Setting Up Mobile Warehouse Management in Infor M3: RF Devices, Barcode Scanning, and Real-Time Inventory
Modern M3 warehouses demand mobile-first operations where every receiving, putaway, pick, and ship transaction happens on handheld RF devices with barcode scanning. M3's warehouse mobility framework through MWS (Mobile Warehouse System) transactions provides real-time inventory accuracy, directed putaway, wave-based picking, and shipping confirmation. Poorly configured mobility setups force warehouse staff back to paper, destroying the ROI of the M3 investment.
RF Transaction Configuration and Device Setup
M3 warehouse mobility is built on MWS RF transactions that mirror standard M3 functions on mobile devices. MWS410 handles receiving, MWS420 manages putaway, MWS430 covers picking, and MWS440 processes shipping. Each RF transaction must be configured with the right field sequence, validation rules, and barcode scan points. Device configuration includes scan trigger mapping, display formatting, and network resilience for Wi-Fi dead zones.
- Configure MWS410 RF receiving with GS1-128 barcode parsing for PO number, item, lot, and quantity fields
- Set up MWS420 directed putaway with zone-based rules from MMS010 location master and capacity checks
- Enable MWS430 wave picking with cluster pick support for multi-order consolidated pick paths
- Configure offline transaction queuing on RF devices for Wi-Fi dropout resilience (max 50 buffered scans)
- Map device hardware keys to M3 function keys: Scan=Enter, Volume=Tab, Back=F3 for ergonomic operation
Pick-Pack-Ship Workflow and Barcode Integration
The pick-pack-ship workflow in M3 mobility connects customer order allocation in MWS170 through wave release in MWS180, RF picking in MWS430, pack confirmation in MWS450, and ship confirmation in MWS440. Barcode labels generated from MMS850 encode item, lot, serial, and location data. Scan validation at each step enforces accuracy—wrong item scans are rejected instantly, preventing mispicks before they reach the loading dock.
- Configure MWS170 allocation rules: FEFO for perishables, FIFO for standard, zone preference for heavy goods
- Set up wave templates in MWS180 with pick path optimization based on warehouse zone sequencing
- Enable MWS450 pack station with weight capture integration for carrier-compliant shipping labels
- Implement scan-to-verify at MWS440 ship confirm: scan each carton against manifest for 99.9% ship accuracy
- Generate ASN (856) documents automatically from MWS440 ship confirmation for EDI trading partners
Real-Time Inventory Accuracy and Performance Tuning
Warehouse mobility delivers real-time inventory visibility, but only if the underlying M3 configuration supports it. Cycle count programs in MWS420, real-time stock balance updates in MMS100, and location reconciliation processes ensure that M3's inventory picture matches physical reality. Performance tuning—transaction response times under 2 seconds on RF devices—requires optimized M3 job server configuration and network infrastructure.
- Implement ABC cycle counting via MWS060 with daily A-item counts, weekly B, and monthly C classifications
- Configure real-time stock balance updates: MMS100 STQT field updates within 3 seconds of RF scan confirmation
- Optimize M3 job server thread allocation for RF transactions: dedicate 30% of job capacity to MWS programs
- Set RF transaction timeout to 8 seconds with visual feedback at 3 seconds to prevent duplicate submissions
- Monitor warehouse KPIs: picks per hour (target 120+), putaway accuracy (99.5%+), ship accuracy (99.9%+)
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