Creating Products

Select “Depot Setup>Products” from the side bar. Any existing products will be displayed. To create a new product click “New Product” button. A form will be displayed for you to enter the new product details.

Details Section

This section allows you to enter the header detail for the product.

• Owners

If you are operating with Owners, first of all enter the owner detail. This identifies the stock ‘owner’ for system control purposes, and can be selected from the drop down list. If you are not operating with stock owners this field will not appear.

• Product Code

In this field enter the product code for product you wish to create. This must not exceed 100 characters.

• Codes 2, 3, 4

These codes can be used if additional codes are required for product identification. If any of these codes is used it can be entered or scanned at various points in the system and will cross-reference with the main product code. Code 4 can be used specifically to identify a product barcode.

• Codes 5-8

As with codes 1-4 these additional code fields allow further unique information to be recorded against products when required. An example might be to flag a specific product characteristic when integrating to another system.

• Keywords

Keywords are a means to find certain types of products when doing a product search, similar to adding a tag or category to the product. You can have one or many keywords as long as they are separated by a space. Enter keyword(s) if required.

• [Product] Description

You can then enter a product description for the product, which has a limit of 100 characters.

• Cost Price; Sales Price

If a cost and sales price for the product are required these can be entered here.

• Height, Width, Depth

If the volume of your product is required for various aspects of your operation the input to these fields can be used to calculate the volume of the secondary (picking) unit. To make the system do this automatically you need to check the “Use size items to set volume” box in the centre column.

• Weight

This field allows you to record the weight of the secondary (picking) unit.

• Product Image

This option allows you select an image to be stored with the product details

• ‘Active’ Check Box

This box will be checked at all times while the product is in active use. Only uncheck the box if you wish to make the product inactive on a temporary or permanent basis.

• Switch 1/Switch 2 (Mainly for integration purposes)

These are similar to codes 1- 8 in that they may denote a specific product characteristic, but one which is held outside of ProSKU (e.g. another system when integrating). Checking the box would indicate that the product conforms to that particular characteristic.

Configuration Section

This section allows you to define the configuration characteristics for the product.

• Storage UOM (Unit of Measure)

Here you will enter the unit in which you will normally receive and store the product.

e.g. If you receive goods on pallets which you store within pallet racking, ‘Pallet’ would be your storage UOM. Alternatively if you receive goods in large cases which are stored in shelf locations, ‘Case’ would be your storage UOM.

• Secondary UOM

Here you will enter your secondary (picking) UOM. This will generally be the unit specified on your customer’s order, and the one you normally pick for despatch. In the first example above (where pallet is your storage UOM) this may be a case or pack, while in the second example it may be an item or single unit.

Your storage UOM and your secondary (picking) UOM may also be the same thing if the storage unit is also the picked and despatched unit. Drop down lists are available to select both UOM.

• Items Per Unit

This is the (default) quantity of the secondary (picking) UOM that is contained in the storage UOM. This is only a default number, and can be changed if different on receipt.

• Storage Volume M³

In this field you can enter the storage volume of your secondary (picking) UOM. However this will be calculated automatically at product update if you have entered height, width and depth in the earlier fields, and you have checked the ‘Use size items to set volume’ box.

• Require Volume

This box must be checked when volume is a definite requirement for the storage or handling of the product. This applies not only to the ‘Store by Volume’ requirement (see below) but also potentially for despatch handling, etc. e.g. where volume may need to be captured and recorded.

The next two fields ‘Serial Number’ and ‘Serial Number Record In’ will control how the system deals with serial number recording.

• Serial Number In (auto checks next box)

If this box is checked it means that serial numbers must be recorded at receipt and at picking confirmation. While the product is in store the serial numbers relating to it can be viewed and managed in the Adjustments option. See “operations>Adjustments>View/Manage Serials”.

After pick confirmation, the confirmed serial numbers are printed on the despatch note and displayed in the Adjustments option. These are deleted after the order is despatched but are still available for historic reporting via the completed order by using the Orders>Search option.

• Serial Number Out

If this box is checked it means you are choosing to record serial numbers at picking only. You can receive and store product with serial numbers, but up to the point of pick confirmation the system will not be aware of the numbers stored.

• Record Rotation at Receipt

Checking this box means that input of a rotation date will be mandatory at the point of receipt. The system will default to the current operating date, but this can be amended as required.

If you then wish to rotate a product by rotation date this is controlled by selecting ‘Rotation Date’ from the drop down options under ‘Rotation Rules (see below). However, it is also possible to record a rotation date for a product and select a different method of rotation e.g. FIFO. If you wish to pick a specific rotation date you can also enter this at the order stage.

• Pick Full Pallet

With this rule in operation, the system will only select full pallets to meet the order requirement, assuming that sufficient full pallets of the correct rotation are available to do this.  If the order cannot be completed by picking only full pallets then the user is warned. When this warning is received there are three options:

• Cancel the ‘Pick Full Pallets’ rule and rerun the pick to allow part pallets to be included;
• Adjust the part pallet(s) in question: this could be designating them as ‘full’, modifying the rotation date or applying a status to exclude them from selection, then rerun the pick.
• Amend the order

The rule can also be applied at individual line level when entering order details.  It will default to the product setting as standard, but can be cancelled if required. The rule will not work for products which have a pick face, for which specific picking rules can be applied.

 NB. The system’s default position for a mixed order (e.g. 3 pallets and 30 loose cases) is that full pallets will be picked first, with the case balance picked from a part pallet, if available. So unless your order quantities normally equate to a specific number of full pallets then ‘Pick Full Pallet’ is probably not the right rule to use. Please note also that the ‘Strict Rotation’ rule (see below) will override this default position.

•          Rotation Display Format (Last option in centre column)

This requires you to specify your preferred option for date format for input and display. This requires numeric input in either MM/YY (e.g. 10/17) or DD/MM/YY (e.g. 31/10/17).

Batch Rules Section

• Require Batch Number

This box must be checked if you wish to record the batch (or Lot) number for products on receipt, and will make input of a batch number mandatory for all receipts of the product. The batch numbers entered are held against the product in the stock record. They are available to view via adjustments and in the relevant reports.

You can also rotate by batch (see ‘Rotation Rule’ below) but this will only function properly if the batches are sequentially numbered.

You can also select a specific batch to be picked by entering this at the point of order. If you do so the order will be satisfied only from that batch.

• Pick Lines from single batch

Checking this box will ensure that when an order is processed for picking with a specified batch reference, the system will try to satisfy the order from a single batch of product.

• Auto Batch

Check this box if you require the system to automatically generate a sequential batch number for the product at receipt.

• Auto Batch Prefix

If you require the automatic batch number to have a standard prefix you can enter it here.

Storage Section

This section allows you to define the storage characteristics for the product.

• Auto Putaway

Auto putaway means the system will automatically determine a location in which to place received product, according to selected preferences. This box must be checked if you want the product to be put away automatically.

• Auto Putaway Option

This is a drop-down list which enables you to select a preferred storage area for the system to put the product away.  This can be done by zone, location or, if already set up, location rule.

• By zone: any one zone may be selected (for more info on zones see “Depot Set-up>Set-up Zones and Locations>Creating Zones” above).
• By location group: any one location group may be selected (for more info on “Location Groups see ProSKU>Depot Set-up>Set-up Location Group” above).
• By location rule: any one location rule may be selected (for more info on ‘Location Rules’ see “ProSKU>Depot Set-up>Set-up Location Rules” below).

• Store By Volume

Check this box if you want the system to put this product away automatically according to volume. The system will use the storage volume of the product to determine whether it can be stored within available space in a given location.

• Store with same product – same storage rotation

If you check this box it means that the same product can be stored together when it shares the same rotation.

• Store with same product – different storage rotation

If you are storing the same product together (option above) checking this box means you also allow different rotations of the same product to be stored together.

• Top up

A top-up is an option for putaway when loose product is being received. If there is a location which currently stores the product being received which has sufficient space to add the received quantity, then system will top up the existing location in preference to placing in an empty location.

• Force top up

This is a similar option to above, except that the amount of available space is ignored.  This means that whatever quantity can be placed in the available space will be, with the balance being placed to another location. Both rules are only really suitable for products where shelf life and/or strict rotation are unimportant.

• Mix with other products

If you check this box it means you that the product can be stored with different products in the same location.

• Minimum Stockholding Level

This field identifies a minimum level of stock for the product that must be held in the warehouse. If the stock held falls to this level the product will appear on the Re-order Level report, indicating the current stock quantity available at the time of report generation.

 

Rotation Rules Section

This section allows you to select one of four methods of rotation for the product.

• FIFO

The system will rotate the product on a FIFO (First in, First out) basis. This rotation method works on receipt date, so stock with the earliest receipt date for the product will be picked first.

• LIFO

The system will rotate the product on a LIFO (Last in, Last out) basis.

• Rotation Date

The system will rotate the product by its rotation date. A rotation date is a date captured for the product at the point of receipt (e.g. BBE date, sell by date, etc). So the stock with the earliest rotation date for the ordered product will be picked first.

• Batch Number

The system will rotate the product by sequential batch number. This means that the stock with the lowest sequential batch number for the ordered product will be picked first.

Strict Rotation (Check box)

Checking this box means the system will operate absolutely strict rotation. This means that the oldest stock of the ordered product will always be picked irrespective of handling considerations.

The strict rotation rule will enforce absolute rotation when picking orders. This rule can be used when absolute rotation is a critical factor for handling your products, and generally presents fewer issues when handling loose items or cases, rather than full pallets. If your orders are mostly picked as full pallets using this rule may cause issues. The reason is that using ‘strict rotation’ literally means picking the oldest stock first.

The effect of this mean you may have to pick, or split more pallets than is ideal for efficient handling. It may also mean extra work if your order needs to be despatched in complete pallets. This may depend on your operation, the products you store and their specific rotation criteria. As an example:

You store a palletised product, with full pallets comprising 100 cases or items. You receive an order for 220 cases/items.

However the oldest pallet you have in store contains only 40 cases, the second oldest 60 and the third oldest 85. The rest of the stock is all full pallets. The system will search for the first pallet in rotation with a quantity closest to 220.  Ideally this would be 100, but strict rotation rule means that you must pick the pallet with 40 cases first. After that, also in strict rotation, you have to pick the pallet of 60, followed by the pallet of 85.

As there are no more part pallets the system will then instruct you to pick the oldest full pallet in rotation. As you have so far picked 185 cases for your order, you would then be required to split a full pallet in order to complete the order with another 35 cases.

Without the strict rotation rule in force the default position is to select full pallets first where possible. In the above example therefore the system would instruct you to pick the oldest full pallet in rotation with a quantity closest to 220, and so on. This would result in two full pallet picks of 100, with the balance of 20 cases picked from the oldest part pallet, i.e. the pallet of 40.

From a handling perspective this is more straightforward, and ultimately it should reduce the numbers of part pallets in store. In the main they would mostly be created as a result of picking sub-full pallet orders. In terms of rotation however it means that your part pallet quantities may be ‘out of rotation’ because they contain older stock than you have already despatched. This may or may not be an issue depending on the product and/or the consignee.

 

Pick Face Rules Section

• Pick Location Reference

If you require a pick face for the product enter the location code here.

• Minimum replenishment quantity

This is the minimum functional quantity required for a replenishment under normal circumstances, and should be enough to replenish the pick face to a sufficient level for routine operation. This provides the option to use up part pallets of the same or an older rotation in preference to a full pallet.

• Maximum replenishment quantity 

This is the replenishment quantity in ideal circumstances i.e. there are no part pallets to use, etc. This will normally be a full pallet quantity.

• Enforce Replenishment Rotation

Check this box if you wish to enforce strict rotation through the pick face. This means that stock used to replenish the pick face will always be the oldest available stock, irrespective of the setting on ‘Replenishment Rules’.

• Enforce Pick Face Picking

Check this box if you want to ensure that all picking is done through the pick face.

Product Groups Section

In the lower right hand section all product groups currently set up are listed. Check the box against the product group if you wish to assign the product to any/all of those listed.

Product Suppliers Section

At the foot of the right hand section column all product suppliers currently set up are listed. Check the box against the supplier if you wish to assign the product to any/all of those listed

Custom Fields Section

If you have created any Custom Fields for products the input fields are displayed at the bottom of the screen. You can complete the fields as required for the product you are creating.