A unit of measure structure describes the relationship of eaches to boxes, boxes to cases, cases to pallets, and so on. First you would define the primary UOM which is the each SKU. Then you define each unit of measure in the structure using Item Units of Measure during the creation of the Basic Item Master Data record for the item.

For Example:

Base SKU or primary SKU can be SKU A. The subsequent UOMs for the base SKU A can be A5(which is a pack of 5 items), box of 20 (which is a box of 20 items).

Constraints

• There will be no restriction of mapping items to bin or in bin put-away. A single bin can have multiple UOM items. Ie. The same bin can have eaches as well and cartons as well. The system will not restrict this. If it's required then OPS will have to manage this.

• Inventory exposure via API to Outer world will always be in eaches quantity.

• Orders will come via API OR CSV will always be in eaches qty.

Master Data setup and definitions 

Master data definition process:

• Article masters definition will have two parts:

  • Each

  • UOM definition

• SKU-related attributes like weight, dimensions, image URL, category, style, size, colour, etc will be separate for eaches and UOM SKUs.

• Eaches and different UOMs can have different SKU barcodes or the same SKU barcodes

• In the UOM definition, only single SKU definitions will be supported that is pack of 10 A, and not Pack of 5 A and 5 B

This is how the UOM definition will be uploaded into the system:

Orders and Inventory

Inward Flow

• At the time of GRN, Operations will scan the barcode, if multiple UOMs have the same barcode operator will be shown a popup to input what they are in-warding. If the barcode is unique then directly it will get selected. 

• Item id will be pasted on handling units (as per UOM) for example if a carton is being in-warded, stickers will be pasted only on the carton.

• There will be no restriction of mapping items to bin or in bin put-away. A single bin can have multiple UOM items. Ie. The same bin can have eaches as well and cartons as well. The system will not restrict this. If it's required then OPS will have to manage this.

• At the time of gate entry we will allow for the operator to define the external batch and expiry for the eaches UOM SKU.

• At the time of GRN the defined expiry and batch details will be available for the warehouse operator to select for the larger UOM that they would be in-warding. The same details of expiry and batch will then get associated with all the items that are part of the UOM being in-warded.

Inventory management

The system will have all the inventory in eaches, and all UOM sizes. Inventory reports will be available for OPS to see. Inventory updates will be on eaches only to the marketplaces and to all external sources.

Outward Flow

• Inventory exposure is in eaches.

• Orders will come in eaches.

• Listings will be created for eaches only. 

• Once the order is received in the system, the system will run an allocation logic to determine how many cartons, packs or each have to get shipped from WMS.

Bulk break

When required, one will be able to break larger UOM into smaller UOM.

• Every unit of smaller UOM will be stickered at this step.

• If there is an external item Id, one will have to scan them at the time of the bulk break

• Its operationally more hygienic and clear to do bulk break activity separately from outward order processing

Identify the bulk break

In master, we are capturing the Min threshold value against every global SKU. WMS will have a screen which will show what all SKUs are going below the min_threshold and what all SKUs bulk break is required to fulfil the orders. This screen will highlight SKU, where current inventory is [unallocated-qty < min threshold] for an global SKU.

Create task

Operator will release a bulk break task against any SKU. This means telling system that they want to carry a bulk break activity for X qty of SKU A30. SKU A30 breaks into 5 of A6.

Bulk break pick

WMS will have a screen to show Bulk break pick pending. Represents where all bulk break activity is to be carried out.

WMS will have a screen where operator will go and scan the location to get guided picking for Items to be picked up for bulk breaking. similar to picking. system will show SKU, batch etc. Operator will scan item ids and move to next location.

Bulk Break desk

WMS will have a screen for Bulk break desk. Operator will scan the item id from the previous step.

At this point items ids which are getting printed are only Item temps. System will apply checks then enable :

• Print all stickers button to Print all item id stickers for the contents of the original item. For example, 1 item of A30, as per definition breaks into 5 items of A6, System will auto print 5 Item id stickers of A6.

• Print 1 sticker button to print only 1 sticker of constituent item. It is possible that say 2 stickers got wasted as printer was not working, operator will print them individually.

System will show that paste stickers, and scan 5 items. Operator will have to scan all required items, then press confirm bulk break button. System will validate that only 5 items are scanned.

At confirm, these items will become NEW. Operator will have to scan all items to a bin and then put-away to make the items as LIVE. System will also capture the mapping that Item Id XYZ got bulk break into 6 z1,z2,z3,z4,z5 etc.

Returns

• B2C Returns will be received on eaches only. If say A10 was shipped, then operator will have to open the A10, print 10 stickers of A, and then process 10 items of A

• Return expectations will also come on eaches.

• B2B returns will be same as inwards.