Inbound logistics covers the management of transportation, sourcing, procurement, and storage of raw materials and components needed for production. It is a vital part of overall supply chain operations, ensuring that materials reach the facility efficiently and on time.
Key aspects of inbound logistics include:
This article explores inbound logistics best practices for putaway and receiving using Oracle EBS and Oracle SCM Cloud. You’ll also learn how the latest mobile supply chain management solution and mobile barcode scanners help solve connectivity issues, validate data, and streamline inbound processes.
The receiving function is critical in ensuring that only quality goods enter the warehouse. It determines the accuracy, compliance, and condition of items received from suppliers or other plants. If incorrect or damaged goods are accepted, customer satisfaction and operational efficiency suffer.
Material handlers typically:
Accurate, real-time data entry using mobile barcode scanners ensures smooth operations and prevents stockouts or backlogs. Damaged or delayed goods can cause production delays, poor service levels, and higher warehouse costs.
The goal of every receiving department should be real-time and error-free data capture at the dock, directly updating ERP systems like Oracle EBS or Oracle Inventory Cloud.
Adopt modern mobile supply chain management solutions for Oracle Inventory and WMS. Use barcode scanners or mobile apps to record goods receipts in real time and update ERP systems instantly.
Connectivity problems reduce material handler productivity. Traditional solutions like Oracle MSCA don’t work offline. Propel Apps’ mobile supply chain platform supports offline operations for hours or even days, ensuring 100% data capture.
Data accuracy is essential. Whether online or offline, all information must be validated before updating Oracle Inventory or WMS. Poor data quality can lead to major tracking and reporting errors.
Train teams to handle damaged, delayed, or incorrect shipments properly. Propel Apps’ platform provides real-time guidance based on EBS configuration rules.
Set measurable goals, such as reducing putaway time or simplifying inspection. Use LPNs for small-quantity items to minimize scanning steps and improve efficiency.
When possible, eliminate unnecessary steps like receiving or storage by shipping directly to customers or distribution centers. Drop shipping reduces handling and shortens lead time.
Oracle Inventory Management allows direct delivery to on-hand storage locations. This routing method increases speed and visibility across warehouse operations.
Align purchase quantities with consumption and shipping quantities. For example, order materials in gallons if production uses them that way. Matching UOMs reduces repacking and handling.
Skip unnecessary stages. Use direct putaway methods over traditional ones to save time and labor.
ASNs improve visibility and planning for supply chain operations. They help schedule trucks, equipment, and labor in advance.
Configure Oracle WMS rules to reduce item fragmentation and place items in optimized locations. Directed putaway lowers operational costs and improves efficiency.
Capture photos and condition details of non-compliant receipts. Share these with suppliers for faster resolution.
Classify suppliers based on reliability—A, B, or C. Use machine learning and mobile apps to guide inspection workflows for low-quality suppliers.
Automate label reading and image capture using Vision Systems. This reduces manual inspection time and improves accuracy.
Record exceptions such as full locators. Use Oracle WMS workflows to trigger cycle counts and identify root causes quickly.
Pre-generate and print LPNs to save time during receiving. This simplifies label printing and improves throughput.
Focus on high-priority or fast-moving items first. Prioritized putaway prevents out-of-stock issues and ensures inventory availability.
Automate putaway using Oracle WMS system-directed tasks. This prevents manual mistakes and ensures items are stored in optimized locations.
Propel Apps’ platform enables prioritization of overdue or high-value POs and ASNs. This helps manage large inbound volumes effectively.
Oracle WMS supports capturing lot and serial details during receiving for better traceability. This is especially valuable for manufacturing and regulated industries.
Use Oracle WMS Advanced Task Framework to automate material moves and inbound flows. This reduces travel time and improves throughput.
Decentralized printing allows warehouse teams to print labels on demand using mobile printers—no need for central print stations.
Not all goods arrive in perfect condition. Provide material handlers with PO/ASN-based return apps to manage returns efficiently from the staging area.
Use cross-docking in Oracle WMS to move inbound goods directly to shipping or production without staging or storage. This saves time and space.
Adopting these inbound logistics best practices enables smoother warehouse operations, greater visibility, and improved accuracy across the supply chain operations.
Propel Apps, an award-winning mobility solutions provider, helps organizations using Oracle and SAP ERPs build custom mobile strategies. With 100+ enterprise mobility projects delivered, Propel Apps empowers businesses across manufacturing, retail, logistics, and finance to modernize inbound logistics through its advanced mobile supply chain management solutions.
