Business Benefits

The Radio Frequency (RF) system provides Operators using hand-held RF devices with the ability to access specific functions.

In addition to recording a physical or cycle count manually (e.g., on a count sheet/ticket) RF users may also scan and record actual inventory levels in a "real-time" fashion. Optionally, this also enables counts to be recorded while inventory levels are changing (i.e., because of receiving, picking, moves, etc.). This feature is known as a "Hot Count".

Note: For other RF01-related documentation see RF01 - RF Menu.

Usage

Dependent upon the requirements of the defined count (see Pre-Conditions section for details) an RF user will scan/record different amounts of count data.

The RF.01 - Count Stock option may be also be used to replace or supplement the manual recording of count data that is performed with the job PI.30 [Count - Enter].

Defaults for Counting

Prior to counting stock within a specific warehouse and for a specific client it is possible to set a number of defaults to expedite the recording of counts with RF. The optional default settings include:

• Automatically displaying the next ticket #.
• Controlling the next field to display after a ticket is updated.
• Recording conveyance IDs before or after associated stock.

These are recorded in job RF.94 [Counting - Default Parameters].

Preconditions

The following steps must be performed prior to recording count data with the RF.01 - Count Stock option. Review the PI system documentation for full Physical Inventory/Cycle Counting set-ups.

• Define a Count using PI.20 [Count - Maintain/Generate].
  Set Field 4 - Count with RF = "Y"
  Set Field 6 - Lock Out Options = 1 to 3 for Cold Counts and 0 for Hot Counts
  Set Field 9 - Print Tags = 1 for Blind Count and 2 for System Generated Count
• Generate a Range of Tickets for Blind Counts in PI.22 [Tags - Generate Blank/External].
  
   
• Print Tickets with job PI.28 [Tickets - Print]. (This step sets the status of the count so that both manual and RF counting may proceed.)

Subsequent Actions

Following is a partial list of tasks that may be performed after completing counting with the RF.01 - Count Stock option:

• View the Count Status with RF.01 [R.F. Menu] - Inquiry - Count Stock.
• Print and view quantity differences between count and system/book values using PI.56 [Physical vs Book - Report].

List of Features

The following describes miscellaneous features and where they are used/activated in the RF.01 - Count Stock option.

1. Create a New Blank/External Ticket

To create a new blank/external ticket enter "B" from the Ticket # field. This feature is used to record unexpected stock during a System generated count or to create an additional ticket if an insufficient number of tickets were created (e.g. for a Blind count).

2. New Lots

If a new Lot is found during a count then the system will display a message of this fact. The new lot is created in inventory with the same adjustment date as that used for updating the count in job PI.72 [Count - Update].

3. Count Conveyance IDs in Random Sequence

Currently, the system will assign tickets numbers to stock for a count in the sequence: 1- Location, 2- Client, 3- Product, 4- Lot, 5-Conveyance ID.

If location A1-001A is a bulk/floor locations then the Conveyances may have been received and stored and subsequently moved/handled in a random fashion.

The likelihood that a counter will be ABLE to access and count the Conveyance IDs in ticket number sequence is very low. If the counter were to attempt to count the stock in this manner then it would probably be necessary to move/handle the stock multiple times which would increase the duration and cost of the count.

To minimize the time and cost related to counting multiple Conveyances in a location the user may select the following option from the RF.01 Count Stock option, Count Sequence by Conveyance.

Next, the system will prompt the user to scan a Conveyance and then recall/display the associated Ticket. If the Conveyance contains mixed stock (i.e., multiple Products, Lots, etc.) then the system will list the stock associated with the Conveyance and prompt the user to select the specific stock that is being counted.

Related Videos: Count - Blind Count - System Generated Count Stock Note: To exit a video completely, click the e-Z Learn (back) button.