Load Planning / Load Planning Board [LPN010]
The Load Planning module, a crucial component of DATASCOPE WMS, empowers Dispatch Controllers to efficiently manage routes and truck loads for their company's delivery vehicles. This module, a separate purchase, plays a pivotal role in optimizing delivery operations and requires activation post-purchase.
This User Guide will focus on the Load Planning Board and managing the delivery of the orders.
How the Load Planning Board works.
How to Truck Load the orders.
Dealing with problem pick slips (orders).
How to Truck Unload returned orders.
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If you don’t like reading, you can watch the video. |
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<link to YouTube video> <link to PDF doc on my OneDrive> https://vimeo.com/941846549/66fbba4a7e?share=copy 003_premium_LOAD_PLANNING_PROCESS_product_userguide_UG - v0.1.pdf |
Try it!
Load Planning Board
The Load Planning Board is used throughout the picking process to review the status of the pick slips assigned to each route. It can be used to pre-plan truck loads based on the masses of the pick slips.
From the Main Menu, browse to Load Planning / Load Planning Board.
A Load Planning run-time filter screen will appear. Select the Route(s) you wish to plan.
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Note: The From Route and To Route dropdowns display the data alphanumerically, so consider this when setting up your Route codes in SYSPRO. You may want to name the Routes logically to assist with this selection. |
The various checkboxes on the filter screen determine which pick slip statuses will print on the suggested Load Schedule document, which is used to load the truck. Default statuses will be selected, but you can also select some of the other statuses.
The default statuses selected reduce the number of records on the suggested Load Planning report. Typically, Dispatch Controllers are only interested in tracking and planning pick slips from a particular status (e.g., CHECKED status).
Select Continue once your selections have been made.
The Load Planning Board will appear, displaying pick slips in each route window.
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Note: The color codes within each Route window’s data grid help visually distinguish the pick slip status. To view the status, hover over the line. |
See below the meaning of each color code:
o Blue – indicates all pick slips that are unfinished and in progress. These pick slips can be in a CREATED status with Today’s Date or in a PRINTED, ASSIGNED, PICKED or CHECKED status. They can also be in a STARTED status where the pick duration time in minutes is less than the specified MAX DURATION.
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Note: A system setting determines the MAX DURATION time in minutes, which can be adjusted if required. From the Ribbon Bar, browse to Settings / System Settings. Locate the LOAD_PLANNING system name and adjust the MAX_DURATION setting value. |
o Red – Indicated that the pick slip has STARTED, but their pick duration is greater than the MAX DURATION setting. These pick slips are running behind schedule and must be followed up on.
o Purple – Indicates the pick slip was created before Today’s Date, and picking hasn’t started.
o White (red text) – Indicated that the pick slip was unloaded.
o Green – Indicate that the pick slip has been invoiced.
o White (black text) – Indicate that the pick slip has been LOADED.
The primary purpose of these color codes is to assist the Dispatch Controller to quickly see which pick slips are ready for loading and which are running behind.
The Dispatch Controller must have this Load Planning Board open throughout the day to monitor the progress of the picks.
Tracking progress and planning the first load
The Dispatch Controller must select the Driver, Co-Driver, and Truck from the Route window header.
The Load Planning Board is still open.
Select the Driver from the Driver drop-down.
Select the Co-Driver from the Co-Driver drop-down.
Select the truck from the VRN drop-down.
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Note: The driver, co-driver, and truck must already be configured. |
The default Truck Mass / Volume will display.
The screen will automatically calculate the Total Mass and Total Volume of all the pick slips in a LOADED status. This can then be compared with the Truck Mass / Volume to see when the truck is near capacity.
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These fields will remain 0 until there are items in the data grid with a status of LOADED. |
The Accumulative Totals section displays the total orders, volume, and mass of all pick slips assigned to the route, not just those in a LOADED status.
o Total Orders refers to the total pick slips still open and in progress for the Route.
o Total Volume and Total Mass – refer to the Total Volume and Mass for all the pick slips on the Route. Not just those that are in a LOADED status.
o Mass Tolerance refers to the mass tolerance allowed for the Route. This can be adjusted by updating a system setting.
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Note: On the Ribbon Bar, browse Settings / System Settings and locate the LOAD_PLANNING setting. Update the MASS_TOLERANCE %. Select Apply. |
o Actual Mass is a calculated value, the Total Mass plus the Mass Tolerance percentage.
o The TrackID Mass field is edible and inserts the total mass of any pallets on the load. This value is saved into the PalletMass field in the tblLoadPlanningPalletMass database table. When a Suggested Load Sheet or an Actual Trip Sheet is printed, it can be pulled into these printed reports.
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Note: Pulling the TrackID Mass field onto the Suggested Load Sheet or Actual Trip Sheet RPT templates are a manual optional task that requires the RPTs to be edited in Crystal Reports by an Administrator. Speak to your local DATASCOPE Solution Provider (DSP) if this is required. |
A few right-click options exist on the Route Window’s data grid:
o The route applied for a specific pick slip can be changed at any time. Right-click on the line and select Change Route.
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Another method to change the route is to use the Moving an Invoice to a new Route screen. |
o A pop-up will appear where you can select the new Route and add a Reason for the change.
o Select Update. The pick slip will then automatically move over to the new Route Window data grid.
o The user can also add a Comment against any pick slips. Just right-click and select Add Comment. The comment will also be printed on the suggested Load Plan Report. The comment will remain saved against the pick slip until manually removed.
o Typically, this can add specific delivery times or requests.
o To remove the comment. Right-click on the line and select the Add Comment option. Delete the comment and save the change.
o The View Detail option, when right-clicking, will open the View Reservations window. Here, you can view the Reserved, picked, and checked QTYs per stock code on the pick slip.
o The View Customer option will display the Ship To Address used for the particular customer.
o The View Map option will open a new window displaying the Ship To Address on the Google Maps application.
o The View Picker(s) option will display the picker or pickers assigned to the selected pick slip. This will assist the Dispatch Controller in following up with the picker regarding the pick's progress.
o The Suggested Load Plan report prints the orders in reverse from the delivery sequence list. The sequence number is visible in the Seq column in the Route window data grid. The first pick slip listed on the Suggested Load Plan report will be truck-loaded first, as it is the last to be offloaded on the route.
o To change the sequence number of a pick slip, right-click and select the Move Up or Move Down options. This will change the sequence number of the selected pick slip one step up or one step down.
o Changing the sequence of the pick slips allows the user to reorder the position of the pick slips on the Suggested Load Plan report the next time it prints.
o The Copy option copies the pick slip number to the clipboard.
o The VB Scripting option will open the VB Scripting screen for this module. For more information on VBScripting, refer to the VBScripting User Guide.
The Dispatch Controller must monitor this Load Planning Board to track the progress of pick slips and/or chase up on slow pickers. All pick slips created on a current day will populate the Route window’s data grid.
There is a Print button should a pick slip not successfully print and, therefore, remain in a CREATED status.
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Note: to see the Print button in the data grid, you must scroll to the far right of the current Route window. |
Select the Print button to force a pick slip printout.
At the bottom of each Route window’s data grid, a Print Suggested button is visible.
Select the Print Suggested button.
A printer pop-up will appear. Hovering over the Company Printer(s) text will display the System Action for this specific screen.
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Note: To print to a physical printer, you must ensure the System Settings are configured correctly and update the Printer Settings. The LOAD_PLANNING setting under Settings / Printers on the Ribbon Bar must point to the physical printer. |
A report will print with every pick slip on the route with the statuses selected when the Load Planning Board was opened.
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Note: The Suggested Load Planning report will only print if a Driver and/or Truck has been selected in the specific Route header. |
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Note: Ensure the correct .rpt template has been configured under System Settings. On the Ribbon Bar, browse to Settings / System Settings. Locate the LOAD_PLANNING setting name and add the DATASCOPE_LOADPLAN_SUGGESTED_LETTER.rpt template to the LOAD_SCHEDULE setting name. |
This report must be given to the Truck Loaders handling the packing of the truck in the Dispatch area.
These reports can be printed as often as required for the same route, as no transactions happen during printing.
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Note: The number of copies to be printed can be set under system settings. Browse Settings / System Settings on the Ribbon Bar and locate the LOAD_PLANNING System Name. Update the SUGGESTED_LOAD_PLAN_PRINT_NO setting with the number of copies required each time the report is printed. |
After the pick slips are picked, checked, and invoiced, DATASCOPE PREMIUM WMS allows for an optional process of putting the picked orders into a Dispatch Bin.
Using Dispatch Bins is not mandatory but can be helpful to group pick slips (orders) for the same route when using this Load Planning module. For more information, refer to Putting picked stock into a Dispatch Bin (not mandatory process)
Next, start loading the trucks - Truck Loading