Warehouse Management : Location Directives & Purchase Order Processing

With warehouse management location directives functionality users at the warehouse can place item at their correct locations. While system will suggest where to put what. 

In our example we will receive a purchase order receiving of following items: 

1. Item 000146 : DAX Water Bottle : 500 BOXES
2. Item 000151 : DAX Fresh Juice : 500 BOXES

At the time of receiving users at warehouse inspected the items and found that:

1. Item 000146 : DAX Water Bottle : 2 BOXES are DAMAGED
2. Item 000146 : DAX Water Bottle : 498 BOXES are in GOOD Condition
3. Item 000151 : DAX Fresh Juice : 2 BOXES are EXPIRED
4. Item 000151 : DAX Fresh Juice : 1 BOX is DAMAGED
5. Item 000151 : DAX Fresh Juice : 497 BOXES are in GOOD Condition

Due to nature of inventory,

1. Damaged or Expired DAX Fresh Juice and DAX Water Bottle is requuried to be placed at RETURN location to process inventory returns
2. DAX Fresh Juice to be placed in FREEZER Location
3. DAX Water Bottle to be placed in NORMAL Location

Following are the setups must be available in order to execute the above process:

Inventory Status : 3 Inventory status must be available (Available, Damaged and Expired). Inventory status Damaged and Expired must be marked for BLOCKED

Disposition Codes : 3 Inventory Disposition Codes must be setup (GOOD, Damaged and Expired) and associated with respective Inventory statuses

Location Directives : We have to setup location directive for each disposition code where system will realize where to put what inventory. Status for damaged and expired is set for 'Fixed and non-fixed locations' while Available is set for 'Only fixed locations for the product'

Fixed Locations: In this example we have setup a fixed location, so that inventory can only be placed at correct location. Other then fixed location we can setup a zone, zone group or location profile to determine the correct location during the PUT process.

To execute the process:

Create a purchase vendor with two items:

1. Item 000146 : DAX Water Bottle : 500 BOXES
2. Item 000151 : DAX Fresh Juice : 500 BOXES

For a Purchase Order screen we can see the load details created during the purchase order creation (Load is automatically created at the time of PO entry if parameters available at Warehouse Management > Warehouse Management Parameters > Loads > Automatically create at Purchase Order Entry is marked)

To see load details click the Load ID.

Load detail can be printed and submitted to warehouse manager to schedule and plan delivery

In order to process the receuving warehouse managers are required to sign in to Portal with User ID and Password provided

Select Inbound and proceed to Purchase Recieve

Enter PO Number : 004758

Enter Item ID : 000151

Enter Quantity : 1

Select Disposition code : Expired, Damaged or Available

Process to be followed for entire shipment and it should result in following.

Entire inventory is currently avaialble at RECV location as inventory is not moved to destination or bulk locatons, Also you may notice license plates are automatically generated while inventory status entered by the warehouse users are correctly shown.

PUT Process:

Navigate to All Loads list page and Print Pick List - to see the Work Created. 

Different prints are available but the best I can see is the pick list as it shows all the work for the entire load on single page. Where warehouse staff can scan the work ID bar code and complete the PUT process.

To complete the PUT process sign in to Mobile portal. 

Click Inbound and continue with Purchase Put Away Process.

Scan the work ID from the Pick List available from the Load Detail list page.

Verify the work

Continue the process for all others work within the load.

Finalize the PUT process.

Product Receipt can be automatically posted or can be done manually. 

Warehouse Management : Disposition Codes & Inventory Statuses in Inbound Process

Disposition Codes in Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012 Warehouse Management allows to put correct inventory status for tracking purposes. At the time of receiving disposition codes can be used to track inventory for 

1. Available
2. Damaged
3. Expired

Inventory status can be setup to be blocked or available for use. To setup inventory status navigate to Warehouse management > Setup > Inventory > Inventory Status

To setup disposition codes navigate to Warehouse Management > Setup > Mobile Device > Disposition Codes

To allows warehouse users to enter disposition codes at the time or receiving - enable all inbound processes to input disposition codes. To enable these processes navigate to Warehouse Management > Setup > Mobile Device > Mobile Device Menu Items and select relevant menu item

Now create one purchase order and receive it via Mobile Portal you will see users will now to be able to select disposition code at the time of Purchase Order receiving

Once received inventory is stored with different inventory statuses. Users can also see what inventory statuses were selected at the time of transaction. 

Inventory status other then available are not available for sales order transaction ensuring wrong inventories are not selected by the sales staff during sales order processing. 

Mustafa Chohan

Warehouse Management : Disposition Codes & Inventory Statuses in Inbound Process

Disposition Codes in Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012 Warehouse Management allows to put correct inventory status for tracking purposes. At the time of receiving disposition codes can be used to track inventory for 

1. Available
2. Damaged
3. Expired

Inventory status can be setup to be blocked or available for use. To setup inventory status navigate to Warehouse management > Setup > Inventory > Inventory Status

To setup disposition codes navigate to Warehouse Management > Setup > Mobile Device > Disposition Codes

To allows warehouse users to enter disposition codes at the time or receiving - enable all inbound processes to input disposition codes. To enable these processes navigate to Warehouse Management > Setup > Mobile Device > Mobile Device Menu Items and select relevant menu item

Now create one purchase order and receive it via Mobile Portal you will see users will now to be able to select disposition code at the time of Purchase Order receiving

Once received inventory is stored with different inventory statuses. Users can also see what inventory statuses were selected at the time of transaction. 

Inventory status other then available are not available for sales order transaction ensuring wrong inventories are not selected by the sales staff during sales order processing. 

Mustafa Chohan

Warehouse Management : Purchase Order Receiving Process

Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012 allows different workflows to be implemented in order to meet business process related to purchase order receiving. In this post my intention is the explain the most simplest process which can be implemented by small organisations.

1. Purchase order generation and submission to vendor
2. Receiving of purchase order via mobile portal
3. Setting up a batch job for posting of product receipts

Setups:

All warehouses must be marked to use Microsoft Dynamics AX warehouse management processes, in order to implement the process. Automatic creation of load entry must be marked in warehouse management parameters available at Warehouse management > Setup > Warehouse Management Parameters

Purchase Order receiving and put away operation must be setup at Warehouse management > Setup > Mobile Device > Mobil Device Menu Items. 

Operation must allow to generate license plate automatically. 

Above created operation must be associated with the menu item at Warehouse management > Setup > Mobile Device > Mobil Device Menu

Batch Job must be scheduled / or manually executed in order to post the product receipts automatically. Batch job can be scheduled from Warehouse management > Periodic > Update Product Receipts

Process

Generation of a Purchase Order:

1. To create a purchase order navigate to Procurement & Sourcing > Common > All Purchase Orders > Purchase Orders 
2. Create and confirm one purchase order with a Warehouse Module Enabled Site & Warehouse

Open Mobile Portal and perform PO Receiving and Put Away Operation:

 Enter the PO number, item number and quantity

Confirm the PUT location and license plate generated by the system, continue the process for all items. Once done a batch job can be either manually executed or via scheduled process. To review the receiving posted navigate to same purchase order and check for Product Receipts.  Product Receipt Posting : will be automatically posted by setting up a scheduled batch job.

Mustafa Chohan

Warehouse Management 'Auto License Plate Generation'

Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012 R3 - Warehouse Management requires license plate to be generated at the time of receiving processes. In order to generate these license plates automatically Microsoft Dynamics AX allows menu items to be marked for auto generation.

Number sequence for the license plate is follows,

1. Automatic prefix of '00'
2. Number defined in Unit Group Sequence ID at item level 
3. GS Number defined in warehouse management parameters
4. Length of number sequence defined at warehouse management parameter (Number Sequence Setup)
5. Number designated by system based on whatever length is defined at Point 4

Accounts Receivable : Line Level Payment

Dynamics AX 2012 R3 have one functionality called 'Marking lines for payment' ; functionality is only available in Accounts Receivable module of Dynamics AX 2012 R3. Functionality allows specific lines of the invoice can be settled and marked for payment.

To enable this functionality navigate to Accounts receivable > Setup > Accounts receivable parameters, select the settlement tab and enable check box for Mark Lines for Payment.

To test the functionality create one Free Text Invoice with two or more lines, and post it. In a settlement process users will be able to an additional options to mark invoice lines. Where users can mark specific lines for payment.

Following screen will allow user to mark lines for payment.

Once payment for the line is posted, next time user will only able to see open lines (unsettled lines). Hope this functionality will help out customers and consultants who have scenarios where they need to settle invoices based on lines

This functionality is only available for invoices processed through Free Text Invoice only. 

Vendor Invoice Payment Release Date

Hi Guys,

A brilliant functionality in Dynamics AX 2012 allows accounts payable users to decide when to process payments. During the invoice recording process users who records the invoice can put the date on which payment can be released.

A future release date defined can be changed by the user allowing accounts payable accountants to process vendor payments on relevant dates.

To see the functionality we will take an example of Accounts Payable Invoice Journal. To create an invoice journal navigate to Accounts Payable > Invoices > Invoice Journal.

Enter one invoice for the vendor and navigate to invoice tab. 

In invoice tab user can enter the release date or simply remove the approved button to process invoice later. System will only allow to process payment for the invoice on invoice release date or later.

Users can update the invoice payment release data from Accounts Payable > Common > Vendors >  All Vendors >  Invoice tab > Settle Open Transactions

Select the invoice and enter / update invoice payment release date in General tab.

On creating a payment you will see invoice will be grayed until the invoice payment release date. 

This process can help accountants to process only approved payments. Same functionality is available through Purchase Order Invoicing or service based invoices created directly via Pending Vendor Invoices.

Price Details In Microsoft Dynamics AX

Hi Guys,

I have resumed my blog from today :) - and will try to introduce as much functionalities as I can. Going through Dynamics AX, I came across with a price details functionality both available in Sales and Procurement side.

To enable the functionality,

For Purchase Orders: Navigate to Procurement & Sourcing > Setup > Procurement & Sourcing Parameters > Prices > Enables Price Details

For Sales Orders: Navigate to Accounts Receivable > Account Receivable Parameters > Prices > Enable Price Details

Functionalities enables users to review in detail about the prices being fetched by the system, to see the price details on Purchase Orders,  navigate to Purchase Orders Lines > View > Price Details on Purchase Order Main Form.

Similar to Purchase Order functionality is also available on Sales Order. 

Hope this would be helpful for those who are always in hunt to see how prices on Dynamics AX Purchase Orders and Sales Orders are formulated.

Setting up a Retail Store in MS Dynamics AX 2012 R2

Hi fellows,

Today I am going to post simple steps that shows how can we setup a retail store in MS Dynamics AX 2012 R2. DAX Retail Store is an extension of a Warehouse Concept. So we start with creating a new warehouse. It is better we should create a new site for Stores, and create all Store Warehouses under that site.

1) Create A New Warehouse

Navigate to Inventory & Warehouse Management > Setup > Inventory Breakdown > Warehouses

Enter all the basic information and mark Store under the retail tab.

2) Create a Retail Channel for Organisation Hierarchy

For the purpose of Organisation hierarchy we need to create Retail Channel first.

Navigate to Organisation Administration > Common > Organisation > Internal Organisation 

Click Internal Organisation > Retail Channel

While creating a retail channel select the Warehouse created in Step # 1. 

3) Create Organisation Hierarchy for Retail Channel

For Replenishment, Assortment and Reporting we need to create an Organisation Hierarchy specifically for retail stores. We can add all retail based purposes to one hierarchy or create multiple hierarchies for each purpose. 

Navigate to Organisation Administration > Common > Organisation > Organisation Hierarchy

Click new Organisation Hierarchy, enter the name and click Assign Purpose, for testing purpose associate all purposes to single organisation hierarchy. 

• Retail POS Posting
• Retail Assortment
• Retail Replenishment
• Retail Reporting

View the newly created Hierarchy to edit it, add newly created Retail Channel and publish the Organisation Hierarchy. in the image you can see retail channels lie under Business Units. 

4) Create a Retail Store

Navigate to Retail > Common > Retail Channels > Retail Store

Create a New Store [ I will not go through with each and every information but following information must be keyed with caution]

• Warehouse (as step 1)
• Employee Address Book (So store could know, who can log in)
• Default Customer (10001 in case of Contoso)
• Screen Layout ID (GUI for POS)
• Functionality Profile (Options for registers like Reason Codes for Transactions, Receipt Numbering Formats, etc)
• Other information

Save the newly created store and click Price Groups, to select applicable Price Groups.

5) Create Assortments

Assortments helps us to map products to particular store, to create Assortments navigate to Retail > Common > Assortments

Create New Assortments, Add Retail Channels and finally add products. Publish the Assortment

Verify that products has been published to store, by opening the Store Page, and click View Assortments & View Channel Products. To must see the products mapped with Assortments.

6) Create Registers

Registers are Terminals, to create Registers navigate to Retail > Setup > POS > POS Registers  [ I will not go through with each and every information but following information must be keyed with caution]

• Hardware Profile (Printer Steps & other Hardware Information)
• Visual Profile (How POS reacts on terminal)
• Real Time Service Profile
• Screen Layout ID (POS GUI on Terminal) 

7) Verify Distribution Location & Distribution List

Navigate to Retail > Setups > Retail Scheduler > Distribution Locations

Verify our newly created Store exist in this list, if not create a location assign appropriate Database Profile and Data Exchange Settings

Navigate to Retail > Setups > Retail Scheduler > Distribution Locations List

Verify our newly created Store exist in Default Distribution Location List, If not add it manually.

8) Synchronize Newly Created Store

The last step is to push data to newly created stores, for that navigate to Retail > Periodic > Data Distribution > Distribution Schedule and run all N-Jobs.

Thanks for reading :)

...

Supplementary Items in MS Dynamics AX 2012

Supplementary Items in MS Dynamics AX 2012 helps sales people to suggest additional items during sale, for example sales of shoe polish for the sale of shoes and sale of mobile accessories for the sale of mobile phone.

You can also setup supplementary item for specific customer, for example Sales of Packing Material to Customer A and other customers buy without Packing Material.

• To setup supplementary product navigate to release products page (Product Information Management > Common > Products > Released Products).
• Select the product for which we need to setup supplementary items
• click Sell Tab and Supplementary Sales Item in Related Information area
• Select the customer, customer group or all customer
• Select appropriate Inventory Dimensions
• Enter the quantity for supplementary items