Flows for production, assembly, and projects
Internal flows, such as picking components and putting away end items for assembly, projects, and production orders are similar to inbound or outbound flows. Many of the processes might seem familiar. This article provides information about how to work with internal warehouse flows with various levels of complexity.
Overview of different configuration options
You can configure warehouse features in various ways. It's important that the options you choose improve your processes without causing overhead. The following tables describe typical configurations for dealing with physical goods for production, projects, and assembly orders.
Inbound flow (put-away)
| Complexity Level | Description | Settings | Bin Code | Inbound Flow of Production Order | Inbound Flow of Assembly Order | Inbound Flow of Projects |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No dedicated warehouse activity. | Posting from orders and journals. | Optional. Controlled by the Bin Code is Mandatory toggle. | Production Journal -> Output Journal NOTE: You can post output using Production Journal. |
Assembly Order | Put-away isn't applicable for projects | |
| Basic | Order-by-order. | Production Output Whse Handling: Inventory Put-away. NOTE: You can still post output directly from the source documents at locations where you activated these settings. |
Optional. Controlled by the Bin Code is Mandatory toggle. | Production Order -> Inventory Put-away | Assembly Order | Put-away isn't applicable for projects |
| Advanced | Consolidated put-away activities for multiple source documents. | No dedicated settings | Optional. Controlled by the Bin Code is Mandatory toggle. | Production Order(s) -> Output Journal | Assembly order(s) -> internal movements | Put-away isn't applicable for projects |
| Advanced | Same as above plus directed pick/put-away activities | Directed Pick and Put-away (dependent toggles are enabled automatically) | Mandatory | Same as above | Same as above | Put-away isn't applicable for projects |
Some configurations don't let you use dedicated warehouse documents to register put-aways. However, if your location uses bins you can use generic movement documents to move produced or assembled items to warehouse. Learn more at Moving Items.
Outbound flow (pick)
| Complexity Level | Description | Settings | Bin Code | Outbound Flow of Production Order | Outbound Flow of Assembly Order | Outbound Flow of Projects |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No dedicated warehouse activity. | Posting from orders and journals. | Optional. Controlled by the Bin Code is Mandatory toggle. | Production Journal -> Consumption Journal NOTE: You can post consumption using a Production Journal. |
Assembly Order | Project -> Project Journal | |
| Basic | Order-by-order. | Production, Assembly, Projects: Inventory Pick, Inventory Movement NOTE: You can still post consumption directly from the source documents at locations where you activated these settings. |
Optional. Controlled by the Bin Code is Mandatory toggle. | Production Order -> Inventory Pick | Assembly Order -> Inventory movement The Inventory Movement can be used only with bins. |
Project -> Inventory Pick |
| Advanced | Consolidated pick activities for multiple source documents. | Production, Assembly, Projects: Warehouse Pick | Optional. Controlled by the Bin Code is Mandatory toggle | Production Order(s) -> Warehouse Pick -> Consumption Journal | Assembly order(s) -> Warehouse Pick | Project(s) -> Warehouse Pick -> Project Journal |
| Advanced | Same as above + Directed pick/put-away activities | Directed Pick and Put-away (dependent toggles are enabled automatically) | Mandatory | Same as above | Same as above | Same as above |
Warehouses without dedicated warehouse activity
Even if you don't use dedicated warehouse activities, you might want to track things like consumption and production output. The following articles provide information about how to process receipts for source documents.
- Register Consumption and Output for One Released Production order line
- Assemble Items
- Record Consumption or Usage for Projects
Basic warehouse configuration
Flows to and from production in a basic warehouse configuration
The inbound and outbound flows in a basic warehouse configuration involve the following settings on the Location Card page for the location:
- For the inbound flow (put-away), in the Prod. Output Whse. Handling field, select Inventory Put-away.
- For the outbound flow (pick), in the Prod. Consumption Whse. Handling field, select Inventory Pick/Movement.
Use Inventory Pick documents to pick production components in the flow to production. To put away the products you produce, use Inventory Put-away documents.
For locations that use bins, inventory movement documents are especially useful for component flushing. To learn more about how component consumption is flushed from To-Production or Open Shop Floor bins, go to Flushing production components in the warehouse.
Note
Inventory movements are important documents if you're using Pick + Forward or Pick + Backward flushing methods. Learn more at Flushing methods.
- The To-Production Bin Code, From-Production Bin Code, and Open Shop Floor Bin Code fields on the location or the machine/work center define the default flows to and from production areas.
- Manage the movement of produced items on the Internal Movement page without a relation to a production order.
Flows to and from assembly in a basic warehouse configuration
The outbound flow in a basic warehouse configuration involves the following settings on the Location Card page for the location:
- For the outbound flow (pick), in the Asm. Consumption Whse. Handling field, select Inventory Movement.
Use Inventory Movement documents to pick assembly components in the flow to assembly. Post assembly output and consumption directly from an assembly order.
Note
Inventory Pick and Inventory Put-away documents aren't supported for assembly orders.
For locations that use bins:
- Use Inventory Movement documents to move assembly components to the assembly area.
- The To-Assembly Bin Code, From-Assembly Bin Code fields on the location card define default flows to and from assembly areas.
- Manage the movement of assembled items on the Internal Movement page, without a relation to an assembly order.
Business Central supports assemble-to-stock and assemble-to-order assembly flows. Learn more at Understanding Assemble to Order and Assemble to Stock. In relation to warehouse management, assemble-to-stock is part of the internal warehouse flow, and assemble-to-order is in the outbound warehouse flow. Learn more at Handling Assemble-to-Order Items with Inventory Picks.
Flows for project management in a basic warehouse configuration
The outbound flow in a basic warehouse configuration involves the following settings on the Location Card page for the location:
- For the outbound flow (pick), in the Project Consumption Whse. Handling field, select Inventory Pick.
Use Inventory Pick documents to pick project components in the flow to project management.
For a location that uses bins, the To-Project Bin Code field on the location defines the default flows to project management.
Advanced warehouse configurations
Flows to and from production in advanced warehouse configurations
The outbound flow in an advanced warehouse configuration involves the following settings on the Location Card page for the location:
- For the outbound flow (pick), in the Prod. Consumption Whse. Handling field, select Warehouse Pick (optional) or Warehouse Pick (mandatory).
Use the Warehouse Pick documents and the Pick Worksheet page to pick components for production.
Note
Warehouse Put-away documents aren't supported for production output.
For locations that use bins:
- Warehouse Movement documents and the Movement Worksheet page are especially useful for component flushing. Learn more at Flushing production components in the warehouse.
- The To-Production Bin Code, From-Production Bin Code, and Open Shop Floor Bin Code fields on the location or machine/work center define the default flows to and from production areas.
- Manage the movement of produced items on the Movement Worksheet or Whse. Internal Put-away pages, without a relation to a production order.
Flows to and from assembly in advanced warehouse configurations
The outbound flow in an advanced warehouse configuration involves the following settings on the Location Card page for the location:
- For the outbound flow (pick), in the Asm. Consumption Whse. Handling field, select Warehouse Pick (optional) or Warehouse Pick (mandatory).
Use Warehouse Pick documents and the Pick Worksheet page to pick components for assembly.
Note
Warehouse Put-away document isn't supported for assembly orders.
For locations that use bins:
- The To-Assembly Bin Code and From-Assembly Bin Code fields on the location define the default flows to and from assembly areas.
- Manage the movement of assembly items on the Movement Worksheet or Whse. Internal Put-away pages, without a relation to an assembly order.
Business Central supports assemble-to-stock and assemble-to-order assembly flows. Learn more at Understanding Assemble to Order and Assemble to Stock.
Assemble-to-stock is part of the internal warehouse flow, and assemble-to-order is in the outbound warehouse flow. Learn more at Handling Assemble-to-Order Items in Warehouse Shipments.
Flows to project management in advanced warehouse configurations
The outbound flow in an advanced warehouse configuration involves the following settings on the Location Card page for the location:
- For the outbound flow (pick), in the Project Consumption Whse. Handling field, select Warehouse Pick (optional) or Warehouse Pick (mandatory).
Use Warehouse Pick documents and the Pick Worksheet page to pick components in the flow to project management.
For locations that use bins, the To-Projects Bin Code field on the location defines the default flows to the project area.