Slotting Rules
Slotting Rules let you define where Products should be stored in a Warehouse. They are checked during Put-Away and Relocation so operators can be blocked from using the wrong Location or warned before placing inventory somewhere undesirable.
Rules use Product classifications from Product Profiles and Handling Classes, then compare those Products to Locations, Racks, Zones, or Location Tags.
How to Create a Slotting Rule Set
- Navigate to Operations -> Warehouse -> Slotting Rules.
- Click Add Rule Set.
- Choose the Warehouse where the rule set applies.
- Fill in the Name field.
- Add one or more rules.
- Save the rule set.
- Enable the rule set when it is ready to enforce.
Rule sets let you manage several related rules together. For example, you might create separate rule sets for cold storage, hazardous materials, oversized Products, or seasonal layout changes.
Rule Parts
Each rule has three main parts:
- Subject - The Products the rule applies to, chosen by Merchant, Product Profile, or Handling Class.
- Relation - Whether the rule requires, forbids, prefers, or discourages the placement.
- Object - The Locations, Racks, Zones, or Location Tags the relation applies to.
Rule Types
- Require - The Product must be placed in the selected area. Scanning a Location outside that area is blocked.
- Forbid - The Product must not be placed in the selected area. Scanning a matching Location is blocked.
- Prefer - The selected area is preferred. Other Locations can show a warning before the operator continues.
- Discourage - The selected area is discouraged. Matching Locations can show a warning before the operator continues.
Scanner Behavior
During Put-Away and Relocation, ShipStream checks active Slotting Rules after the operator scans a destination Location.
- Hard violations from Require or Forbid rules block the placement.
- Warnings from Prefer or Discourage rules can be acknowledged when the workflow allows it.
- Warehouses with no active Slotting Rules continue to use the normal Put-Away and Relocation flow.
Conflict Checks
ShipStream checks active rule sets for conflicts so you can find policies that would leave a Product with no valid Location. Review conflict warnings before enabling a new rule set for warehouse use.