Automatic error correction

Automatic debugging can ensure that error correction orders are created so that items that are misplaced can be sent to the correct location.

The function runs once a day - at night - and generates error correction orders for the mobile unit for picking items.

Error correction order creation is controlled by a set of parameters that can activate and deactivate a number of different rules that are checked for all items. Each parameter indicates whether the rule has been enabled and, in this event, how long the item has been stale before an error correction order is created.

The rules can look for the following error situations:

• An item has been registered as shelved at a branch that does not have an item grouping that matches the item (details).
• An item has been placed in a media hotel but has a fixed relationship to a lending branch with available space (details).
• An item has been placed in a specific location (e.g. a shelf) that is used for an item grouping (details).
• An item has been put on a holds shelf but there is no longer a hold for the item with pick-up at the branch (details).
• An item fulfills a hold but has been put in a location that is not a holds shelf at the correct branch (details)
• An item fulfills a hold but is shelved (details).
• An item on interlibrary loan has been shelved (details).
• An item is wrongly placed in an exhibition (details).
• An item is placed in an item grouping in violation of the strategy consequence (details).

During each run, any non-processed error correction orders from the last run are first deleted before a new set of error correction orders are created.

After picking, the items are sent to the branch used for central sorting, where the intelligent distribution algorithm is applied to locate an appropriate branch for the item - or the LMS can process the item if it, e.g., fulfills a hold.

Configuration of the time limit

Each of the aforementioned system parameters control if and when automatic error correction is carried out for items covered by the specific rule.

If the parameter has not been set (i.e., is blank), then automatic error correction is not carried out for that specific rule. If, e.g., the parameter has been set to 3 days, then error correction orders will be created for items covered by that specific rule for at least the last 3 days as long as another registration is not made for the item within that time period.

Exceptions from automatic processing

The following circumstances exempt items from automatic error correction orders:

• The item is placed in a closed branch (controlled by the “Close branch and set opening date” branch parameter).
• The item is placed in a closed item grouping and the “Skip picking items in closed item groupings” parameter has been set to “Yes”.
• The item is placed in an unavailable transport unit and the “Skip picking items in unavailable transport units” parameter has been set to “Yes”.
• The item is not included in IMMS.
• The item is placed on a branch not included in IMMS.

IMMS can be configured to run automatic error correction in connection with items registered as “sent to central sorting” by the mobile unit or web client.

When items are registered as “sent to central sorting”, this is typically done without each item being individually scanned. For example, an entire book cart delivery or an entire holds shelf can be registered as sent to central sorting. The expectation is thus that the specific items will later be registered as sorted in the sorting machine. If after a while the item has not been registered, an error must have occurred since the item was not among the items in the transport unit or at the location as was expected. There is therefore a basis for IMMS itself to register the item in order to correct the error.

The system is aware of the placement type of the item before it was registered as being sent to central sorting. The following types of placement are distinguished:

• A holds shelf
• Shelved in an item grouping
• Other placements

These three cases are therefore configured separately.

The error correction is configured with three sets of parameters, which determine the time limit for error correction and the error correction actions themselves for each of these three types of prior placements.

The system’s automatic error correction actions appear in the item’s histories as performed by the user “system”.

Configuration of the time limit

Three parameters control the length of time before automatic error correction is run:

• The system parameter “Timeout for auto. action when item is sent to central sorting from hold” for items that most recently were located on a holds shelf.
• The system parameter “Deadline for autodiscarding when an item is sent to central sorting from an item grouping” for items that most recently were located in an item grouping.
• The system parameter “Timeout for auto. action when item is sent to central sorting" for the other items.

If the parameter has not been set (is blank), no error correction is run.

If the parameter is, e.g., set to 3 days, then the automatic error correction action will be run 3 days after the item has been registered as “sent to central sorting” as long as no other entry has been made for the item in the meantime.

Configuration of the automatic error correction action

There are two options for the automatic error correction action:

• The item is registered as discarded with a reason selected for the discard.
• The item is registered as shelved at the branch it came from.

Three parameters control which action should be carried out automatically:

• The “Discard code used for autodiscarding from hold shelf” system parameter for items that most recently were located on a holds shelf.
• The “Discard code used for autodiscarding from an item grouping” system parameter for items that most recently were located in an item grouping.
• The “Discard code used for autodiscarding” system parameter for the other items.

If a discard code has been selected for the parameter, then the item will be discarded with the selected discard code.

If the value of the parameter is empty (a discard code has not been selected), then the item is registered as shelved at the branch where the item was registered as being “sent to central sorting” from.

IMMS can ce configured to perform automatic error correction of items placed on a location with usage type "<Not directly used>"

Items should never be placed on a location with the usage type "<Not directly used>.

The situation can occur if an item is sorted to a chute that does not have a transport unit attached. When this happens the item will be placed on the location of the chute.

The error is corrected by shelving the item on the branch.

Error correction will not be performed on items that are taken, nor on items that are placed inside a transport unit.

The system’s automatic error correction actions appear in the item’s histories as performed by the user “system”.

Configuration of the deadline

The parameter Deadline for error correction when an item is placed on a location with usage type "<Not directly used>" controls how long the system will wait before performing error correction on the relevant items.