.

Troubleshoot picking lists

If items on a sales order line are not added to a picking list, it could be due to the following reasons:

  • The item could not be reserved because there is no inventory available.

  • The item’s model group allows for negative inventory, however, negative quantities cannot be reserved.

  • The item already appears on another picking list, which means that an output order exists for the item.

Optional: Use boxing logic

You can define the dimensions and weight capacity of packing boxes in the Packing box form. This will ensure that multiple items can be boxed efficiently on the picking workbench, according to size, weight, depth, volume, or special requirements. For example, if there are four small, lightweight items to be shipped to the same address, you can maximize efficiency by boxing the four items in a single medium-sized box instead of four small boxes.

To use boxing logic, follow these steps:

  1. Click Inventory management > Setup > Boxing logic > Box definitions.

  2. Click New.

  3. In the Box name field, enter a name, such as SmlCanned, in the Box name field.

  4. Describe the box and its contents in the Description field, for example “Small box of canned items”.

  5. Expand the Dimensions FastTab.

  6. In the Box measurements area, enter information about the dimensions of the box.

  7. In the Maximum utilization field, enter the percentage of the volume of the box that you want to dedicate to the item. This does not include the packaging materials.

Set up the picking workbench

Set up boxing logic

Technical information for system administrators

If you don't have access to the pages that are used to complete this task, contact your system administrator and provide the information that is shown in the following table.

Category

Prerequisite

Configuration keys

The main functionality of the picking workbench requires the Trade configuration key only. If you also enable the Call center configuration key, the Expedite and Payment method criteria options will also be enabled.

Security roles

The following roles have access to the picking workbench:

  • Buying agent (full control)

  • Sales clerk (full control)

  • Shipping clerk (full control)

  • Warehouse manager (view access only)

  • Warehouse worker (view access only)