Locations, in Oracle Cloud Warehouse Management System (WMS)

In Oracle Cloud Warehouse Management System (WMS), locations are critical for defining where inventory resides or moves within a warehouse or facility. These are organized within facilities, and the types of locations and their functionality determine how inventory is stored, picked, packed, or shipped.

Here’s a detailed explanation of different location types and their functionalities, along with examples:

1. Storage Location

Function: Used to store inventory for longer durations. These are the core locations where stock resides until needed for outbound or replenishment.

Key Uses:

• Inventory putaway
• Cycle counting
• Replenishment to forward pick

Examples:

• STOR-01-A-01: Storage location in Aisle 01, Bay A, Level 01
• Bulk storage like pallets of rice or cartons of electronics

 

2. Forward Pick Location

Function: These are smaller, easily accessible locations used to store fast-moving inventory for quick picking.

Key Uses:

• Picking smaller quantities quickly
• Replenished from storage locations

Examples:

• PICK-FP-01: Forward picking bin for small electronics like chargers
• FP-01-RACK3: Forward pick bin in rack 3 of zone 01

3. Receiving Location

Function: Where inventory first lands when received from suppliers before it is put away or cross-docked.

Key Uses:

• Receipts from ASN
• Inbound inspection
• Putaway staging

Examples:

• RECV-DOCK-01: Dock door for receiving goods
• RECV-STAGE-01: Temporary staging before putaway

4. Staging Location

Function: Temporary locations used to stage inventory before shipping (outbound staging) or after receiving (inbound staging).

Key Uses:

• Order consolidation
• Load planning
• Pallet building for outbound

Examples:

• STAGE-OUT-01: Outbound staging location for Zone 01
• STAGE-IN-01: Inbound staging for inspection

5. Packing Location

Function: Used to pack picked inventory before shipping.

Key Uses:

• Packing items into cartons
• Label generation
• Final verification

Examples:

• PACK-01: Packing station for ecommerce orders
• PACK-ZONE-A: Area for bulk shipment packing

6. Shipping Dock Location

Function: Final location before inventory leaves the facility.

Key Uses:

• Load to trailer
• Load consolidation
• Shipping confirmation

Examples:

• DOCK-01: Outbound dock door
• DOCK-TRAILER-03: Staging for truck 03

7. Non-Allocatable Location

Function: Inventory stored here cannot be picked or allocated. Used for damaged, quarantine, or return goods.

Key Uses:

• Quarantine inventory
• Hold inventory due to QC issues
• Returns processing

Examples:

• HOLD-01: Hold area for inspection
• DMG-01: Damaged goods area

8. Cycle Count Location

Function: Locations flagged specifically for regular cycle counting.

Key Uses:

• Trigger automated or manual counts
• Location-based counting strategies

Examples:

• Any location flagged as part of ABC grouping for cycle count (e.g., CC-A-01)

 

9. Value-Added Services (VAS) Location

Function: Used for locations where items go through additional processing like kitting, labeling, tagging, etc.

Key Uses:

• Kitting
• Repackaging
• Custom labeling

Examples:

• VAS-01: Gift wrapping station
• VAS-KIT-02: Kitting area for promotional bundles

Thank You,

Pratip Chatterjee