Operating journey / step 04

Run the floor

Troubleshooting

Use this guide when work has reached this point. If the visible state does not match, stop and follow the named hand-off.

Resolve a Wave Short Pick and Resume Safely

How an Admin reviews a reported shortage, keeps unsafe work held, and resumes the same wave after the physical stock is confirmed.

Updated Sept 2026
Owner: Operations Admin
Area: Wave Picking

Before you begin

Handle a short pick as an explicit line-level hold so missing stock is resolved before the wave resumes.

Prerequisites

  • The affected wave and stop are open.
  • The operator can count each displayed line and enter the available quantity.
  • A Warehouse Manager or Admin can investigate replenishment or approve the supported resolution.

Stop and check

Do not reduce the required quantity silently, skip the line, or resume from a stale screen.

What this is and when to use it

Use this Admin guide when a worker has pressed Report shortage and the wave is Held.

Read and resolve the held wave

  1. Open the held wave and read the affected order, item, requested quantity, available quantity, and shortage reason.
  2. Check the shelf or replenishment result without silently reducing the order.
  3. When the physical count or replenishment is confirmed, choose Resolve and resume and add the clear resolution note.
  4. Refresh the wave and read the next displayed stop before allowing work to continue.
  5. Leave the wave held when the item is still short or cannot be confidently identified.

Questions and hand-off

If A worker reports the wrong item or cannot identify it

Keep the hold and investigate; do not select a similar SKU.

Owner: Warehouse Admin

If The wave was interrupted or the screen is old

Refresh or reopen the same wave before resolving; do not replay an old confirmation.

Owner: Warehouse Admin

If The shortage cannot be resolved

Keep it held and hand over the order, item, quantities, and reason.

Owner: Warehouse Admin

What happens next

StateWhat it meansSafe next step
HeldA reported shortage stops the wave from moving forward.Investigate the displayed item and quantities.
ResolvedThe Admin has recorded why the shortage is resolved.Choose Resolve and resume, then refresh the wave.
PickingThe wave can continue from its current stop.Allow the worker to follow the refreshed screen.

Expected Outcome

A shortage remains visible until an Admin resolves it, and the wave resumes only from the refreshed current stop.

Runbook evidence

Use these signals to decide whether the work is ready to continue, complete, or needs an owner.

State checkpoints

Short pick reported

The operator recorded available quantities below one or more required quantities with a reason.

Next: Leave the wave paused and hand the case to the Manager or Admin.

Wave held

The wave cannot continue until its open short-pick case is resolved.

Next: Recount or replenish outside the wave, then resolve the case with an evidence note.

Resume approved

The Manager or Admin has resolved the case and the wave is allowed to continue.

Next: Refresh the live wave state before confirming the affected stop or moving on.

Completion evidence

  • The short-pick case is resolved, the live wave state is refreshed, and the next permitted stop is clear.

Escalation evidence

  • Record the wave, stop line, required and available quantities, reason, resolver, resolution note, and time.

Work safely

Who may take this action

Warehouse Operator records the shortage; Warehouse Manager or Admin resolves the hold

What you should see

The operator recorded available quantities below one or more required quantities with a reason.

Safe next step

Leave the wave paused and hand the case to the Manager or Admin.

What not to do

Do not reduce the required quantity silently, skip the line, or resume from a stale screen.

How to tell it is complete

The short-pick case is resolved, the live wave state is refreshed, and the next permitted stop is clear.

© 2026 STOREFULFIL PTY LTD (ACN 701 718 649 · ABN 98 701 718 649), Queensland, Australia · StoreFulfil™ Operations Library.