MMT Transactions, Operations and
Functionality
This
page will provide you with an overview of the functionality available
with the Material Memory Tool (MMT) solution. These
"transactions', as they are sometimes known, are available as
individual
functions or can be packaged up to complete your Warehouse Management
System.
Please note that we've used SAP R/3 as an
example ERP system here,
please feel free to contact TIG International to discuss your
specific requirements.
Auditing
MMT automatically generates a fully featured
audit trail in the form of
an ASCII text file. This contains date, time, operator ID,
and task information for each and every task that is performed on the
MMT. This file is suitable for processing by any report
generation program.
Bin
Status
MMT supports the SAP R/3 warehouse
management functionality of bin
status. The MMT has two menu options, one for blocking bins
and another for unblocking bins. If an operator selects
blocking bins from the MMT menu, they will be asked to supply a reason
code, and asked whether the bin is being blocked for placement, removal
or both placement and removal.
Default
Area
In order to provide a more customised view
of a warehouse, MMT allows
each operator to have up to ten different work area search keys for
task selection. The operator will only "see" operations that
apply to one of their ten work areas. If no work area search
keys exist, then the operator will be able to select from a list of all
tasks available. This applies to storage bins in the WM
version and storage locations in the IM version.
EAN128
The MMT supports the EAN-128 numbering
convention. This
allows the customer to implement a bar coding system that contains more
than just one piece of data in each bar code. EAN-128 allows
for a reduction in the number of scans, as a single bar code can
contain multiple pieces of information (such as product code, batch and
quantity etc). It also gives increased accuracy, as each
piece of data is preceded by an Application Identifier (AI) which tells
the software exactly which piece of data is being scanned.
MMT also supports all forms of other conventional bar codes.
Error
Logging
The MMT makes extensive use of the
computer's event log. This
allows a trace of all events for diagnosis at a later date to help
eliminate all problems in the operation of MMT. Warehousing
can be a complicated business, but with MMT’s Audit Trail and
Error Logging facilities, problems can be quickly identified and
resolved.
Forced
Scan
All MMT functions allow the operator to key
in data manually at the
keyboard or use the scanner. Some operations, however, may
necessitate that the input must only be scanned, not keyed in by the
operator. MMT supplies this optional feature for each field
on a screen.
Goods
Movement
Goods Movements (SAP R/3 Warehouse
Management Transfer Orders) can be
separated into categories by MMT. MMT supports four standard
types by default, each of which can be managed in slightly different
ways.
Goods
Movement - Put Away
Put Away. Goods movements for put
away are one of the
categories that the MMT manages. These transfer orders do not have a
return function and the source location is expected to be a Purchase
Order number.
Goods
Movement - General Purpose
General Purpose goods movements are managed
by MMT with the expectation
that both source and destination bins will be valid storage bins in the
SAP R/3 WM module. The feature of return quantity is also
supported for this type of goods movement.
Goods
Movement - Immediate
Immediate goods movements are initiated from
the operator on the shop
floor. MMT manages these types of movements and notifies the
SAP R/3 WM module.
Goods
Movement - Picking
Picking movements. MMT supports
picking to bulk areas,
splitting consolidated picks into separate deliveries in a goods issue
area, returns and many other picking combinations.
Loading
A load list can be retrieved from SAP R/3
that instructs an MMT
operator to get every pack that SAP R/3 knows about and ensure that it
is placed on the appropriate truck. SAP R/3 is then notified
by MMT that loading has been completed.
Packing
After picking has been completed, MMT allows
the operator to pack the
goods as appropriate. This information is then sent to SAP
R/3, where packs are created for later loading.
ScanPack
ScanPack is designed to meet the
requirements from a number of larger
retail chains by using scanning throughout the packing
process. The enforced scanning results in the most accurate
record of shipping container content and is ideally suited to
Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) in the form of Advanced Shipping
Notifications (ASN).
Picking
In the case that SAP R/3's Warehouse
Management module is not being
used, SD picking documents can be downloaded into MMT
directly. MMT can support a number of configurable options in
this area, including single order picking, consolidated picking and the
"open warehouse" concept.
Receiving
MMT manages a number of goods receiving
combinations, including goods
receipt against Purchase Orders and Production Orders and Transports
between plants.
Security
Logon security is supported by the
MMT. MMT also allows each
entry on the menu to be individually controlled, either preventing or
allowing users to access certain menu options.
Splitting
MMT supports the concept of splitting, i.e.
if a consolidated pick is
picked to a bulk area during the picking process, the consolidated pick
must then be split into its individual picking lists again.
Stocktake
Physical inventory documents can be
downloaded from either the IM or WM
modules within SAP R/3. Both types of stock take documents
are supported by MMT. One of the security features allows an
operator to either view the expected quantities in the stock take
document or perform a "blind" stock take.
MMT can support some pick to light
systems. This allows for
the MMT terminal to control the factory automation system allowing even
greater multi-document simultaneous operations to be performed by a
single operator.
Click
here to see our MMT Features and Benefits page for further
information...
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