Pre-defined transfer schedule between nodes

Transfer schedules determine when nodes receive product from procurement nodes and thus affect the expected shipment date of the order.

You define a transfer schedule by configuring the time that it takes to transfer product between nodes and when product ships. You can configure a schedule with multiple shipments in a day or only a few shipments per week. For example, you can configure a transfer schedule that allows shipping on only Mondays and Thursdays or configure a different transfer schedule that allows shipping on Monday through Friday with shipments at 10 AM, 12 noon, 2 PM, 4 PM, and 6 PM.

You can specify a default transit time, which can be overridden by transit times specified for particular days of the week or hours of the day.

When a transfer schedule is configured with multiple cutoffs in a day, do not use the "Use End of Shift" parameter.

In addition to transfer schedules, Sterling Order Management System uses the procuring nodes' receiving calendar, shipping calendar, and receipt processing time to calculate the Expected Ship Date (ESD) of the order.

Example 1 - Transfer schedule with shipments on Mondays and Thursdays

In this example, a transfer schedule is defined between the Portland and Boston warehouses where shipments are scheduled two days per week.

Assume the following conditions:

  • The Portland warehouse works 6 days a week with Saturday as an off day.
  • Both nodes work from 8 AM to 8 PM.
  • The receipt processing time is 1 hour.
  • Transit time between nodes is 4 hours.
  • Transfer schedule ship days are Monday and Thursday.
  • Product availability is "on-hand".
  • The "Request to Ship Order" is "as soon as possible".

Table 1 shows the day and time that the product ships from the Portland warehouse and arrives at the Boston warehouse.

Table 1. Day and time when product ships from Portland and arrives at Boston
If current day and time is... And "Use End of Shift" is set to... Product is shipped from Portland... Product arrives at Boston...
Friday 1 PM Yes The upcoming Monday at 8 PM Tuesday at 12 midnight
Friday 1 PM No The upcoming Monday at 9 AM Monday at 1 PM
Monday 1 PM Yes The same day at 8 PM Tuesday at 12 midnight
Monday 1 PM No The same day at 1 PM Monday at 5 PM
Monday 7 PM Yes The same day at 8 PM Tuesday at 12 midnight
Monday 7 PM No Thursday at 9 AM Thursday at 1 PM

Example 2 - Transfer schedule with multiple shipments per day

In this example, a transfer schedule is defined between the Nashua and Boston warehouses where shipments are scheduled multiple times a day, Monday through Friday.

Assume the following conditions:

  • Both warehouses work 6 days a week with Saturday as an off day.
  • Both nodes work from 8 AM to 8 PM.
  • The receipt processing time is 1 hour.
  • Transit times between nodes are defined in the transfer schedule, as shown in Table 2.
  • Ship times and days are defined in the transfer schedule, as shown in Table 2.
  • Product availability is "on-hand".
  • The "Request to Ship Order" is "as soon as possible".
Table 2. Node transfer schedules between Nashua and Boston nodes
Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday
  4 hours Transit time, ship at 10 AM 4 hours Transit time, ship at 10 AM   4 hours Transit time, ship at 10 AM 4 hours Transit time, ship at 10 AM  
      3hours Transit time, ship at 11 AM    
  2 hours Transit time, ship at 2 PM 2 hours Transit time, ship at 2 PM 2 hours Transit time, ship at 2 PM 2 hours Transit time, ship at 2 PM 2 hours Transit time, ship at 2 PM
6 hours Transit time, ship at 8 PM 6 hours Transit time, ship at 8 PM 6 hours Transit time, ship at 8 PM 6 hours Transit time, ship at 8 PM 6 hours Transit time, ship at 8 PM 6 hours Transit time, ship at 8 PM  

Table 3 shows the day and time when product ships from the Nashua warehouse and arrives at the Boston warehouse.

Table 3. Expected shipment dates at Boston node
If current day and time is... Product is shipped from Nashua... Product arrives at Boston...
3 PM Sunday Sunday at 8 PM Monday at 2 AM
9 PM Sunday Monday at 10 AM Monday at 2 PM
12 noon Monday Monday at 2 PM Monday at 4 PM