1. Lesson 25: Task Management
Lesson 7: Task Management Framework
Lesson 25: Task Management
Seeing how tasks to accomplish activities are defined and viewed
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2. Lesson 7: Task Management Framework
Objectives
Lesson 7: Task Management Framework
After completing this unit, you should be able to:
Describe Activity Groups and Activity Codes
Define Tasks Types
Manage Task Exceptions
Access is restricted to NWCG System Admin and in some cases Cache System Admin users.
Notes:
Copyright 2002 Sterling Commerce, Inc. All rights reserved.
Configuring a WMS Solution Yantra Company Confidential

3. What is an Activity Group?
Lesson 7: Task Management Framework
A system defined categorization of all the activities that support a process in a Node
Highest level in the Task Management Hierarchy
Governs Putaway and Retrieval Preferences
Notes:
Activities in the warehouse are grouped into Activity Groups. Yantra WMS provides a pre-defined set of activity groups for a warehouse. Examples of activity groups include Receiving, VAS, Picking and Packing. Each activity group is associated with activity codes that define each activity that is performed. For example, receiving activity group has Pre-Receiving, Receiving, Receive Return, and Trailer Unload activities.
Reference:
WMS_Configuration_Guide.pdf > Configuring Receiving
Copyright 2002 Sterling Commerce, Inc. All rights reserved.
Configuring a WMS Solution Yantra Company Confidential

4. What is an Activity Code?
Lesson 7: Task Management Framework
Represents a unique physical activity performed to support a process in a warehouse
Notes:
Activity codes can be associated with:
Activity Groups
Abstract Transactions
Activity Codes may be defined only when the WMS tree is loaded for Node / Hub combination.
Activity Codes are further defined through configuring Activity Constraints for the code. Although the codes in the Receiving Group are impacted by Activity Constraints, we will discuss Activity Constraints and their relevance in a later unit in this course which allows for a better learning context.
Navigation:
Define an activity code: navigate to Configurator > Applications > Warehouse Management > Receiving > Activities. Under the Receipt Activity Group add a new Activity Code and its description.
Copyright 2002 Sterling Commerce, Inc. All rights reserved.
Configuring a WMS Solution Yantra Company Confidential

5. The Task Management Framework
Lesson 7: Task Management Framework
Provides the infrastructure to perform specific physical activities in a warehouse
Task Management configuration enables you to set up your warehouse to:
Optimize node throughput
Maximize worker efficiency
Notes:
Task Management Framework is leveraged across all WMS processes requiring physical movement of inventory in a node or physical processing against inventory, as in the case of Value Added Services, in a node.
Task Management configuration enables you to set up your warehouse to optimize node throughput and maximize worker efficiency.
Copyright 2002 Sterling Commerce, Inc. All rights reserved.
Configuring a WMS Solution Yantra Company Confidential

6. Lesson 7: Task Management Framework
What is a Task?
Lesson 7: Task Management Framework
A discrete unit of work performed in a warehouse
A single Task Request may result in the creation of multiple tasks
Example:
Move 10 each of NFES from Loc A to Loc B
Can be dependent on one another
Can be batched together for efficient execution
Notes:
A task has associated statuses and is usually tracked and managed by node supervisors. A task can be assigned to a resource manually by a supervisor and can be intelligently suggested, based on node defined preferences, by Yantra to an appropriate resource using the mobile terminal.
Tasks have a variety of attributes of which one is a priority setting to determine which tasks are more critical than others. Another attribute is its status. Valid task statuses are:
Open: Task is available to be worked by a resource
Suggested: It has been assigned to a resource
In Progress: It is mid activity
Held: Task currently cannot be worked by a resource
Completed: The task was successfully carried out by a resource
Cancelled: The task is no longer required and will not ever be suggested to a user
One task may require that another task is completed before it can be completed.
Copyright 2002 Sterling Commerce, Inc. All rights reserved.
Configuring a WMS Solution Yantra Company Confidential

7. Lesson 7: Task Management Framework
What is a Task Request?
Lesson 7: Task Management Framework
Communicates the details of a task that needs to be performed
Can be initiated:
By business process modeling as part of a transaction in a pipeline
Putaway Tasks are generated on closing a Receipt
By authorized users including users external to the node
User generates a Move Request to move items to the Quality Check location for Inspection
Notes:
The Task Management Infrastructure is utilized in order to have any activity performed. Yantra ships with default Task Request Types including:
Retrieval Request: request made to retrieve products or containers to a location in a node
Putaway Request: request made to stow away products or containers from a location in a node
Count Request: request created to check inventory accuracy by counting specific inventory in a node
Build Kit Request: request made to transform existing inventory or create physical kits from multiple components at a location in a node
Break Kit Request: request made for breaking physical kits into its components at a location in a node
Tip:
The concept of a “Chained Request” exists where one Task Request may spawn another Task Request. For example, Request “Build Kit” may spawn a related “Retrieval” request to bring the components to the Kit Assembly location. Chaining happens at the Task Request line level Configuring listeners can propagate status changes where appropriate from Child Request to Parent Task Request Line.
Reference:
WMS_Concepts.pdf > Task Management
Copyright 2002 Sterling Commerce, Inc. All rights reserved.
Configuring a WMS Solution Yantra Company Confidential

8. Lesson 7: Task Management Framework
What is a Summary Task?
Lesson 7: Task Management Framework
-Grouping of related tasks that support completion of an activity
-Has attributes such as a non-summary task
-May be made up of other summary tasks and/or non-summary tasks
Notes:
A single summary task may be dependent upon the completion of another summary or non-summary task before it can be considered completed.
Copyright 2002 Sterling Commerce, Inc. All rights reserved.
Configuring a WMS Solution Yantra Company Confidential

9. Lesson 7: Task Management Framework
What is a Task Type?
Lesson 7: Task Management Framework
A configured code that represents a unique physical activity in a node
Controls the creation and execution process of an activity
Task Type examples:
RF Putaway to Storage
Paper Batched Putaway to Storage
Order Pick
Notes:
A Task Type exists in the context of an Activity Group. A single Task Type is associated to a specific Activity Code.
Navigation:
View Task Types: navigate to Configurator > Warehouse Management > Task Management > Task Types. The Task Types window on the right shows all the existing task types.
Copyright 2002 Sterling Commerce, Inc. All rights reserved.
Configuring a WMS Solution Yantra Company Confidential

10. Task Execution Exception
Lesson 7: Task Management Framework
Occurs when a task cannot be executed as presented to the user
Can trigger:
Configured system defined processes to occur
Implementation specific service flow to occur
Example Exceptions:
Material cannot be picked from suggested location
Material cannot be deposited in suggested location
Task is being skipped by User
Examples of System defined process:
Alternate Location Selection
Freeze Location
Hold Task
Notes:
Copyright 2002 Sterling Commerce, Inc. All rights reserved.
Configuring a WMS Solution Yantra Company Confidential

11. Defining a Task Execution Exception
Lesson 7: Task Management Framework
Notes:
Define each of the Codes required to support the different Putaway or Pick Exceptions that may occur for an Enterprise/Node Combination. Specify expected system behaviors when the exception occurs such as Inventory Status Change or Suggest Alternate Location.
Navigation:
Define a Task Exception: navigate to Configurator > Warehouse Management > Task Management > Execution Exceptions. On the Execution Exceptions page on the right hand side, select the Deposit/Pick/Skip tabs and click the Create New icon.
Copyright 2002 Sterling Commerce, Inc. All rights reserved.
Configuring a WMS Solution Yantra Company Confidential

12. Lesson 7: Task Management Framework
View Task Detail
Lesson 7: Task Management Framework
Notes:
To view the details of a task, in the Task List page, select any Task and click View Details.
Each Task will have related detailed information:
Header information for the task itself
The Inventory associated with the task
The locations associated with the task
Associated process related references
The Primary References for a task are system defined and can be viewed in the Task Type setup.
Copyright 2002 Sterling Commerce, Inc. All rights reserved.
Configuring a WMS Solution Yantra Company Confidential

13. Lesson 7: Task Management Framework
Task Console
Lesson 7: Task Management Framework
Notes:
Management and Monitoring of all tasks are done through Task Console. Selecting the Task type view supplies a summary view of all tasks of a specific type for a node.
Navigation:
Access the Task Console: log on to the WMS console as a WMS user and navigate to Task > Task Console.
Copyright 2002 Sterling Commerce, Inc. All rights reserved.
Configuring a WMS Solution Yantra Company Confidential

14. Lesson 7: Task Management Framework
Viewing Task Details
Lesson 7: Task Management Framework
Notes:
Task Type view shows summary information including the:
Number of tasks by Task Type that exist
Number of users logged in who are eligible to perform the Task Type
How many users are currently performing that Task Type
Whether any of the tasks are at risk of not being completed by their request “Finish No Later” than time.
Copyright 2002 Sterling Commerce, Inc. All rights reserved.
Configuring a WMS Solution Yantra Company Confidential

15. Lesson 7: Task Management Framework
Lesson 14 Summary
Lesson 7: Task Management Framework
In this lesson, you should have learned:
The Task Management Framework is an infrastructure that enables placement and monitoring of requests to perform specific physical activities in a Node
A Task Type is a configured code that represents a unique physical process in a Node
A Task Execution Exception occurs when a task cannot be executed as presented to the user
Notes:
Copyright 2002 Sterling Commerce, Inc. All rights reserved.
Configuring a WMS Solution Yantra Company Confidential

16. Lesson 7: Task Management Framework
Questions?
Lesson 7: Task Management Framework
Notes:
Copyright 2002 Sterling Commerce, Inc. All rights reserved.
Configuring a WMS Solution Yantra Company Confidential