How to Support a Dynamic Replenishment Strategy in Microsoft Dynamics AX WMS

If you are looking for a flexible replenishment option for your warehouse operations, read on for an explanation and short case study on the Wave Demand Replenishment functionality available in standard Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012 R3 through the Warehouse Management module (WMS).

The term "replenishment" can have many different meanings in the context of Supply Chain Management.  This article will focus specifically on restocking fixed, forward picking locations from bulk storage locations within a warehouse operation.  This set-up is particularly useful in Retail distribution operations where large volumes of small products in many variants are picked frequently for Customer and Store order fulfillment.  While you could deploy a static replenishment strategy, based on min/max quantities, a more flexible option may be preferred, based on dynamic order demand quantities.

Wave Demand Replenishment allows companies to configure this type of dynamic replenishment strategy.  The system accomplishes this by evaluating the source demand quantity during wave execution, determining whether it can be fulfilled from the primary picking location(s), and if necessary, creating replenishment work to bring the appropriate quantity forward.  If replenishment work is generated from this process, the user must complete it before order picking can commence.  The picking work will be frozen by the system until the replenishment work has been finished.  This ensures that the full quantity will be available in the primary picking location(s) to fulfill the source order demand.

The following configurations are required to utilize the Wave Demand Replenishment functionality.

• Replenishment Templates
• Wave Templates
• Location Directives
• Work Templates
• Mobile Device Menu Items

See additional information below.

Replenishment Templates

Access: Warehouse management > Setup > ...