Configuring a Node

The Sterling Warehouse Management System has been designed to support a Level 2 or Level 3 warehouse. This ensures that the Sterling Warehouse Management System automatically supports the Level 1 warehouse.

The following table lists the standard capabilities of different Warehouse Levels and their adoption rate (Source: AMR Research).

Table 1. Warehouse Levels and Capability
WMS Level Capability Adoption
Level 1 Manual picking & receiving operation

No location level inventory

35%
Level 2 Order release with pre-sequencing, sorting and grouping

Real time stock updates

Limited storage capabilities/location level inventory

45%
Level 3 Task management

Real time optimization

Cross dock and flow through processing

Radio frequency integration

Material handling equipment

20%
Level 4 Advanced labor planning

3D coordinates

Cost optimization of pick path and slotting

Facility and equipment design integration

Advanced scenario simulations

Less than 2%

A warehouse may be configured using either the “Application Consoles” interface or “Networked WMS” interface, depending on the kind of functionality that the node requires.

A node that uses the “Networked WMS” interface has all the WMS features available, irrespective of it being Level 1 or Level 3. On the other hand, a node using the “Application Consoles” interface has lesser features available.

The need for “Application Consoles” interface is explained in these use-cases:

For more information about these interfaces and how to configure them, see the Configuring system-wide settings.

Table 2. Application Consoles Functionalities
Functionality Availability in Interface
Warehouse layout: Location, Zone definition No
Inventory: Location level inventory/LPN inventory No
Count No
Task Management No
Receipt No
Inspection Yes
Putaway No
Kitting: Made to Stock & Made to Order Yes
Shipment creation and confirmation Yes
ESP Check No
Shipment Routing No
Pick List Print Yes
Wave planning No
Containerization Yes
Batching No
Replenishment No
Picking No
Packing Yes
Shipping Labels Yes
Pack List Yes
Post pick VAS No
Build Pallet containing Cases No
BOL Print Yes
Note: For more information about defining node attributes, see the Configuring system-wide settings.