20 Crucial Warehouse Management System Questions to Answers Your 2024 Interview
The role of a Warehouse Management System (WMS) in modern supply chain operations is more critical than ever, particularly with the growing complexity of global logistics. Oracle Fusion WMS offers comprehensive features that help businesses optimize warehouse operations, improve inventory accuracy, and streamline order fulfilment. If you're preparing for an interview focused on WMS, particularly Oracle's solution, knowing the right questions and answers is key to standing out.
1. What is the Oracle Fusion Warehouse Management System (WMS)?
Answer: Oracle Fusion WMS is a cloud-based solution designed to optimize warehouse operations by automating processes, improving inventory visibility, and streamlining order fulfilment. It integrates with Oracle Fusion Cloud SCM and other ERP modules, offering real-time insights and scalability for businesses of all sizes.
2. Can you explain the key features of Oracle Fusion WMS?
Answer: Key features include:
Inventory visibility: Real-time tracking of inventory across multiple locations.
Wave and batch picking: Automated workflows for efficient order picking.
Labour management: Tracking and optimizing workforce productivity.
RFID and barcode scanning: Automated data capture for accuracy.
Integration with transportation management: Streamlining shipping and logistics.
3. How does Oracle Fusion WMS handle inbound and outbound logistics?
Answer: Inbound logistics involve receiving, away, and inventory adjustments. Outbound logistics cover order picking, packing, shipping, and delivery. Oracle Fusion WMS provides automated workflows to manage these processes efficiently, with features like cross-docking, wave picking, and automated shipping documentation.
4. What are the different types of picking strategies available in Oracle Fusion WMS?
Answer: Oracle Fusion WMS supports multiple picking strategies, including:
Discrete picking
Wave picking
Batch picking
Zone picking
5. Can you explain the concept of wave management in Oracle Fusion WMS?
Answer: Wave management in Oracle Fusion WMS allows for grouping multiple orders into a single wave, which can then be released for picking. This improves efficiency by reducing the number of trips workers must make and helps prioritize high-priority orders.
6. How does Oracle Fusion WMS improve inventory accuracy?
Answer: Oracle Fusion WMS improves inventory accuracy through real-time tracking, automated data capture using barcode or RFID scanning, cycle counting, and accurate transaction logging for inbound and outbound activities. This minimizes errors and reduces inventory discrepancies.
7. What is cycle counting, and how is it implemented in Oracle Fusion WMS?
Answer: Cycle counting is a process where specific subsets of inventory are counted at regular intervals to ensure accuracy. Oracle Fusion WMS allows you to set up automated cycle counting schedules based on item velocity, location, or category parameters. This helps maintain accurate inventory records without requiring full physical stock counts.
8. How does Oracle Fusion WMS handle multi-location inventory management?
Answer: Oracle Fusion WMS enables centralized inventory management across multiple warehouses or storage locations. It provides real-time visibility into stock levels, facilitates inventory transfers between locations, and optimizes replenishment and fulfilment across all sites.
9. How does Oracle Fusion WMS integrate with other Oracle SCM modules?
Answer: Oracle Fusion WMS integrates with other Oracle Supply Chain Management modules such as Inventory Management, Order Management, Procurement, and Transportation Management. This ensures a cohesive flow of information across the supply chain, from procurement to fulfilment and shipping.
10. What are the benefits of using RFID technology in Oracle Fusion WMS?
Answer: RFID technology in Oracle Fusion WMS provides real-time tracking of inventory movement, reduces manual entry errors, and accelerates processes like receiving, picking, and shipping. It also enables more accurate and efficient cycle counts and inventory audits.
11. Can you explain how Oracle Fusion WMS supports cross-docking?
Answer: Cross-docking in Oracle Fusion WMS allows goods to be unloaded from inbound shipments and directly loaded onto outbound shipments without being stored in inventory. This reduces handling time and speeds up the fulfilment process for high-priority orders.
12. What is task management in Oracle Fusion WMS?
Answer: Task management refers to the system's ability to assign and track warehouse tasks such as picking, packing, receiving, away, and inventory counting. Oracle Fusion WMS allows for the automatic assignment of tasks based on predefined criteria such as worker availability, skill set, and workload.
13. How does Oracle Fusion WMS handle labour management?
Answer: Oracle Fusion WMS includes labour management features that allow warehouse managers to track worker performance, assign tasks based on productivity metrics, and optimize labour resources. It provides visibility into worker efficiency and helps schedule shifts to meet demand.
14. How does Oracle Fusion WMS support kitting and de-kitting processes?
Answer: Oracle Fusion WMS supports both kitting and de-kitting. Kitting refers to assembling individual items into a single unit (kit) for sale, while de-kitting breaks down kits into separate components. The system manages inventory levels of kits and personal items, ensuring accurate stock control.
15. Can you explain how Oracle Fusion WMS supports replenishment?
Answer: Replenishment in Oracle Fusion WMS ensures optimal stock levels. The system uses predefined rules to trigger replenishment based on minimum and maximum inventory thresholds, sales velocity, and demand forecasts, ensuring timely stock availability for order fulfilment.
16. What is a warehouse control system (WCS), and how does Oracle Fusion WMS interact with it?
Answer: A Warehouse Control System (WCS) manages material handling equipment like conveyors, sorters, and automated storage systems. Oracle Fusion WMS integrates with WCS to provide real-time instructions and data, ensuring smooth coordination between warehouse processes and equipment.
17. How does Oracle Fusion WMS support returns management (reverse logistics)?
Answer: Oracle Fusion WMS provides tools for handling returns efficiently. It tracks returned items, assesses their condition, and updates inventory accordingly. The system supports workflows for restocking, refurbishing, or disposing of returned goods, as well as refund or replacement processes.
18. What is directed putaway, and how is it used in Oracle Fusion WMS?
Answer: Directed putaway refers to the automated process of determining the most optimal storage location for received goods based on criteria such as item type, size, and warehouse layout. Oracle Fusion WMS uses predefined rules to store inventory efficiently for easy access and retrieval.
19. How does Oracle Fusion WMS handle shipping and carrier integration?
Answer: Oracle Fusion WMS integrates with Oracle Transportation Management (OTM) and third-party carriers to manage shipping processes. It automates tasks such as carrier selection, shipping label generation, shipment rating, and tracking, ensuring timely and cost-effective shipping.
20. Can you explain the role of dashboards and reporting in Oracle Fusion WMS?
Answer: Oracle Fusion WMS dashboards and reporting provide real-time visibility into warehouse operations. They offer insights into key performance indicators (KPIs) like inventory accuracy, order fulfilment rates, labour productivity, and shipment efficiency. These reports help managers make informed decisions and continuously improve warehouse performance.
