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The Release to warehouse rule feature provides flexibility during release to the warehouse. It adds a configuration option for each warehouse. You can use this option to specify whether partially reserved order lines can be released for that warehouse. The feature works together with advanced cross-docking functionality in situations where part of an order line quantity is marked against a supply source, but the remaining part can be processed in the warehouse. Therefore, the line can be released so that warehouse processing of the available inventory quantity can continue.
Turn on and initialize the Release to warehouse rule feature
Turn on the feature
Before you can use the Warehouse release rule feature, it must be turned on for your system. Admins can use the feature management settings to check the status of the feature and turn it on if it's required. In the Feature management workspace, the feature is listed in the following way:
- Module: Warehouse management
- Feature name: Warehouse release rule
Initialize the feature
After the feature is turned on for your system, you must initialize it to set the rule to the correct initial state for all warehouses.
- For warehouses that aren't enabled for warehouse management, the rule is initially set to Not applicable.
- For warehouses that are enabled for warehouse management, the rule is initially set to Allow partial reservation
To initialize the feature and set the release to warehouse rule for all warehouses, follow these steps.
- Go to Warehouse management > Setup > Warehouse management parameters.
- On the Warehouse management parameters page, on the General tab, in the Company information section, select the link for the Initialize release to warehouse rule. (If this link isn't shown, either the feature isn't turned on or it has already been initialized.)
- When you're prompted to confirm the action, select Yes to initialize the feature.
Set the release to warehouse rule for each warehouse
After the feature is turned on and initialized, all your warehouses will have an initial setting, as described in the previous section. You can change this setting for individual warehouses by following these steps.
Go to Warehouse management > Setup > Warehouse > Warehouses.
Select the warehouse to configure.
Select Edit to put the page into edit mode.
On the Warehouse FastTab, in the Reservations section, the Requirement for inventory reservation field controls whether partial release of orders is allowed. Select one of the following values:
- Not applicable – When the feature is first turned on and initialized, this value is automatically assigned to all warehouses that aren't enabled for warehouse management. It can't be changed. This value isn't available for warehouses that are enabled for warehouse management.
- Allow partial reservation – Orders can be released when any quantity is reserved. The system will evaluate whether the unreserved quantity should be marked for advanced cross-docking and will mark that quantity as required. If no marking exists, the system will create work only for the reserved quantity. When the feature is first turned on and initialized, this value is automatically assigned to all warehouses that are enabled for warehouse management. This value isn't available for warehouses that aren't enabled for warehouse management.
- Require full reservation – Orders can be released only if the whole quantity is reserved. They can't be released if the total quantity isn't either physically reserved or planned for cross-docking. This value isn't available for warehouses that aren't enabled for warehouse management.
Select Save.
Scenarios
This section provides two scenarios that you can work through to learn what the feature does and how to use it.
Make sample data available
To work through these scenarios by using the sample records and values that are specified here, you must be on a system where the standard demo data is installed. Additionally, you must select the USMF legal entity before you begin.
You can also use these scenarios as guidance for the feature when you work on a production system. However, in that case, you must substitute your own values, and you might be missing some types of required records that the standard demo data provides.
Scenario 1: Require full release (no planned cross-docking)
This scenario shows how the feature works for warehouses that are set to Require full reservation.
Go to Warehouse management > Setup > Warehouse > Warehouses.
For warehouse 62, set the Requirement for inventory reservation field to Require full reservation, as described in the Set the release to warehouse rule for each warehouse section earlier in this article.
Go to Sales and marketing > Sales orders > All sales orders.
Select New to create a sales order.
In the Create sales order dialog box, set the following values:
- On the Customer FastTab, set the Customer account field to US-004.
- On the General FastTab, set the Warehouse field to 62.
Select OK to create the new sales order and close the dialog box.
Your new sales order is opened. It includes an empty line in the grid in the Sales order lines section. On this line, set the following values:
- Item number: A0001
- Quantity: 2
Select Add line to add a new line, and set the following values:
- Item number: A0002
- Quantity: 2
Select the first order line, and then, on the Inventory menu above the grid, select Reservation.
On the Reservation page, select Reserve lot to reserve the selected line's full quantity in the warehouse.
Close the Reservation page to return to the sales order.
Don't reserve the second order line.
On the Action Pane, on the Warehouse tab, select Release to warehouse.
Notice that you receive the following error message: "The full quantity must be physically reserved." Therefore, the system doesn't create any work, shipment, or load for the order.
Note
You will receive the same error message if you partially reserve the second line.
Scenario 2: Allow partial release
This scenario shows how the feature works for warehouses that are set to Allow partial release.
Go to Warehouse management > Setup > Warehouse > Warehouses.
For warehouse 62, set the Requirement for inventory reservation field to Allow partial reservation, as described in the Set the release to warehouse rule for each warehouse section earlier in this article.
As you did in the previous scenario, go to Sales and marketing > Sales orders > All sales orders, and create a sales order for customer account US-004 from warehouse 62. Add the following two order lines:
- Line 1: Set the Item number field to A0001, the Quantity field to 2, and the Unit field to Pcs.
- Line 2: Set the Item number field to A0002, the Quantity field to 2, and the Unit field to Pcs.
As you did in the previous scenario, reserve the full quantity for order line 1, but don't reserve order line 2.
On the Action Pane, on the Warehouse tab, select Release to warehouse.
Notice that you don't receive an error message this time. Instead, the system creates work, shipments, and loads as required, and shows the results.
To view the shipment, load, and work information, use the options on the Warehouse menu above the grid:
- Line 1: Three options are available: Shipment details, Load details, and Work details. Select each option to view the details of the shipment, load, and work that were created when the order was released to the warehouse.
- Line 2: Only the Work details option is available. Select it, and notice that no work has been created, because no inventory was reserved. Therefore, no shipment or load was created either.
Note
The same result is expected when the second line is partially reserved. In this case, work will be created for the reserved line quantity but not for the unreserved quantity.
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