mcp-wms-wiki/wiki/concepts/task.md

---
title: "Task"
type: concept
sources:
  - areas/tasks/index.md
  - areas/tasks/tasks.md
  - areas/tasks/automatic_tasks.md
  - areas/tasks/movements.md
  - areas/tasks/semiautomatic_tasks.md
  - areas/tasks/automatic_tasks_manual_warehouse.md
  - areas/tasks/picking_tasks_manual_warehouse.md
  - areas/tasks/ERP/counts/cor.md
related:
  - concepts/location.md
  - concepts/container.md
  - concepts/stock.md
  - concepts/putaway.md
  - concepts/picking.md
  - concepts/shipping.md
  - concepts/replenishment.md
  - concepts/count.md
last_compiled: "2026-04-10"
---

# Task

## Overview

A task is the fundamental unit of guided work in Easy WMS. It represents a physical movement to be performed within the warehouse: moving a container or loose stock from a source location/station to a destination location/station. Tasks are how the WMS communicates to operators (or automated systems) exactly what physical action to perform and in what order.

Tasks abstract the complexity of warehouse routing: the system handles compound routes, work zone restrictions, and equipment capabilities automatically. An operator on an RFT simply receives a task and executes it; they don't need to know which intermediate stations are involved. The same model applies to automatic warehouses, where tasks drive the AS/RS, AGVs, and conveyors.

Every significant warehouse process generates tasks: putaway, picking, shipping, replenishment, counts, crossdocking, kitting, defragmentation, and more. A task is always associated with a process type and a task type, which together define the exact operation required and which operators/equipment can execute it.

## Types

### Classification: Process type × Task type

Easy WMS distinguishes **process type** (the business process this task belongs to) from **task type** (the physical operation the operator/machine performs). The same task type (e.g., "Picking") can appear under different process types (e.g., Picking, Kitting, Replenishment, Dekitting).

| Process type | Task type | Description |
|---|---|---|
| **Putaway** | Putaway | Manual warehouse: deposit container or loose stock at storage location |
| **Putaway** | Approach | Automatic warehouse (Pick & Pass): move containers with putaway tasks in P&P sub-warehouses |
| **Putaway** | Movement | Extract empty containers to PS; extract non-empty containers to PS |
| **Picking** | Picking | Direct picking: RF/voice terminal (manual) or at picking conveyor (automatic) |
| **Picking** | Negative picking | Automatic warehouses only: negative pick at PK conveyor |
| **Picking** | Approach | Automatic warehouse (Pick & Pass): move containers with picking tasks |
| **Picking** | Cut | Cut-to-location: cut specified length from roll/coil; leave remainder at location |
| **Picking** | CutSupply | Move roll/coil to cutting station for controlled cutting |
| **Crossdocking** | Shipping | Move crossdocked stock to buffer location |
| **Crossdocking** | Loading | Move crossdocked stock directly to dock |
| **Crossdocking** | Putaway | Move crossdocked stock to warehouse storage location |
| **Crossdocking** | Replenishment to buffer | Replenish tense flow buffer from crossdocked stock |
| **Count** | Location count | Physical count of all stock in a location (manual warehouses) |
| **Count** | Container count | Physical count of a container's contents (manual and automatic) |
| **Count** | Item count | Physical count of a specific item across locations (manual and automatic) |
| **Replenishment** | Container replenishment | Move container to picking dedicated location (PDL); also for empty container stacking |
| **Replenishment** | Stock replenishment | Move loose stock to PDL |
| **Replenishment** | Picking | Replenishment between sub-warehouses (picking task variant) |
| **Replenishment** | Shipping | Replenishment between sub-warehouses (shipping task variant) |
| **Shipping** | Shipping | Move container to buffer, consolidation station, or packaging location |
| **Shipping** | Loading | Move container to dock for truck loading |
| **Kitting** | Picking | Pick kit component stock for assembly |
| **Kitting** | Shipping | Move container to kit assembly conveyor/station |
| **Dekitting** | Picking | Pick a kit for disassembly |
| **Dekitting** | Shipping | Move container to assembly station for disassembly |
| **Movement** | Movement | Generic moves: container/stock relocation, stacker management, PK picking, cart distribution, container reallocation |
| **Reject** | Reject | Container rejection to designated location |
| **Defragmentation** | Movement | Move stock/containers to consolidate and optimize space |
| **Defragmentation** | Shipping | Move defragmented stock toward shipping |
| **Picking locations emptying** | Movement | Empty dynamic picking locations |
| **Production** | Production | Manufacturing module: supply tasks for production lines |

### Automatic warehouse vs. manual warehouse tasks

In **manual warehouses**, tasks are executed by operators using RFTs, voice terminals, or workstations. The physical movement is performed by a human using forklifts or on foot.

In **automatic warehouses**, tasks are executed by automated systems (AS/RS, AGVs, conveyors). The object must always be a container (never loose stock directly, as stock needs a container to move through the automated system). Container tasks include precise X/Y coordinates within rack locations.

## Lifecycle

```
[Process event occurs]
        ↓
   Task CREATED (pending movement generation)
        ↓
   PENDING — waiting for movement to be generated
        ↓
   GENERATED — movement created, no operator/machine assigned yet
        ↓
   IN PROCESS — currently being executed
        ↓
   FINISHED — task completed successfully
   
   (at any point from Generated or In Process)
        ↓
   CANCELED — task stopped by user action
```

### Status transitions

| Status | Description |
|---|---|
| **Pending** | Task created but movement not yet generated. System is calculating route or waiting for conditions. |
| **Generated** | Movement(s) created and ready for execution. Appears in operator queues. |
| **In Process** | Operator/equipment has started the task. Stock or container is being moved. |
| **Finished** | Task completed. Stock/container is at destination location. |
| **Canceled** | Task stopped. Container/stock remains where the operator reports leaving it. |

## Tasks and movements

The task defines **from where to where** (source station → destination station). The actual path may pass through multiple intermediate stations. Easy WMS decomposes the task into **movements** — each movement covers one segment (one station to the next).

Each segment has a configured **manager** (who/what executes it):
- **RF**: human operator with radio frequency terminal
- **Galileo** (or equivalent): automated system (AS/RS, conveyor controller)
- **Voice**: voice-directed operator
- **Workstation**: pick-to-light / workstation operator

**Example**: A task moves a container from Station A to Station B via C, D, and E:
- A→C: Galileo (AS/RS)
- C→D: RF (operator)
- D→E: Galileo
- E→B: RF (operator)

This creates 4 movements. Each completes before the next begins. The task is complete when the container reaches B.

**Movement statuses**: Pending → In Execution

Movement release (reset In Execution → Pending) is available for resolving incidents, especially in automatic warehouses.

## Business rules

- **Cannot manually complete** picking, counting, replenishment (stock replenishment type), kit assembly, or consolidation tasks. These must be completed through their respective processes.
- **Task assignment** to user or equipment respects work zone restrictions — if the equipment cannot access the required work zone or aisle, the task will not be executable.
- **Equipment incompatibility**: equipment that cannot transport the container type specified in the task is ineligible.
- **Priority** drives task sequencing within a process queue (lower number = higher priority; values: Very Low, Low, Normal, High, Urgent).
- **Task cancellation**: container stays where the operator reports it (user must indicate the location, including position for rack locations or depth for channel locations).
- **Equipment release**: allowed only when task is in Generated state (processed quantity = 0, no containers moved).
- **Count tasks** cannot have their equipment released.

## Configuration

### Task execution order

For manual warehouse RF execution, the priority ordering is:

**Automatic tasks (general):** Round number → Priority → Empty channel → Stackability → Distance (picking route) → Aisle side (right first) → Height (low to high) → Creation date

**Picking tasks:** Round number → Priority → Empty channel → Stackability → Picking route → Aisle side → Height → Creation date

**Shipping tasks:** Round number → Priority → Empty channel → Stackability → Distance → Creation date

**Wave picking:** Priority (of the wave/orders assigned) → Route path (right and left sides, low to high — no second rounds)

**Order picking (RF):** For task selection: assigned to user/equipment first → Priority → Release date. For task execution: same as automatic tasks.

### Semi-automatic mode

Allows tasks to be initiated by reading a container or location with stock, rather than receiving an explicit task assignment. Available task types: shipping, replenishment, putaway, movement, rejection.

**Flow:**
1. Operator reads container or location with loose stock
2. WMS shows summary of the best pending task (location, item if stock task, task type, destination, container to load)
3. Operator clicks Start → task assigned → enters standard task flow
4. WMS may propose additional tasks en route to optimize movements

Transactions are generated by the underlying process (not by semi-automatic mode itself).

**UI:** "Semi-automatic mode" from the "Tasks" menu (RFT).

## Interface

| Function | Hardware | Menu path |
|---|---|---|
| Tasks management and monitoring | PC | Warehouse → Tasks |
| Movement management | PC | Control → Movements |
| Automatic task distribution | PC | Warehouse → Tasks |
| Semi-automatic mode | RFT | Tasks → Semi-automatic mode |
| Manual task execution | RFT | Tasks → (process-specific options) |

### Available operations from Tasks view (PC)

| Operation | Restrictions |
|---|---|
| Manual task end | Not allowed for: picking, counting, stock replenishment, kit assembly, consolidation |
| Task cancellation | Container stays at location reported by user |
| Assign task to user | Respects work zone restrictions |
| Assign task to equipment | Respects type/zone/aisle restrictions |
| Unassign user | Only if task not yet in execution |
| Unassign equipment | Only if task not yet in execution |
| Priority change | Very Low / Low / Normal / High / Urgent |
| Equipment release | Only if In Process with zero processed quantity and no moved containers; not for count tasks |

## Common errors

| Symptom | Cause | Solution |
|---|---|---|
| Task stuck in Generated | Assigned equipment offline or cannot access work zone | Release equipment; reassign to available equipment or leave unassigned |
| Task created but not assignable | Equipment type incompatible with container type in task | Assign different equipment; check equipment container type configuration |
| Task cannot be manually completed | Task type is picking, counting, stock replenishment, kit assembly, or consolidation | Complete via the appropriate process screen (picking station, count screen, etc.) |
| Movement stuck In Execution | Automatic system malfunction or communication failure | Use Movement Release to reset to Pending; investigate automation incident |
| Canceled task — container not found | Operator reported wrong location at cancellation | Run a count or check Last Known Location; resolve via Lost & Found if needed |
| Task not generated after process trigger | Work zone restriction prevents any available equipment from executing | Check work zone configuration and available equipment |

## Related

- [[location]] — tasks always have a source and destination location; location type (rack, compact, etc.) determines coordinate precision in tasks
- [[container]] — most automatic warehouse tasks move containers; task references container code and type
- [[stock]] — stock tasks (picking, replenishment) specify item, quantity, and logistic attributes
- [[putaway]] — putaway process generates Putaway tasks; PIE/MU/TRL/ALM stations trigger automatic task creation
- [[picking]] — picking process generates Picking tasks; wave/group picking generates batches of tasks
- [[shipping]] — shipping process generates Shipping and Loading tasks for consolidation and dock delivery
- [[replenishment]] — replenishment generates Container replenishment or Stock replenishment tasks to PDLs
- [[count]] — count processes generate Location count, Container count, or Item count tasks