Use Case: Order Builder
Automated VLM Inventory Replenishment
Summary
ItemPath’s Order Builder is the ultimate engine for proactive inventory control. By translating dynamic reporting insights into actionable, automated replenishment orders for your Kardex VLMs, Order Builder eliminates stockout risks, maximizes VLM uptime, and ensures continuous, seamless material flow from bulk storage to your production line.
Persona
Warehouse Manager, Inventory Planner
Challenge
Many companies rely on materials stored in VLMs to feed production lines, but manually tracking stock levels across several locations is inefficient. This leads to unexpected stockouts. The challenge is to implement a proactive, hands-off system that detects low-stock conditions in real-time and automatically initiates the process of moving stock from bulk storage to the VLM.
Feature and Solution
Order Builder directly addresses the challenge of stockouts by providing an automated engine that bridges inventory data with required warehouse actions. Users configure the system once, and it runs continuously without further intervention.
Example:
A VLM location holds several materials that are critical for the assembly line. The re-order point for these Materials in Power Pick is set to a quantity of 50 units. If any material drops below 50, it needs to be refilled.
A report is created in ItemPath which will flag when any of these critical materials are below the re-order point.
A Workflow is created to run whenever there is a minimum of 1 row in the report.
An automatic Replenishment Order Builder is set up to trigger when the Workflow runs.
A large Pick order is processed which drops the quantity on hand for one of the critical materials to 45.
The Report populates in real-time, the workflow runs, and the Order Builder is triggered, creating a Replenishment order and sending it immediately to Power Pick.
Warehouse staff receive the order and transfer 200 units from bulk storage to the VLM, completing the cycle before a shortage can impact production.
Key Results and Benefits
By transforming inventory insights into high-speed, automated work orders, ItemPath Order Builder drives superior VLM efficiency and secures your production pipeline. Stop manually fighting low inventory.
Top Capabilities
- Real-Time Order Creation: Initiates order creation the moment inventory status changes, eliminating manual lag time and enabling proactive execution.
- Accurate Order Generation: Automatically generates orders based on pre-determined criteria, eliminating manual data entry and human error.
- Seamless Workflow Integration: Quick, reliable execution the moment criteria is met, allowing the entire automation to run autonomously and consistently.
- Custom Order Control: Flexibility to define any order type (Put, Pick, Count) based on the specific needs identified.
Operational Benefits
- Eliminate Costly Stockouts: Guarantee seamless operation, maximum VLM efficiency, and continuous production flow.
- Reclaim Labour Hours: Free up managers and planners from continuous monitoring and manual order creation tasks, refocusing teams on strategic goals.
- Elevate Inventory Accuracy: Drive advanced processes like automated variance-based count orders, ensuring system data is always trusted and validated.
- Scale Without Limits: Easily handle thousands of unique inventory locations and high order volumes by leveraging the power of an automated execution engine.
Additional Resources
To learn more about how Order Builder can drive efficiency and automate your warehouse processes, here are some helpful resources:
Master Order Generation
Learn how to bridge the gap between inventory data and warehouse action. This guide covers the essential steps for connecting reports to Order Builder to automate your replenishment cycles.
Refine Your Workflow
Take full control of your automated queues. Learn how to monitor, modify, and update existing orders within Order Builder to ensure your fulfillment remains agile and accurate.
