Overview
You can link each location zone to the product groups that belong there, for example the Chilled zone to the Dairy and Chilled groups. A putaway rule with the Check Product Group & Location Zone Match action then only suggests locations in zones matched to the product's group. You set the match once per zone, and every product in a matched group follows it, without one rule per group.
When to use it
Products of a group must stay in particular zones, such as chilled, frozen, hazmat or high-value.
You have many product groups and don't want a separate rule for each one.
New products should follow their group's zones automatically.
How matching works
One zone can be matched with several product groups. For example, Chilled A holds both Dairy and Chilled products.
One product group can be matched with several zones. For example, Dairy can go to Chilled A or Chilled B. Which location is suggested then depends on the rule's other actions and its order by, for example Zone Priority or Walking Path Priority.
The match only matters in rules that use the action. Rules without Check Product Group & Location Zone Match ignore it.
Step 1: Match zones with product groups
Go to Settings > Data Setup > Location Zone.
Select the zone in the list.
Click Match With Product Groups. The Match Zones With Product Groups window lists every product group with its status: Matched or No Match.
Select the product groups that belong in this zone and click Match. To remove a match, select the group and click Unmatch.
Click Save.
Repeat for each zone.
Step 2: Use the action in your putaway algorithm
Go to Automation > Algorithms and open the putaway algorithm.
In a rule, add the action Check Product Group & Location Zone Match.
Combine it with other actions as needed, and set the order by.
Click Save Rule, then Save the algorithm.
The action works with both kinds of rules:
With Suggest an empty location: the rule opens an empty location in a matched zone.
Without it: the rule only considers occupied locations in a matched zone, so add an action such as Suggest a location that has the same SKU to keep stock together.
Product and LP putaway
Putaway | How the match is checked |
Product | The product's group must be matched to the location's zone |
LP | Every product on the LP must belong to the same product group, and that group must be matched to the location's zone. If the LP holds products from several groups, or any product without a group, the rule is skipped and the next rule is tried |
Example
Set-up: Chilled A (Zone Priority 1) and Chilled B (Zone Priority 2) are matched with the Dairy and Chilled groups. Ambient is matched with Dry Goods and Beverages.
Rule (top to bottom) | Conditions | Actions | Order by |
1 | Apply to All | Check Product Group & Location Zone Match, Suggest a location that has the same SKU | Walking Path Priority, ascending |
2 | Apply to All | Check Product Group & Location Zone Match, Suggest an empty location | Zone Priority, ascending |
3 | Apply to All | Suggest a location with the selected location zone = Mixed Staging, Suggest an empty location | Walking Path Priority, ascending |
What happens:
Yogurt (group Dairy) that's already stored in Chilled B goes back to that location (Rule 1).
A new Dairy product isn't stored anywhere, so Rule 2 opens an empty location in Chilled A, the matched zone with the highest priority. When Chilled A has no empty locations, Chilled B is next.
Crisps (group Dry Goods) only ever go to Ambient locations.
A tote holding yogurt and crisps has two product groups, so Rules 1 and 2 are skipped for it and Rule 3 sends it to Mixed Staging.
Common questions
Why wasn't a location suggested for a product? Check that the product has a product group and that the group is matched to at least one zone. If no matched zone has a suitable location, the rule finds nothing and the next rule is tried. Add a catch-all rule at the bottom of the list if every putaway should get a suggestion.
Does matching a zone stop operators from putting other products there? No. The match only shapes suggestions from rules that use the action. To keep operators on the suggested location, see Enforcing Suggested Locations During Putaway.
Can I use the match in the dynamic replenishment algorithm? Yes, the action works in any putaway algorithm, including the one marked Use this algorithm as dynamic replenishment algorithm. See Setting Up Dynamic Replenishment.