Set up cluster picking

This article 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 process is called cluster picking.

About cluster picking

After you release work orders to the warehouse, the worker can use a mobile device to assign the orders to a cluster. The cluster organizes the picking work for the worker. When you assign a work order to a cluster, the worker must use cluster picking to perform the picking work for the order. The worker can't use other picking methods. If you mistakenly assign a work order to a cluster, the worker must break the cluster and then re-create it.

If needed, a worker can pass a cluster to another worker. This action 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 client.

Enable cluster picking

To enable cluster picking, set up the following components:

• 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 cluster picking directs. Then add the menu item to a mobile device menu so that it displays 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:

1. Go to Warehouse management > Setup > Mobile device > Cluster profiles.
2. Select a profile to edit or select New to create a new one.
3. In the header of the new or selected record, set a Cluster profile ID, Name, Cluster type, and Sequence number. The Cluster type specifies for which warehouse operation the cluster profile should be applied. The Sequence number determines the order in which the cluster profiles are applied if you have multiple profiles.
4. On the General FastTab, set up your profile options. Tooltips explain the purpose of each field. To see a tooltip, hover your mouse pointer over a field. Learn more about the Cluster picking strategy setting in the Cluster picking strategy section.
5. On the Cluster sorting FastTab, use the toolbar to add and remove sorting criteria for the cluster. The sorting criteria control the order in which the worker performs the work. You can add as many criteria as needed. For each row, make the following settings:
   • Sequence number – Enter a number to define the order in which the sorting criteria are processed.
   • Field name – Select the field that determines the sorting. For example, if you select the WMSLocationId field, the work is sorted by location.
   • Sorting – Select one of the following options:
     • Ascending – Work is sequenced in 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, workers pick from location 4 first.
     • Descending – Work is sequenced in 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, workers pick from location 1 first.

Item confirmation

When you apply cluster picking, item confirmation is crucial to verify the items that you add to clusters. You can verify items in cluster picking during the cluster picking process. The setup is based on the product bar code setup.

Set up item verification with cluster picking

To enable workers to verify each item they pick during the cluster picking process, you must turn on product confirmation for the relevant mobile device menu item. Follow these steps to set it up:

1. Go to Warehouse management > Setup > Mobile device > Mobile device menu items.
2. In the list pane, select the menu item you want to set up.
3. On the Action Pane, select Work confirmation setup.
4. Do one of the following actions:
   • If a line exists for the Work type you want to set up, select it and then select Edit on the Action Pane.
   • If an appropriate line doesn't exist, select New on the Action Pane and then set the Work type to the appropriate type.
5. Mark the Product confirm check box for your new or selected line. This step allows workers to verify each piece of inventory by using the mobile device.

Cluster picking strategy

The cluster picking strategy controls whether workers pick inventory for all cluster positions at a location in a single step, or handle each position individually. Set this option as part of the cluster profile.

Prerequisites

To use the cluster picking strategy feature, you must be running Supply Chain Management version 10.0.48 or later.

Choose a cluster picking strategy

To set the cluster picking strategy for a selected cluster profile, follow these steps:

1. Go to Warehouse management > Setup > Mobile device > Cluster profiles.
2. Select the profile you want to set a strategy for. Set up the profile as described in the Set up a cluster profile section.
3. On the General FastTab, set the Cluster picking strategy to one of the following options:
   • Process by location – At each pick location, the worker picks the total quantity across all cluster positions in a single step. The system then presents a sort step where the worker distributes the picked quantity to each position. You can fully customize cluster sort criteria. This strategy is the default.
   • Process by position (tracked items) – At each pick location, the worker handles each cluster position one at a time, but only for items tracked by batch or serial number that are below the location level. The Process by location strategy still applies to non-tracked items at the same location.
   • Process by position (all items) – At each pick location, the worker handles every cluster position one at a time, regardless of whether the item has tracking dimensions.

How the strategy affects the picking flow

With the default Process by location strategy, the picking sequence at a single location looks like this:

1. The worker arrives at the pick location.
2. The mobile device shows the total quantity to pick for all cluster positions at that location.
3. The worker picks the consolidated quantity in a single scan.
4. The device presents the sort step. The worker distributes the picked quantity to each cluster position.
5. The worker moves to the next location.

For items without tracking dimensions, this flow is efficient. For batch- or serial-tracked items, however, the sort step requires the worker to assign specific batch or serial numbers to specific positions, which can be complex and error-prone.

With either Process by position option, the sort step is eliminated:

1. The worker arrives at the pick location.
2. The device shows the pick screen for the first cluster position, displaying only the quantity needed for that position.
3. The worker picks the quantity and confirms.
4. The device advances to the next position at the same location, if applicable.
5. Steps 3 and 4 repeat until all positions at the location are complete.
6. The worker moves to the next location.

Because each pick step is already tied to a specific position, batch and serial numbers are captured per position at the moment of picking. No post-pick distribution is needed.

Cluster picking strategy example

Consider a cluster with two positions picking a serial-tracked item:

• Position 1 — Sales order 1, requires 1 unit
• Position 2 — Sales order 2, requires 2 units

When you use the Process by location strategy, work proceeds as follows:

When you use either Process by position strategy (tracked items or all items), work proceeds as follows:

Effect of strategy on cluster sorting criteria

The cluster sort criteria (configured under Cluster sorting on the cluster profile) behave differently depending on the selected strategy.