mcp-wms-wiki/wiki/modules/slotting.md

title, type, sources, related, last_compiled

title	type	sources	related	last_compiled
Slotting	module	areas/slotting/index.md areas/slotting/slotting_desk/index.md areas/slotting/slotting_desk/slotting_desk_demand.md areas/slotting/slotting_desk/slotting_desk_slotting.md areas/slotting/slotting_desk/slotting_desk_recommendation_picking.md areas/slotting/slotting_desk/slotting_desk_generate_mov.md areas/slotting/slotting_desk/slotting_desk_recommendation_job.md areas/slotting/slotting_warehouse/slotting_warehouse_execute_move.md areas/slotting/configuration/slotting_configuration.md areas/slotting/parameters.md areas/slotting/Jobs.md areas/slotting/notificationevents.md	concepts/picking.md concepts/replenishment.md concepts/location.md concepts/product-item.md concepts/warehouse-designer.md	2026-04-10

Slotting

Overview

The Slotting module optimizes the placement of items in picking locations to minimize travel time and maximize space utilization. It analyzes item demand (historical, current, or forecasted), calculates optimal picking locations for each item based on distance from the shipping dock and rotation speed, and generates stock movement tasks to relocate items to their optimal positions.

Key benefits: reduced picking travel distances, balanced workloads, better space utilization, and data-driven continuous improvement.

Scope: manual warehouses only. Requires picking dedicated locations (PDL) configuration.

Key capabilities

• Three demand analysis modes: historical, current (active orders), and future (external file import)
• Item rotation ranking by stop speed (picks per day) and quantity speed
• Recommendation algorithms: by PDL (dedicated picking locations) or by all picking locations
• Golden zone: prioritizes locations at or below a configured height for ergonomic picking
• Sub-warehouse and zone isolation: slotting stays within configured zones
• Kit support: breaks down kit components for individual rotation analysis
• Grouped picking awareness: wave/group/fusion orders counted accurately in stop calculations
• Cost/benefit analysis: daily profit estimate per recommendation based on distance saved and operator cost
• Continuous slotting job: automated periodic recommendations with notification when benefit threshold met
• Warehouse 2D heat map: (with Slotting installed) displays picking activity intensity per location

Architecture

Slotting workflow

1. Demand analysis → 2. Item rotation list → 3. Slotting recommendations → 4. Selection → 5. Movement generation → 6. Execution

Step 1 - Demand analysis:

• Historical: analyzes shipped orders in a configured time period
• Current demand: analyzes active shipping orders (status: waiting, released; excludes grouped and replenishment orders)
• External file: analyzes future demand data from user-provided file

Step 2 - Item rotation list:

• Each item receives: Stop Speed (median picks/day), Quantity Speed (median units/day), Total quantity, Number of stops
• List can be manually edited: add/remove items, adjust speeds

Step 3 - Slotting recommendations:

• Two recommendation types:
  • PDL only: uses only existing picking dedicated locations; item assigned to PDL → replenishment manages stock
  • All picking locations: uses any location allowing picking; non-PDL locations get direct move tasks; PDL locations get assignment + replenishment

Step 4 - Selection:

• User reviews recommendation list (Slotting view, sorted by daily profit estimate)
• Selects items to slotting, discards others
• "Allow picking dedicated location" action converts a non-PDL to PDL when executing
• Red-highlighted rows = max capacity or max containers = 0 → must manually edit volumetrics before execution

Step 5 - Movement generation:

• "Execute slotting" action generates movement tasks
• PDL recommendations: new item assigned to PDL; old item unassigned; replenishment levels configured per SLOTTING_REPLENISH_LEVEL; slotting movement tasks for currently-in-place stock
• Non-PDL recommendations: direct stock movement task from origin to slotting location

Step 6 - Execution:

• Slotting tasks coexist with other warehouse tasks (no location blocking required)
• Progress visible in Tasks view
• Recommended procedure: execute in groups of items → move each group → repeat

Daily profit calculation

Daily profit = (Distance_current_location - Distance_slotting_location) × (SLOTTING_VELOCITY × SLOTTING_COST_HOUR)

• Distance measured from location to reference shipping dock
• Golden zone bonus: all locations at or below SLOTTING_GOLDEN_ZONE height are prioritized before higher locations

Configuration

Required setup

1. Configure warehouse layout (aisles, shelf positions, dock reference) in EasyS/EasyAssistant
2. Define picking dedicated locations with item assignments and volumetric data (volume, weight capacity)
3. Configure slotting parameters (see below)

Key parameters

Parameter	Default	Description
SLOTTING_GOLDEN_ZONE	1.5 m	Maximum height for priority picking locations
SLOTTING_VELOCITY	-	Average equipment speed (km/h) for distance/time calculation
SLOTTING_COST_HOUR	-	Average operator cost per hour (€/h or currency unit)
SLOTTING_MAX_PL_PER_ITEM	-	Maximum PDLs that can be assigned to one item
SLOTTING_MIN_PL_PER_ITEM	-	Minimum PDLs per item
SLOTTING_CONTAINER_REPLENISH	-	Whether replenishment is always by container
SLOTTING_REPLENISH_LEVEL	-	Replenishment capacity configuration for PDLs after slotting
SLOTTING_BUFFER_LOCATION	-	Buffer location code for slotting temporary storage

Continuous slotting job

Automatically runs demand analysis and calculates recommendations periodically. If estimated daily benefit exceeds a configured threshold, sends notification to warehouse managers. Parameters control frequency and benefit threshold.

Operations

UI paths (PC)

• Item Rotation view (Slotting menu): review and edit item rotation list
• Slotting view (Slotting menu): review recommendations, select items, execute slotting
• Slotting Analysis view (Slotting analysis menu): review historical analysis data
• Tasks view: monitor generated slotting movement tasks

Warehouse 2D heat map

When the Slotting module is installed, the warehouse 2D map (Warehouse Designer) shows a heat map layer displaying picking activity intensity. Enables visual identification of hotspots and underutilized areas.

Errors & troubleshooting

Issue	Cause	Resolution
Red rows in Slotting view	Max capacity or max containers = 0	Edit volumetrics for the location or item manually before executing
Recommendation shows 0 benefit	Origin and destination location are the same	Already optimally placed; no movement needed
Slotting tasks blocked	Location locks or stock reservations on origin/destination	Check task queue; slotting coexists but may be queued behind other tasks

Related

• picking - Slotting optimizes the locations where picking tasks are executed; PDLs feed replenishment
• replenishment - After slotting, PDLs are managed by replenishment strategies (top-off, demand, etc.)
• location - Picking dedicated locations are the target of slotting; volumetric data on locations required
• product-item - Item rotation speed, ABC classification, and volume data drive slotting recommendations
• warehouse-designer - 2D heat map visualization enabled with Slotting module