A Compilation of Essential Test Cases for a Warehouse Management System (WMS)

Hey there,

I have been working on a playbook for a Warehouse Management System (WMS) implementation.

The Logistics Specialist I worked with also helped me create a document with the necessary test cases.

These test cases can be used to test the essential warehouse processes on a WMS. These are functional test cases, not technical test cases, which means they cover the relevant logistics processes end-to-end.

Processes covered by the test cases

The test cases cover the following processes:

  • Goods receipt
  • Putaway
  • Replenishment
  • Cycle Counting
  • Order Processing
  • Shipment Load Planning
  • Picking and Packing
  • Checking and Loading of Goods
  • Product Delivery
  • Returns

Goods receipt

This is the beginning process in warehouse operations where the products are unloaded and examined by quality and quantity based on the delivery document.

The receiving process should scrutinize incoming products for differences in physical appearance, the accuracy of product based on the document, and expiration date or manufacturing date, product condition.

The receiving area is generally where the transfer of accountability takes place from the supplier or manufacturer to the warehouse once the products are accepted and received in the system.

Putaway

This process is typically coming after the receiving process when products are received. From the receiving area, products that are transported either by manual jack lift or forklift into specific warehouse storage locations. Put away process ends when all the products received are located in the warehouse bin storage area or other designated location and confirmed by the operator that moved the product.

Bin-to-bin transactions

This process covers the transfer of products from one location to another location inside the warehouse.

Replenishment

This process covers the replenishment of stock. Ideally, the warehouse management system triggers replenishment by prompting or alerting the user that a certain product has a low level of inventory in the picking location. Prior to processing orders, warehouse operations should replenish products in order to fulfill customer orders.

Cycle Counting

Cycle Counting is a system-supported process within inventory management to count items within a specified zone inside the warehouse without stopping operations to conduct a complete physical inventory.

Order Processing

This process is also outlined in the WMS test cases and it covers the processing of customer orders.

Shipment Load Planning

This process starts with the execution of a sales order report for a given delivery date. The WMS then processes the outbound deliveries and segregates orders by route, area and city.

Picking and Packing

Picking is the process of selecting product in the warehouse to fulfill a customer’s order. A good warehouse operation usually generates a document or product order list called a “picking list” that will be the reference in choosing products to serve to customers. Packing is the process of assembling the customer’s order into a shipping box or collating all the orders based on order volume.

Checking and Loading of Goods

This process involves, among other steps, generating a summary of the outbound deliveries for a specific due date, generating the loading manifest, loading of products to the trucks and printing the delivery receipt/invoice.

Product delivery

Products arrive at the customer’s address where they are unloaded and handed to the customer. The customer checks the accuracy of the delivery (SKUs/quantity) and acknowledges the receipt of the products.

Product returns

This process involves the receipt of products returned by the customer. The product has to be checked and the return reason has to be tracked in the WMS (maybe the product was damaged or a wrong item was shipped). The warehouse team has to initiate the process of resolving the issue with the client.

Test Case Example: Goods Receipt

Look at the following image. What you see here is the test case for the goods receipt process. It is one of the test scenarios covered in my WMS Test Cases spreadsheet.

Test Case Example: Goods Receipt

For each test case, I’ve provided the following details:

  • Step number in the necessary order
  • Affected Warehouse Process
  • WMS Process
  • Description: A detailed description of the action to be performed
  • Prerequisite: the steps that must be completed before the respective step can be carried out
  • Responsible: the task owner in charge of carrying out the action (for example, Inbound staff/Inbound Encoder, Truck Operator, Inventory Analyst, Transport Coordinator etc.
  •  Input: The data object or item required for performing the step
  • Expected Result: The output or result achieved assuming the involved process and WMS system transaction could be completed successfully.

The WMS Test Cases Spreadsheet includes step-by-step test cases for the core warehouse processes:

Goods Receipt, Putaway, Bin-to-bin transactions, Replenishment, Cycle Counting, Sales Order Processing, Shipment Load Planning, Picking and Packing, Check and Loading of Goods, Product Delivery, Return Handling

11 Processes, 90 STEPS in TOTAL

The test cases are not tied to a particular Warehouse Management System vendor. They are meant to be used as a basis for defining suitable test cases for your specific WMS and warehouse operation.

Animated image showing the collected warehouse management system test cases

Get the Warehouse Management System (WMS) Test Cases Collection

Processes covered: Goods Receipt, Putaway, Bin-to-bin transactions, Replenishment, Cycle Counting, Sales Order Processing, Shipment Load Planning, Picking and Packing, Check and Loading of Goods, Product Delivery, Return Handling; 90 detailed steps with descriptions

$27.00

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You will get an Excel file via a download link. Check your inbox and quarantine folder.

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Photo of Adrian Neumeyer, creator of the PMO Launch Checklist

Hi, I’m Adrian Neumeyer, founder and CEO of Tactical Project Manager. I have been working as a Senior IT Project Manager for the past ten years. Today my focus is to help people who manage projects — people like you! — by providing practical tips and time-saving tools. Connect with me on LinkedIn.