Set up cluster picking
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
Note
This topic applies to features in the Warehouse management module. It does not apply to features in the Inventory management module.
This topic describes how to enable workers to use their mobile devices to group picking work into clusters, so that they can pick items from a single location for multiple work orders at the same time. This is called cluster picking.
About cluster picking
After work orders are released to the warehouse, the worker can use a mobile device to assign the orders to a cluster. The cluster will organize the picking work for the worker. When a work order is assigned to a cluster, the worker must use cluster picking to perform the picking work for the order. The worker cannot use other picking methods. If a work order is assigned to a cluster by mistake, the worker must break the cluster and then re-create it.
If needed, a worker can pass a cluster to another worker. This changes the cluster status to Passed. When the worker uses a mobile device to indicate that the picking and put away work is completed, the shipment or load must be confirmed in the Microsoft Dynamics AX client.
Set up cluster picking
To enable cluster picking, you must set up the following:
Cluster profiles – Specify whether to automatically generate cluster IDs, the number of positions to use, when to break clusters, and how to sequence and verify the picking work.
Work templates – Define how to create the picking work for cluster picking.
Location directives – Specify where to pick items from, and where to put them.
Mobile device menu items – Configure a mobile device menu item to use existing work that is directed by cluster picking. You must then add the menu item to a mobile device menu so that it is displayed on mobile devices.
Warehouse management parameters – Specify the number sequence to use if you want to generate identifiers for clusters.
Set up a cluster profile
To set up a cluster profile, follow these steps:
Click Warehouse management > Setup > Mobile device > Cluster profiles.
Click New to create a new profile.
On the General FastTab, in the Cluster profile ID and Name fields, enter a unique identifier and a name for the profile.
In the Setup field group, select from the following options.
Field
Description
Generate cluster ID
Select this check box to automatically create identifiers for clusters. If you do not select this check box, you must scan the license plate ID to register the cluster.
Note
If you want to enable workers to pass a cluster to another worker, you must create a mobile device menu item that does not generate cluster IDs.
Activate positions
Select this check box to automatically generate names for positions based on a numeric or alphabetic system. You select the naming system to use in the Position name field. The numeric naming system creates names as 1, 2, 3, and so on. The alphabetic system creates names as A, B, C, and so on.
If this check box is cleared, the license plate ID for the position is used.
Tip
Positions represent containers, such as cartons or plastic bins on a cart, and are assigned to work orders. You use positions to separate items for each order during picking.
Number of positions
Specify the number of positions to use when picking work is generated.
If you automatically generate identifiers for positions, this is the number of identifiers that will be created.
Position name
If you use positions, specify if you want to use numbers or letters to automatically generate names for positions. If you select Numeric, the position names are 1, 2, 3, and so on. If you select Alpha, the position names are A, B, C, and so on.
Break cluster at
Select the action that will break up the cluster. You can break a cluster when either the picking or put away work is completed.
Sort verification type
Specify if you must verify that items were put into the correct position, and if you must scan the license plate label or the position to perform the verification.
Click Set up cluster to open the Cluster sorting form, where you can set up sorting criteria for the cluster. The sorting criteria control the order in which the worker will perform the picking work. For example, if you select the WMSLocationId field, the work will be sorted by location. You can add as many criteria as needed.
Click New to create a new line of criteria for the cluster sorting.
In the Sequence number field, ether a number to define the order in which Microsoft Dynamics AX will process the sorting criteria.
In the Field name field, select the field that will determine the sorting.
In the Sorting field, select one of the following.
Option
Description
Ascending
Picking work is sequenced in an ascending order based on the sorting criteria.
For example, if you use the WMSLocationId field as sorting criteria, and your location IDs are 1, 2, 3, and 4, you will pick from location 4 first.
Descending
Picking work is sequenced in a descending order based on the sorting criteria.
For example, if you use the WMSLocationId field as sorting criteria, and your location IDs are 1, 2, 3, and 4, you will pick from location 1 first.
Next step
The next step is to configure a mobile device menu item to use existing work that is directed by cluster picking, and assign a cluster profile to the menu item. You must add the menu item to a menu that is displayed on a mobile device.
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 |
Click System administration > Setup > Licensing > License configuration. Expand the Trade license key, and select the Warehouse and Transportation management configuration key. |