Program: License Plate Number Conversion

This program lets you convert existing stock items currently held in bins into License Plate Numbers (LPNs), so that all in-bin stock is placed into LPNs before you continue processing transactions.

You typically run this program after enabling the Use license plate numbers setup option to ensure all existing bin stock is placed into LPNs; transactions cannot be posted until the conversion is completed.

Exploring

This program lets you convert existing stock items currently held in bins into License Plate Numbers (LPNs), so that all in-bin stock is placed into LPNs before you continue processing transactions.

You typically run this program after enabling the Use license plate numbers setup option to ensure all existing bin stock is placed into LPNs; transactions cannot be posted until the conversion is completed.

Things you can do in this program include:

  • Convert unassigned bin quantities to LPNs for a selected warehouse (conversion can be done in stages by warehouse)

  • Control containerization by selecting a container type and specifying a quantity per container to generate multiple LPNs per stock code/bin.

  • View generated LPNs created in the current run using the Generated LPN hyperlink.

  • Re-run conversion safely to process only unassigned quantities (items already assigned to LPNs are excluded from the conversion list.

This program is accessed from the Program List of the Syspro menu:

    Program List > Warehouse Management > License Plate Numbering and Containerization System > Setup

An LPN refer to an unique identifier assigned to a container that holds stock (e.g., pallet, carton, bin) for tracking through receiving, storage, movement, allocation/picking, dispatch, and counting.

An LPN may hold a single or multiple stock codes/lots depending on the setup options, Multiple stock codes per LPN, Multiple lots per LPN). Core metadata includes warehouse, bin, container, created date/by, and statuses (On Hold, Archived, Awaiting Put-away, In Transit, In Stock Take)

This refers to the physical type of container or storage (e.g., Pallet, Box, Cage) associated with an LPN, configured with dimensions, capacity, and label templates. Container Types are maintained in the Container Maintenance program and LPN Container Setup business object, which include the description, dimensions, maximum weight/volume, flags (default, stacking allowed, flexible volume), and associated label format.

A single global default container type must always be defined. When selecting a new default it clears the previous one so only one default container type will always exists at a time.
An optional default container can be stored against the stock code (Stock Code Maintenance) and is used when generating LPNs during receipting, if no stock code default is supplied, the global default container type is used.

LPN Conversion refers to a company-wide process performed after enabling the Use license plate numbers setup option (Setup Options > Configuration > Distribution > Inventory) to ensure that all existing stock items currently held in bins are placed into LPNs.

Run the License Plate Number Conversion or Stock Take LPN Conversion programs to complete the conversion.

Transactions cannot be posted once the setup option has been enabled, until conversion has been performed.

Starting

  • The Use license plate numbers setup option must be enabled (Setup Options > Configuration > Distribution > Inventory)

  • Ensure conversion execution is planned before day-to-day processing, as transaction can't be posted until conversion is completed.

The following configuration options in Syspro may affect processing within this program or feature, including whether certain fields and options are accessible.

The Setup Options program lets you configure how Syspro behaves across all modules. These settings can affect processing within this program.

Setup Options > Configuration > Distribution > Inventory

  • This requires entry of bins upon the receipt, issue or transfer of items and when capturing stock take information. The Purge and Archive program runs to ensure the default bin is inserted into existing lot records and their associated transactions against your traceable or ECC-controlled items. Run the Balance function of the Order Purge and Inventory Period End programs to ensure there are no quantities in ship without bin allocations and to transfer any qty on hand to the default bin.

  • Only available in a SQL environment and if multiple bins is in use. Initially, all warehouses using multiple bins are flagged as fixed bin warehouses. The Show Warehouses hyperlink lets you switch off this facility selectively for warehouses. Fixed bins requires a bin to exist in the WhmBin table before you can transact against it. If the Create bins at inventory transaction option is switched on, bins can only be created at transaction time for warehouses not using fixed bins.

    The Show Warehouses hyperlink is also used to maintain the WMS control options against the warehouse (Warehouse Maintenance).

  • This indicates that WMS License Plate Numbering is required. When enabled, existing stock items in bins are placed in LPNs.

    When this setup option is enabled, stock must be received into a warehouse and the Associate serials by bin setup option must be enabled. Run the License Plate Number Conversion or Stock Take LPN Conversion program to ensure all stock items that are currently in bins are placed into LPNs. Transactions can't be posted if the conversion wasn't done.

    This setup option can't be disabled after the conversion was done or a license plate number was created.

  • LPN options:

      • This indicates whether multiple stock codes can be allocated to one license plate number.

        This setup option can't be disabled if multiple stock codes have been placed in an LPN.

      • This indicates whether multiple lots can be allocated to one license plate number.

        This setup option can't be disabled if multiple stock codes have been placed in an LPN.

  • The Use license plate numbers setup option can't be disabled after conversion is done or once an LPN has been created.

  • LPN Conversion is required before operational posting can continue when WMS License Plate Numbering are enabled.

  • Enabling LPNs becomes permanent once conversion is performed or an LPN is created.

Solving

The conversion list only displays stock with unassigned quantities that still need to be placed in LPNs

Yes.

Conversion can be performed in stages per warehouse, enabling a phased roll out.

Enabling LPNs becomes permanent once conversion is performed or an LPN is created.

Using

  • Columns in a listview are sometimes hidden by default. You can reinstate them using the Field Chooser option from the context-sensitive menu (displayed by right-clicking a header column header in the listview). Select and drag the required column to a position in the listview header.

  • Fields on a pane are sometimes removed by default. You can reinstate them using the Field Selector option from the context-sensitive menu (displayed by right-clicking any field in the pane). Select and drag the required fields onto the pane.

    The captions for fields are also sometimes hidden. You can select the Show Captions option from the context-sensitive menu to see a list of them. Click on the relevant caption to reinstate it to the form.

    If the Show Captions option is grayed out, it means no captions are hidden for that form.

  • Press Ctrl+F1 within a listview or form to view a complete list of functions available.

The License Plate Number Conversion process is as follows:

  • Select the warehouse and indicate the bin selection to be converted.

  • Select Start Review to load the stock codes that require LPN conversion.

    The conversion listview only displays stock codes with quantities that are not yet assigned to an LPN. Stock codes that are already fully assigned to an LPN are excluded from this list.

  • The listview displays bin stock with Unassigned Quantities that require assignment to LPNs.

  • Define how stock is split into containers. For each listed row, enter the Quantity per container to control how many units are assigned to each generated LPN.

    For example:

    If the Unassigned quantity is 100 and you want 10 units per container, enter 10 in Quantity per container so that the conversion generates 10 LPNs of 10 units each. If you enter 15, the conversion generates 7 LPNs in total: 6 LPNs of 15 units and 1 LPN of 10 units (to allocate the remaining quantity).
    If no Quantity per container value is entered for a row, the conversion does not generate an LPN for that row.

  • Select Generate LPNs

  • Select the View LPNs hyperlink to review the License Plate Number(s) (LPNs) generated for the stock code based on the Quantity per container value entered.

The License Plate Number (LPN) format is a date+sequence format (CCYYMMDD+sequence). This will indicate a visible creation date in the number itself and rolling sequential number.

The following indicates the possible status codes that can be assigned to a License Plate Number (LPN). These statuses are implemented on header-level flags on the LPN record (i.e. the field used to control whether an LPN can be selected/processed in receipts, movements, allocations, picking, and stock take)

Status Description

On Hold

This indicates that the LPN is temporarily blocked from operational processing. It is used to restrict processing until the relevant action/task is completed or the hold is cleared (e.g., it cannot be moved/allocated/picked while on hold)

Awaiting Put-away

This indicates the LPN has been created/received and is pending put-away.

In Transit

This status indicates that the LPN is in a transfer state (e.g., Goods-In-Transit processing) and is not available for normal selection until it is received/confirmed at the destination.

In Stock Take

This indicates the LPN is currently part of an active stock take process, and operations on an LPN are not allowed when this flag is set.

Archived

This indicates the LPN is no longer operationally active and is retained for audit/history purposes. Setup option LPN archiving (Setup Options > History > Distribution > Inventory) must be configured.

Referencing

This displays data according to the selection criteria indicated. The function is enabled when you first load the program and then by selecting the Change Criteria option.

Field Description

Warehouse

Indicates the warehouse for which you want to convert existing bin stock into LPNs

Bin selection

Indicates bin selection if you only want to convert a single or range of bins.

This lets you generate LPNs after the Quantity per container has been populated.

Field Description

Bin

Indicates the bin currently being processed for conversion. This field is read-only and reflects the bin context for the row displayed.

Stock code

Indicates the stock code of the item whose unassigned bin quantity must be placed into LPNs. This field is read-only and reflects the item requiring conversion.

Container

Indicates the container type to use when generating LPNs for the unassigned quantity.

Unassigned quantity

Indicates the full quantity on hand in the bin that has not yet been assigned to any LPNs. This represents the quantity that still requires conversion for the row displayed.

Quantity per container

Indicates the quantity to assign to each generated LPN for the selected row. This value determines how many LPNs are created for the unassigned quantity.

For example:

If the Unassigned quantity is 100 and you want 10 units per container, enter 10 in Quantity per container so that the conversion generates 10 LPNs of 10 units each. If you enter 15, the conversion generates 7 LPNs in total: 6 LPNs of 15 units and 1 LPN of 10 units (to allocate the remaining quantity).

Generated LPNs

After Generate LPNs has been selected a View LPNs hyperlink will appear.

Selecting it will open the License Plate Numbers Browse program read-only view of the LPNs generated in the current run of the conversion. Use this to verify that the expected LPNs, as indicated in Quantity per container were created and populated for the row processed.

License Plate Number Conversion program calls the LPN Pallet Make up business object to perform the underlying conversion processing and validations.