Wave Picking for Production Orders with Advanced WMS in Microsoft Dynamics AX

Editor's Note: This represents the second of a 3-part series about production order picking and receiving, and is drawn from Warehouse Management using Microsoft Dynamics AX: 2016 Edition.

The warehouse management capabilities of an integrated ERP system provide critical support and coordination for production in many manufacturing scenarios. This three-part series focuses on the Advanced WMS capabilities within Microsoft Dynamics AX 2012 R3 and the new Dynamics AX, and how they support issuing material to a production order and reporting a finished quantity. These capabilities also apply to batch orders. The first part covered production order picking, and this second part covers wave picking for production orders. The third part covers production order receiving.

A wave picking approach commonly refers to a grouping of released production orders. A single wave contains the raw material picking work for multiple orders. The grouping is termed a production wave or wave for short. The contents of a production wave can be planned and then released. In order to explain wave planning, it is easiest to start with a typical business process, and explain the related life cycles, reversing transactions, and significance of the wave status. These topics are reflected in the following sections within the article.

1. Typical Process for Production Wave Planning
2. Life Cycles Related to Wave Planning for Production 
3. Reversing Transactions in Production Wave Planning
4. Status of a Production Wave

1. Typical Process for Production Wave Planning  

A typical ...