FEFO/FIFO selector agent

A day with the FEFO/FIFO selector

Picture a store supervisor at a packaged-foods distributor who sends out lots with different expiry dates every day. This is how the rule works when a delivery order is turned into a pick list.

1. A delivery order is raised. The sales order is ready to dispatch and a delivery order lists the items and quantities.
2. The supervisor creates the pick list. For each line, Kinnow lists the active lots of that item in that warehouse that have stock available.
3. The lots are put in order. With FEFO, the lot that expires first comes first, lots with no expiry come last, and ties go to the older receipt. With FIFO, the oldest receipt comes first.
4. Quantities are taken lot by lot. If one lot is not enough, the line is split across lots. A line that cannot be covered is flagged short, with the missing quantity.
5. The picker confirms each line. When she confirms, Kinnow checks again against live stock. If a fresher receipt has brought in an earlier-expiry lot since the list was made, a warning is recorded. The pick still goes through.
6. The supervisor reads the warnings. A pattern of warnings means pick lists are made too long before they are picked, so the supervisor shortens the gap.

What it reads and what it hands back

A fixed rule in picking, not a guess.

What a person decides

• The rule. You choose FIFO or FEFO when the pick list is made. FEFO suits items that expire.
• The pick. The picker confirms each line. A warning does not block the pick, because the stock is already in her hand, but it is recorded.
• Shortfalls. A person decides whether to wait for stock, split the delivery or tell the customer.
• What it never does. It never dispatches, moves or writes off stock on its own. Nothing is filed, paid or posted without a person.

Ask Kinnow about stock lots

Ask Kinnow answers only from records you may see. Questions a supervisor might type:

• "Which lots of this item expire in the next 30 days?" Lists the lots, quantities and expiry dates.
• "Which delivery orders came up short last week?" Lists the lines and the missing quantities.
• "Where is batch B-2231 now?" Shows the stock holding that lot and where it sits.

Works with

This rule runs inside pick lists in Stock & ship. It works with Stock Forecaster and Slow-mover Detector, and the capabilities Right bin, right item, first time and Spoiled stock stopped before it ships. The glossary explains FEFO and FIFO.

Questions