Inbound Preparation

Receiving

The receiving phase is the act of physically verifying the freight, systemically receiving it into the WMS, and putting the material into a storage location.

The first step in receiving is preparation for the shipment arrive and preparing the freight for receiving upon arrival.

Follow the below steps in preparing for an inbound shipment:

Step 1: Get an ASN or Purchase Order

The client should send an ASN (Advanced Shipment Notice) or PO (Purchase Order) in advance of the shipment arriving at the SEKO fulfillment center.

• The ASN/PO could be sent electronically or manually depending on the client. Check the client SOP for information about how your client is sending their ASN/PO.

  • An ASN is message sent for each shipment and includes the following:

    • Reference Number

    • Container or Trailer Number

    • Sender Information

    • Order Line Items (SKU, Quantity)

  • A PO contains similar information to the ASN, however, the line items could be sent over a series of shipments that may arrive at different times. As shipments are received, the SKUs and quantities received are deducted from the PO until the PO is received in full.

• An electronic ASN/PO will automatically appear in the Inbound Shipments menu.

• Manual ASN/PO must be entered into the WMS (link to WI).

Step 2: Schedule Delivery Appointment

The client or its designated carrier contacts SEKO to schedule delivery. When the delivery appointment request comes in, the following tasks are performed:

• The SEKO CSR confirms the ASN has been received in the WMS.

• If an ASN is not found, the CSR notifies the client and requests an ASN.

• The SEKO CSR schedules an available delivery appointment, day, and time.

Step 3: Driver Check-In

Upon delivery, the driver checks in with a SEKO CSR to verify the ASN. If ocean, the seal, and container number is also verified. SEKO refuses any containers with broken seals upon arrival.

• If the ASN is verified, SEKO confirms the door assignment and marks the shipment as arrived.

  • If the ASN is not found, the CSR contacts the client and requests the ASN. The driver waits for the ASN (unless agreed otherwise).

  • Alternately, the CSR manually creates an ASN based on the paperwork received with the shipment. If no paperwork is available, the shipment will be blind received or refused.

• If it’s a drop trailer, the trailer is dropped and driver released.

Step 4: Unload & Stage Freight

The container is unloaded onto the inbound staging area.

• An initial inspection is performed against the packing slip, if one was included:

  • Does the count of handling units match the packing slip (i.e. 5 pallets)?

  • Are any of the handling units damaged or unmarked?

• Discrepancies are tagged for OS&D and documented on the BOL, if the driver is present. For information on exception management, visit our Exception Management page.

Step 5: Sort Mixed Handling Units

• Mixed pallets (different SKUs on the same pallet/carton) should be sorted and segregated by SKU unless the delivery is being cross docked or transloaded.

• It is not recommended to keep mixed pallets or cartons in inventory.

• If damages are discovered during the sorting process, damages should be segregated and tagged for OS&D.

Step 6: Receiving

• Determine the type of receiving is required for the client (see the Client SOP for information). There are 3 primary types of receiving:

  • ASN Receiving: if the client send an ASN to receive against

  • PO Receiving: if the client sends a PO to receive against

  • Blind Receiving: if the client does not send an ASN or PO and there is no paperwork attached to the shipment.

• Select the appropriate receiving type to proceed.