This article explains how the Raw Material Picking Workflow operates within Sync.
It outlines the three key stages—Requisition, Picking, and Despatch—including what each stage does, who is responsible, and when movements can or cannot be changed.


TABLE OF CONTENTS


Overview

Raw Material/ Stock Picking manages the movement of stock from a warehouse to a production floor, CMT or other external service provider.
It ensures that the correct materials are issued to the correct job in the correct quantities at the right time.

The workflow is built around three sequential events:

  1. Requisition – What materials are needed & when

  2. Picking – Physically collecting the required materials from the warehouse

  3. Despatch – Officially issuing the stock to internal teams/ dispatching to external CMT

These steps maintain accurate inventory levels, support production planning, and strengthen traceability throughout the manufacturing lifecycle.


 


Why Raw Material Picking Matters

Effective picking ensures:

  • Production (internal or external) receives the correct materials

  • Inventory accuracy is maintained

  • Stock control

  • Waste, shrinkage and misallocation are minimized

  • Full traceability for costing, WIP, and recon

  • Smooth and uninterrupted manufacturing workflow

It also allows procurement and stock controllers to see which material are available, or already issued to production.



Phases of Picking/ Despatch


Step 1: Requisition

A Requisition is the formal request for raw materials required to manufacture a job/style or carry out a production process.


What the Requisition Contains

  • Job or work order reference

  • List of required materials (from BOM or manual selection)

  • Quantities requested

  • Required date

  • Warehouse or location where the materials should be picked

  • Optional: notes, instructions, batch/roll requirements

Once the requisition has been created it can be located in the Material Stock -> Unpicked Bin


Step 2: Picking

Picking is the physical process of locating and collecting the required materials from the warehouse.


Picking Tasks Include

  • Viewing the requisition list assigned to warehouse staff

  • Locating items using bin locations, batches, or roll numbers

  • Picking correct quantities & recording actual picked amounts

  • Capturing variances (e.g., shortages)

  • Scanning barcodes or roll IDs (if using mobile warehouse)

  • Printing stock labels for picked/ remaining stock


*Stock can be picked manually in Sync ERP, via Auto-Pick or by scanning

NOTE: Part picks are not permitted. Delete the pick ticket and recreate with correct quantities to account for any variances


Picking Documents/Outputs

Sync generates a Stock Picking List containing:

  • Items required

  • Quantities 

  • Indicates where rolls need to be split (Scissor Icon)

  • Warehouse/bin locations

  • Batch/lot/roll numbers

  • Any special handling instructions

  • Required date

Once the pick has been completed it can be located in the Material Stock -> Despatch Bin


Step 3: Despatch

Despatch is the final confirmation that the materials have been issued from the warehouse and transferred to production/ external service provider/ CMT.


What Happens at Despatch

  • Picked quantities are checked and confirmed

  • Stock levels in the warehouse decrease

  • Materials are allocated or consumed against the job

  • WIP (Work In Progress) increases

  • Materials become available at the production location


Despatch Documents/Outputs

Sync generates a Despatch Note containing:

  • Items picked

  • Quantities 

  • Batch/lot/roll numbers

  • Any special handling instructions

  • Despatch date

  • Delivery address


Once the despatch has been completed it can be located in the Material Stock -> Delivery Notes


When Changes Can Be Made

Changes Allowed (Before Pick)

To make any changes you will be required to delete the pick ticket and recreated with corrected details.


Changes Not Allowed (After Pick)

Once despatched:

  • Quantities cannot be edited

  • Items cannot be replaced or removed

  • Reversals require a Stock Return 

  • Pick lists & delivery notes are read-only

  • Costs and consumption records are finalised

This maintains the integrity of WIP costing and inventory accuracy.


Key Takeaways

  • Raw material picking consists of Requisition → Picking → Despatch

  • Each stage is designed to maintain accuracy and traceability

  • Requisitions ensure production gets exactly what it needs

  • Picking controls physical movement inside the warehouse

  • Despatch finalises the transfer and locks financial/stock records

  • Proper workflow reduces production delays and inventory errors


Related Next Steps

Depending on your workflow, the next actions after despatch may include:

  • Handling returns of unused materials

  • Managing WIP reporting

  • Generating variance reports between requested vs. issued quantities

  • Triggering procurement & picking for shortages

  • Receipt of the finished garment after production