1. PROLAG®World Basic
No pallet transports for ‘ready for shipping’ lists
Benefits:
It is now possible to configure that no pallet transports are made for goods that are ready to be shipped. This allows for more efficient use of time and labour.
Description:
Settings can be made to determine what percentage of the standard quantity the pallet needs to contain for a pallet transport to be carried out.
The following examples are relevant only for articles that are ready for shipping and where the article outer packaging, retrieval control and delivery item allow the ‘ready-for-shipping process’.
- If there is no standard quantity defined in the article but the configuration value > 0, a ‘ready for shipping’ list is always generated.
- If 100 is specified as the configuration value, a ‘ready for shipping’ list is always generated.
- If the value 0 is set, a pallet transport is made.
- If the value configured is between 0 and 100, a pallet transport is only triggered if the pallet contains at least the configured percentage of the standard quantity.
Libraries updated
Betrifft Modul: Basispaket 100-01
Benefits:
New functions and error corrections from external libraries can be used in PROLAG®World.
Description:
The integrated libraries in PROLAG®World have been updated to the latest version.
New fields in customer master: value added services (VAS) 1-4
Benefits:
Special requirements, such as services or work instructions, which apply for all orders being delivered for a specific customer can now be entered in the customer master.
Description:
The customer master features new fields for value added services: VAS 1, VAS 2, VAS 3 and VAS 4. The value added services entered in the customer master for an order are taken into account in all goods issue processes where there are VAS specified in the delivery order.
Example:
PROLAG®World contains specific packaging and labelling instructions for shipping articles to a certain customer.
Customer-specific settings in ‘schema.ini’ files
Benefits:
General settings and customer-specific settings are made both in the ‘schema.ini’ and the ‘kundenschema.ini’ files. The ‘kundenschema.ini’ file only needs to be kept up-to-date for customised reports.
By entering language texts in the ‘(kunden)schema.ini’ file, reports can be created in multiple languages.
Description:
A ‘kundenschema.ini’ file containing customer-specific settings is created to correspond to each ‘schema.ini’ file.
Customer-specific settings for generating the CSV files for reports are written to the ‘kundenschema.ini’ file. The section in ‘kundenschema.ini’ always has priority over the corresponding section (with the same name) in ‘schema.ini’.
The ‘kundenschema.ini’ and ‘schema.ini’ files allow language-dependent texts. This means that a report can be created in multiple languages.
Data display in the ‘(kunden)schema.ini’ file has been simplified. The meta data is no longer listed. The names of the sections now consist only of the name of the relevant Jasper file (without the extension ‘.asc’).
Customer projects that use Crystal Reports still follow the old way of working with ‘schema.ini’.
Example:
The general settings for PROLAG®World are made in the ‘schema.ini’ file; the ‘kundenschema.ini’ now contains customer-specific settings only.
Up to and including version 2.9.5 and in Crystal Reports:
[artikeletikett.asc]
DECIMALSYMBOL = .
ColNameHeader = True
Format = Delimited(|)
MaxScanRows = 25
CharacterSet = ANSI
COL1 = Artikel-p_artikelnr CHAR Width 40
COL2 = Artikel-p_beschreibung CHAR Width 160
Version 3.0.1 and higher:
[artikeletikett]
Artikel-p_artikelnr
Artikel-p_beschreibung
Sprachabtext-artikeletikettSprachabtext
Fast packing with identical order structure
Benefits:
There are new flags in in the picking type and delivery order to determine whether the grouping field
set by the order analysis is a separation criterion for a global shipment reservation.
Description:
In the case of shipments reserved in a two-step reservation process, there is a high risk that there are a large number of interdependencies between the different shipments in the same picking package.
Example:
20 delivery orders of 1x4711 + 1x4712
10 delivery orders of 1x4712 + 1x4713
It is not advisable to pick a pallet of 30x4712 since it would take too long to wait for
the dependent shipments to arrive at the packing area for packing to take place.
Workstation included in user login
Benefits:
As well as the computer name, the workstation is now also displayed in the login overview. This is a useful function since you can see at a glance if there is a difference between the workstation in the login template and the notation in the workstation records.
Description:
The workstation is now also displayed in the user login.
Convert Lieferschein.jrxml
Benefits:
The delivery note report (Lieferschein.jrxml) can now be translated into other languages without having to create a new report.
Description:
The delivery note report is now language-independent. The target language is determined internally by PROLAG®World.
Persistent field for purchase order quantities in delivery items
Benefits:
In the delivery order template, you can filter by the purchase order quantities in the delivery items.
Description:
The field lists the purchase order quantities (in the delivery items) per delivery order separated by a semicolon, that is, ‘1;2;3’ or ‘1;1;2’. How the purchase order quantities are sorted – by delivery item or purchase order quantity – can be configured in the ‘prolag.ini’ file. Note that the sort criteria cannot be changed once a project has started since this results in inconsistent entries.
2. Storage-in
QA reason in goods receipt item
Relevant module: Quality management 206
Benefits:
The QA reason can be set for an individual goods receipt item independently of the purchase order item.
Description:
As well as the article mater and purchase order item, the QA reason can now also be set via the goods receipt item.
Example:
The host system transmits multiple goods receipt items for one purchase order item. The goods receipt items constitute a pallet with different SSCCs. The pallets and the goods receipt items are allocated different QA reasons which are transmitted by the host. A QA reason is allocated before the goods receipt item is put away.
3. Goods issue
Global shipment reservation with packing area optimisation
Relevant module: Goods issue 203
Benefits:
Packing areas can be filled optimally since the size of the picking packages for the respective packing areas can be predefined.
Description:
‘Global shipment reservation with packing area optimisation’ means that the packing area defines the size of a picking package, for example, the maximum number of picking load units that can be picked at one time. The picking package is a self-contained unit and designed for two-step picking. All picking lists for a relevant order are contained in the picking package and a picking load unit belonging to the picking package can also contain goods for different shipments.
The size of a package can be set individually at each packing area.
Example:
It makes sense to configure this option for packing areas with an upstream consolidation area, since the contents of the picking load units are not allocated to individual shipments until the load units reach the packing area. The packing areas have to be supplied with one picking package at a time.
Change reservation if possible
Benefits:
A reservation can be changed in an ‘auto storage’ storage area without shortage items being generated.
Description:
The user can choose the ‘change reservation if possible’ button in the ‘lock/unlock storage area’ template to change the reservation for all the stock in the storage area. If it was not already locked, the storage area is locked for the time it takes to change the reservation. The reservation is changed at delivery note item level and only if there is other stock available. No shortage items are generated.
Example:
A stacker crane in one of the aisles in the warehouse is defective and it is not clear when it will be functioning again. By choosing the ‘change reservation if possible’ button, the employee can look in accessible storage areas for other stock that can be reserved to fulfil the order.
Extended filtering for releasing withheld lists
Relevant module: Goods issue 203
Benefits:
It is possible to control that the number of lists released for picking corresponds correlates to the amount of space free at the packing area.
Description:
The scheduled task ‘release withheld lists’ has been enhanced with a parameter for filtering the orders – with withheld lists to be released – based on the value of specific fields. An action class can be specified in the parameter for implementing the required filter. A new action class has been created for filtering based on the space which is free at the packing area.
Internal: How the extended filter works and the prerequisites for using it are described under ‘Release withheld lists at packing area’.
Example:
There is only a limited amount of space at the packing area. A picker still wants to pick as many orders as possible simultaneously. However, the packer does not want the entire packing area to be taken up by half-open cartons. In other words, the orders or shipments should ideally be transmitted to the picker in bundles. This is now possible thanks to the extended filtering for releasing withheld lists.
4. Interfaces
QA and lock notifications via feedback table
Relevant module: Host interface 207-16
Benefits:
There are new setting options providing greater flexibility: Feedback messages with information on quality assurance (QA) changes can now be deactivated. Messages about QA changes and locking/unlocking of stock can be configured at owner and logistics centre level.
Description:
There are new identification values for stock feedback messages in the feedback table (WARE_IN_QS_SETZEN, WARE_AUS_QS_NEHMEN, WARE_QS_GRUND_AENDERN, WARE_SPERREN, WARE_SPERREN_MINDERENTNAHME, WARE_ENTSPERREN). This allows all configuration options provided by the table to be used. The ‘WARE_SPERREN_ENTSPERREN’ (lock/unlock stock) and ‘WARE_SPERREN_MINDERENTNAHME’ (lock stock reduced retrieval) options are no longer available.
Automatic customer master maintenance
Relevant module: Automatic customer master maintenance via interface 207-21
Benefits:
This module enables automatic customer master maintenance in PROLAG®World without having to define an additional interface.
Description:
PROLAG®World creates a customer master data record for each transferred order or updates an existing record via the customer number. The data is taken from the order header. Exactly which values are taken can be configured. Data records that are no longer required are deleted by the user.
5. PROLAG®Go
Trace PROLAG®Go user view
Relevant module: PROLAG®Go 30x
Benefits:
For greater efficiency in handling support cases, the last user views called on the mobile device can be displayed showing the time they were called and the user entries made in the browser. This means that any incidents can now be resolved much faster.
Description:
If you select the log file for a mobile device, all times are listed at which a view was displayed to the user. The times at which the user made an entry are also displayed. If you select a time, the relevant view on the mobile device is displayed and the entry made by the user is highlighted.
Please note: This function can be used on an android device but is not supported by telnet.
Example:
You have an issue with a mobile process and report it to our support team. The CIM support team can retrace the process visually and find the cause of the problem more quickly.
Scan printer in ‘ready for shipping’ process
Relevant module: PROLAG®Go 30x
Benefits:
The ‘ready for shipping’ process can be used without a mobile printer if the printer for printing the shipping labels is scanned after a ‘ready for shipping’ list has been picked.
Description:
If the user is logged on at a workstation and the ‘scan printer on mobile device’ option is activated, the user is requested to scan a printer or printer station for the shipping labels after picking a ‘ready for shipping’ list.
Example:
Each picking area has a central printer for printing shipping labels. Once an article that is ready for shipping has been removed from storage, the user scans the printer in the picking area and the relevant shipping labels are printed.
Order picking: Confirm quantity by scanning destination load unit
Relevant module: PROLAG®Go 30x
Benefits:
If picking is performed using a transport trolley or multi-order picking (MOP), you can now scan the destination LU instead of entering the quantity. This avoids having to make lots of individual entries when you have a large number of picking operations with a large transport trolley. You save time and the process is automatically faster.
Description:
The ‘confirm quantity with destination scan’ option must be activated in the ‘configuration of mobile devices’ in the storage area of the source load unit. Users must scan the destination load unit instead of the quantity if they have collected multiple picking load units or a transport trolley (or scan the location barcode for location-managed transport trolleys).
The destination load unit does not have to be scanned in advance in this case.
Allow goods receipt items at mobile I-point
Relevant module: PROLAG®Go - mobile I-point 302-03_01
Benefits:
The host can transmit multiple goods receipt items for a purchase order item, for example, due to different SSCC pallets, different expiry dates or different batches. It is also possible to scan and post goods receipt items individually at the mobile I-point. This makes for a faster and more flexible goods issue process.
Description:
Up until now, it was only possible to select and post goods receipt items in the browser version of the I-point. This functionality is now also available at the mobile I-point. You can search for existing goods receipt items and select them. As with the browser I-point, purchase order items which have not yet been assigned goods receipt items can also be selected and posted in the system. In this case, the system creates goods receipt items automatically in the background. For both variants, you can configure which information is displayed in the goods receipt item selection template and how the information is sorted.
Exception:
With GS1 barcode storage, the search for scanned values at the I-point is based only on the purchase order items. The search in goods receipt items is based only on the SSCC mode.
Splitting options for additions to load unit/stock
Relevant module: PROLAG®Go - mobile processes basic package 300-01
Benefits:
The user can fill up the addition-to-stock location with part of the originally planned quantity if there is not enough space for the full quantity. A new location is found for the remaining stock units. PROLAG®Go helps your employees to react to unexpected situations quickly and flexibly.
Description / Example:
An employee making an addition to stock sees that it is not possible to add the full quantity of 10 pieces since the shelf only has space for eight pieces. The employee can press the ‘shelf full’ function key to enter the partial quantity; the shelf is flagged as occupied. The shelf is not considered by the location suggestion in PROLAG®World until there is another stock removal. The system looks for a new storage location for the remaining two pieces.
Reduced retrieval with QA lock
Relevant module: PROLAG®Go - mobile processes basic package 300-01 and quality assurance 206-01
Benefits:
Stock can be locked if a reduced retrieval is made from quality assurance (QA) and if necessary rebooked to a QS storage area. A host cost centre and/or host cost type can also be specified.
Description:
As part of the reduced retrieval functionality, it is now possible to lock the missing stock for QA instead of deleting/locking it. A host cost centre and/or host cost type can be set via the selected QA reason or defined separately. The stock can be rebooked to a QA area via the selected QA reason, which is a required field in this particular reduced retrieval mode. The data is deleted at the original storage location in this case although the stock remains locked for QA. A cost centre and/or cost type can be specified when stock is locked manually for QA.
6. PROSEND®
Packing area - Management of slots for packing units
Relevant module: 403-01 Packing area
Benefits:
This new feature saves time and costs during the packing process: You can have the system show your employees at the packing area the exact location of a suitable packing unit for a purchase order. This eliminates time wasted unnecessarily searching for packing units. It also prevents the scenario where the largest packing unit is always selected, again saving packing material and reducing costs.
Description:
A packing area definition is assigned at the packing area to an appropriately configured storage area where the packing units are managed on a location basis. The location barcode is queried when new packing units are created or when the convert LU to packing unit option is activated. The packing unit ID can be scanned when the goods are packed and/or the barcode of the storage location at which the packing unit is located. You can only create as many packing units as the specified storage area can accommodate with free space.
Example:
An employee is instructed to pack a purchase order containing 10 pieces of article 4711. A new packing unit named ‘shipping carton’ is created in the system. The location barcode of the packing unit is scanned, and the new packing unit is generated in the system at the appropriate location in the storage area. The employee scans the article number 4711, enters the packed quantity 10 pieces and then scans the location barcode of the packing unit again. From a system perspective, the goods for article 4711 with a quantity of 10 pieces are now packed in the packing unit.
Fast packing of orders with identical order structures
Relevant module: 403-01 - Packing area
Benefits:
The new feature considerably reduces handling times at the packing area: Fast packing using the lean packing area function is possible for lists picked in two-step picking which contain shipments with identical order structures.
Description:
The above lists are not split when they are taken to the consolidation area and, as soon as all related load units have arrived at the consolidation area, they can be found by the lean packing area. As soon as all load units have been booked to the packing area, the shipments can be automatically split and packed by choosing the ‘fast packing’ button. The user sees a message showing the number of units to be packed and the content of the packing units. If there is no packing unit type defined in the retrieval control, the user can select a type.
Example:
100 shipments each containing three pens, a packet of gummy bears and a gym bag are reserved, released and set down at the consolidation area. The employee at the packing area clicks on ‘find order’, looks for the shipments at the consolidation area and books all three load units to his or her packing area. When they click on ‘fast packing’, the user sees a message instructing them to pack 100 parcels each containing three pens, a packet of gummy bears and a gym bag. The shipping labels for the 100 parcels are printed as soon as the user confirms the message. The content of the individual packing units is displayed again so that the employee can start applying the shipping labels during packing.
Managing allowed packing areas
Relevant module: 403-01 - Packing area
Benefits:
The workstation configuration determines the packing area definitions from which lists can be collected for packing. You can also specify on which packing area definition the packing units are created. Your benefit: If packing is no longer possible at one workstation, the packing unit can be released and allocated to a different workstation.
Description:
It is now possible to configure that a new packing unit is created on the packing area definition for the workstation, instead of on the standard packing area definition at which the picking load unit is located. If the user is logged in via a workstation, a setting can be made to determine which source packing areas are allowed for packing. The entry is made in the ‘packing area definition’ field. If no entry is made, all packing areas are allowed. If an entry is made, a list can only be packed if it is located at a packing area which is entered in the workstation. There is also a new function called rebook list to different packing area. This function can be used to select one or more lists and rebook them to the relevant packing area.
Example:
There is a retrieval control ‘ALS_PACKPLATZ’ (AS_PACKINGAREA) with the packing area definition ‘PACKPLATZ’ (PACKINGAREA). There are also three workstations. An additional packing area definition has been created and entered for each workstation. If the picking load unit is set down at the general ‘PACKINGAREA’, the three workstations which do not have PACKINGAREA as their packing area definition can now also scan the list for packing. The packing area definition ‘PACKINGAREA’ simply has to be included as a ‘source packing area’. Lists from the PACKINGAREA are also accepted in this case, and the packing unit is created on ‘PACKINGAREA’ or on the packing area definition of the workstation.
Lean packing areas with lists which can be reserved for global shipments
Relevant modules: 203-06 Two-step picking, 403-01 - Packing area
Benefits:
This new function reduces handling times at the packing area since non-split lists picked in two-step picking can be processed at the lean packing area.
Description:
If there are load units at the consolidation area which can be reserved for global shipments but which have not been split, the entire picking package has to be transported to the packing area. The load units are automatically split in PROLAG®World when they are set down at the packing area and can then be packed. The number of picking packages must be limited in this process in order to make sure that there is sufficient space for the relevant load units at the consolidation area and at the packing area.
Example:
There are two load units which can be reserved for global shipments at the consolidation area. The load units contain shipments A, B and C. The next search by the lean packing area finds shipment A. Since the ‘global shipment reservation’ characteristic applies to this shipment, all load units belonging to the picking package must be taken to the packing area. As soon as all load units are at the packing area and have been split, shipment A is loaded and can be packed. Since shipments B and C are already at the packing area, they are processed next.
Enter transport vehicle in incoming PO item and stock
Relevant module: 202-02 Transport vehicle management at goods receipt
Benefits:
The transport vehicle used to deliver the goods can be traced and transmitted in the incoming purchase order item to the host system, for example. This allows for greater traceability in PROLAG®World.
Description:
Before a transport vehicle is closed, the system checks if there are still any open incoming purchase order items for the vehicle. If known, the transport vehicle from goods receipt is entered in PROLAG®World in the incoming purchase order item, the stock and the history.
Example:
When goods are delivered, the employee responsible for goods receipt accepts the delivery note and creates a transport vehicle with the delivery note number manually in the system. The transport vehicle is selected at goods receipt in PROLAG®World, the goods are entered in the system and the transport vehicle is entered in the incoming purchase order, the stock and the history. Once processing of the delivery note is complete, the transport vehicle is closed manually as long as there are no more open incoming purchase order items for the transport vehicle.
Pack identical articles only
Relevant module: 403-01 Packing area
Benefits:
This function ensures that only homogenous packing units are packed at the packing area. This enhances shipping quality since the parcel recipient does not have to search through multiple different articles. It also prevents articles which are not allowed to be shipped in the same packing unit from being packed together.
Description:
If the ‘pack identical articles only’ option is set in the delivery order, it is not possible to add different articles to the same packing unit at the packing area. Packing units that already contain a different article are greyed out. The display shows the employee how much of the selected article is still to be packed so that they know when the packing unit can be closed.
Example:
12 pieces of article 1001 and 5 pieces of article 1002 are required for a delivery order. At least one packing unit needs to be created for each article at the packing area for the goods to be packed as identical articles only.
Close packing unit automatically
Relevant module: 403-01 Packing area
Benefits:
The new setting speeds up processing at the packing area. Once stock or a stock subset has been added to a packing unit, the unit can be closed automatically without the employee having to explicitly choose the ‘close packing unit’ button.
Description:
The retrieval control can be configured such that a check is run to see if the packing unit should be closed automatically after stock has been added. If so, the packing unit is closed without any intervention on the part of the user.
Example:
There are 200 packing units to be packed, each containing only one article. To speed up the process, a setting is made in the system to trigger automatic closing of packing units. A considerable amount of time is saved if handling 200 packing units.
Packing area: Identify lists via article number
Relevant module: 403-01 - Packing area
Benefits:
This function makes PROLAG®World even more flexible and user-friendly: If there is no list number or load unit ID, lists can be identified at the packing area via the article number.
Description:
An article number or GTIN can be scanned at the packing area. A list that matches the article number is loaded. The goods are selected automatically and the default quantity is ‘1’, meaning that only one more packing unit needs to be scanned. While the list is being processed at the packing area, it cannot be called up by other packing areas. The prerequisite is that the employee is logged in via a workstation.
Example:
There is a load unit without a load unit ID at the packing area. The load unit contains goods for three different articles. The list is identified and the goods selected by scanning the article number. Once a packing unit has been scanned, the goods are packed.
Dachser: Telephone notification and additional texts
Relevant module: 403-54
Benefits:
Customers can now be additionally notified by telephone when goods are shipped by Dachser. It is also possible to transmit general information and delivery instructions electronically.
Description:
The telephone notification service option can now be selected in the shipping options for goods shipped by Dachser. The telephone notification can only be used if there is a telephone number specified in the relevant service info field. The shipping options are configured in the Dachser configuration file.
It is now possible to transmit additional texts to Dachser via PROLAG®World. A distinction is made between additional texts containing general information and additional texts containing delivery instructions. The texts are configured in the Dachser configuration file.
Packing area: Display all non-packed stock
Relevant module: 403-01 - Packing area
Benefits:
When users click on the ‘display all non-packed stock’ button, a pop-up window opens in which all non-packed stock for the current shipment is shown. This information provides users with a brief and easy-to-access overview of the shipment so that they can decide on the number and type of packing units required. As a result, fewer errors occur.
Description:
The pop-up window shows all non-packed stock for the shipment that has yet to be placed in a packing unit and packed at this packing area. Stock in the table can be filtered and sorted.
Example:
After opening the pop-up window, an employee immediately sees that a large volume of some heavy-weight stock is en route. The user decides to take a Euro pallet as the packing unit. As a result, there is no need to repack stock at a later point in time.
7. Production
Relevant modules: 403-02 and 403-03
Benefits:
Service quality is increased for customers because the recipient is automatically informed when goods are shipped.
Description:
The PROSEND® shipping system allows users to inform recipients automatically by email that their goods have been shipped. The email includes a list of all packing units that have been shipped. The shipping confirmation for parcel delivery services is created as soon as the relevant freight list has been closed. The shipping confirmation for forwarders is created when the transport vehicle is closed.
8. Automated warehouses
Automatic recording of production times
Relevant module: Production 50X
Benefits:
Automatic recording of production times for the Business Intelligence tool
Description:
The time required for production is now recorded automatically. The timespan from order selection through to completion of finished parts is measured.
Automatic changing of reservations in the event of malfunctions
Relevant module: Global processes 705
Benefits:
Guaranteed production supply and delivery if a stacker crane malfunctions, without the need for any manual intervention.
Description:
If a stacker crane malfunctions for a specific period of time, PROLAG®World checks the storage areas to which the crane is assigned. The system looks for reserved stock that has already been called off and is now waiting for retrieval. The reservation for this stock is changed but only when a suitable replacement is available. As a result, no shortage items are generated.
