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Create a Putaway Algorithm

Create a putaway algorithm in Logiwa IO: set its primary information and options, add rules with conditions, actions and order by, set rule priority, and test a rule or the whole algorithm.

Overview

A putaway algorithm is the set of rules Logiwa IO uses to suggest where stock should go during directed putaway. Each rule has conditions (which stock it applies to), actions (which locations qualify) and an order by (which qualifying location comes first). Rules are tried from the top of the list down until one finds a location with room.

This article covers building, prioritizing and testing an algorithm. For how the rules are evaluated, see How the Putaway Algorithm Chooses a Location.

When to use it

  • You're setting up directed putaway for a new warehouse.

  • You want to change where stock is suggested, for example to keep a client's stock in its own zone.

  • You're setting up Dynamic Replenishment, which uses a putaway algorithm to choose target locations.

Prerequisites

  • Locations are set up with the attributes your rules will use (zone, group, replenishment type, capacities, dimensions).

  • You have permission to edit putaway algorithms.

The default algorithms

New accounts come with two algorithms:

Algorithm

Used for

SAME_SKU_EMPTY_LOCATION_ALGORITHM

Directed putaway

REPLENISHMENT_ALGORITHM

Choosing target locations for Dynamic Replenishment. It has Use this algorithm as dynamic replenishment algorithm checked

šŸ’” SAME_SKU_EMPTY_LOCATION_ALGORITHM has two rules: one for locations that already hold the SKU and one for empty locations. All actions in a rule apply together, so a single rule can't act as "same SKU, otherwise empty". Use the same two-rule pattern in your own algorithms, as shown in step 4 below, and review the default rules before you go live.

Step-by-step

1. Enter the primary information

  1. Go to Automation > Algorithms and select Putaway Algorithm.

  2. Click Create Putaway Algorithm. The Create Algorithm window opens on the Primary Information tab.

  3. Fill in the fields:

Field

What it does

Example

Algorithm Name*

A recognizable name

MAIN_WH_PUTAWAY

Warehouse*

The warehouse the algorithm belongs to. Algorithms are created per warehouse

Main Warehouse

Algorithm Status

Active or Passive. Only active algorithms are used. Each warehouse uses one active putaway algorithm.

Active

Enforce suggested locations on mobile directed putaway (Force Suggested Location)

When checked, operators doing directed putaway on mobile can only confirm the suggested location, an occupied LP at that location, or an empty LP at that location. Default: unchecked

Check it if operators often drop stock in the nearest free bin instead of the suggested one

Use this algorithm as dynamic replenishment algorithm

Makes this algorithm the one Dynamic Replenishment uses to choose target locations. Only one algorithm can have it; checking it on another algorithm moves it there

Check it on an algorithm whose rules only target pick faces

*Required

  1. Click Save and Proceed, then open the Rules tab.

How the two checkboxes interact

  • Force Suggested Location only applies to putaway. When Use this algorithm as dynamic replenishment algorithm is checked, Force Suggested Location is turned off and hidden.

  • The dynamic replenishment algorithm isn't used for regular putaway (directed putaway, putaway during receiving). Keep a separate active algorithm for putaway.

Example: You check Force Suggested Location on PICKFACE_ALGO, then decide to use it for Dynamic Replenishment. As soon as you check Use this algorithm as dynamic replenishment algorithm, Force Suggested Location is cleared. To keep replenishment operators on the suggested target, use the job type setting instead. See Setting Up Dynamic Replenishment.

See Enforcing Suggested Locations During Putaway for what operators see when the option is on.

2. Create a rule

  1. On the Rules tab, click Create New.

  2. Enter a Rule Name, for example Same SKU in pick faces.

3. Add conditions

Conditions decide whether the rule applies to the stock being put away.

  1. Click + next to Condition.

  2. Choose:

    • Apply to All: the rule applies to every putaway.

    • Specify Condition: pick a field in If (for example Product Group), an operator and a value.

  3. Click Add. Add more conditions with +; all of them must match. Use Edit or Delete to change them.

Example: If Client = Acme and LP Type = Pallet. The rule only applies to Acme pallets.

All conditions are explained in Putaway Algorithm Conditions.

4. Add actions

Actions decide which locations qualify. A location must satisfy every action in the rule.

  1. Click + next to Action and choose an action.

  2. Add more actions with +; use Edit or Delete to change them.

Two things to know when choosing actions:

  • A rule without Suggest an empty location only considers locations that already hold inventory. A rule with it only considers empty locations.

  • Actions are never a fallback for each other. For "same SKU, otherwise an empty location", create two rules:

Example: same SKU first, otherwise empty

  • Rule 1 ā€” Condition: Apply to All. Actions: Suggest a location that has the same SKU, Check Location Capacity. Order by: Total Inventory Quantity, descending.

  • Rule 2 ā€” Condition: Apply to All. Actions: Suggest an empty location. Order by: Walking Path Priority.

A SKU already stored with room left goes to the location holding the most of it. A new SKU, or one whose locations are full, finds nothing in Rule 1 and goes to an empty location.

All actions are explained in Putaway Algorithm Actions.

5. Set the order by

The actions decide which locations qualify; the order by decides which of them is suggested first.

  1. Under Order By, choose a field, for example Walking Path Priority, Aisle, Zone Priority or Total Inventory Quantity.

  2. Choose Ascending (lowest value first) or Descending (highest value first).

The first location in the ranking is suggested. If the operator taps Suggest Another, the next location in the same order is offered.

Only the top 20 locations in the ranking are considered. A location ranked lower is never suggested by that rule, even if it qualifies.

Example: Three locations qualify: A-05 (walking path priority 12), A-02 (priority 4) and C-10 (priority 30). With Walking Path Priority, ascending, A-02 is suggested first. Suggest Another offers A-05, then C-10.

6. Save the rule

Click Save Rule. A confirmation message appears. Repeat steps 2ā€“6 for each rule.

Set rule priority

Rules are tried from the top of the list down: the rule at the top has the highest priority. The first rule that finds a location with room decides the suggestion; rules below it aren't checked.

  1. Open the algorithm (click its name, or use the ā‹® menu and select Show Details or Edit).

  2. Open the Rules tab.

  3. Drag and drop rules into the order you want, with the most important rule at the top.

  4. Click Save.

āš ļø Always click Save after reordering or changing rules.

šŸ’” Put narrow rules (specific conditions, such as damaged stock or one client) above general ones. A general rule at the top catches everything before the specific rules are reached.

Example: Damaged goods (condition Damage Reason = Crushed) sits below Same SKU, which applies to everything. Damaged units keep going to same-SKU pick faces. Drag Damaged goods above Same SKU and save to fix it.

Test a rule or the algorithm

Testing shows the suggestion the algorithm would make for real inventory, without moving anything.

Test the whole algorithm

  1. On the Putaway Algorithm list, select the algorithm's checkbox and click Test Algorithm. You can also click Test Algorithm at the bottom of the Edit Algorithm screen.

  2. On the Product Putaway tab, enter the Client, Location and Product (name, SKU or barcode), then click Search. Or, on the LP Putaway tab, enter the License Plate and click Search.

  3. The grid lists each matching inventory line with its attributes, including PO Number and Damage Reason. Select a line and click Test.

  4. The suggested location (or locations, for a split product quantity) is shown. Click OK.

Test one rule

  1. Open the algorithm and the Rules tab, and select the rule.

  2. Click Test Rule (next to Save Rule).

  3. Search and test as above. On the LP Putaway tab you can search by LP or Parent LP.

Only the selected rule is evaluated, so you can check it on its own before deciding where it goes in the list.

Example: A location holds two lines of SKU-200: one undamaged, one with Damage Reason "Water". Test the line with Damage Reason "Water" to confirm your damaged-goods rule sends it to the quarantine zone, then test the undamaged line to confirm it still goes to a pick face.

Common questions

Why does Test Algorithm show nothing? No rule's conditions matched the line, or no qualifying location had room. Test each rule to find which one should have applied. See Why Wasn't a Putaway Location Suggested?.

Can I use one algorithm for putaway and Dynamic Replenishment? No. The algorithm marked Use this algorithm as dynamic replenishment algorithm is only used for replenishment targets.

Do I need to save after reordering rules? Yes. Always click Save after reordering or changing rules.

Can one rule cover "same SKU, otherwise empty"? No. Use two rules, as in step 4.

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