The quick answer
Create the Zone first from Lists > Supply Chain > Zones and pick the warehouse as its Location. Create the WMS Zone as its own record, with a name and nothing else. Then open Lists > Supply Chain > Bins > New, choose the same warehouse, pick the Zone (the list only holds that warehouse's zones), pick the required WMS Zone and save.
The screenshots show sample data. Person and operating-company names are fictional. Use your own records and values when following the steps.
Before you start
The location needs Use Warehouse Management turned on, because the Zone form only offers locations that have it. It also needs Use Bins for bin-based processes, and an item has to use bins at that location before WMS works with its stock in the bin. Creating a bin doesn't put stock into it. Your role has to be allowed to create zones and bins and to add entries to the WMS Zone custom record. Menu labels, the path to WMS Zone and which bin fields appear depend on your account, your role and your WMS setup, so match each page by its title.
The example uses Fenwick Warehouse and a Chilled Storage area. Pick your own warehouse and zone names.
01. Review the zones that already exist
Open Lists > Supply Chain > Zones. Some roles see the menu item as Zone. The list shows each zone's Name, Description and Location. Fenwick Warehouse already has two, Inbound Dock and Dry Storage, so you can see what the warehouse uses before you add another one.
02. Create the Zone
Click New Zone. Enter the Name Chilled Storage and the Description Temperature-controlled storage area. Then open Location. It only lists locations that have Use Warehouse Management turned on, here the warehouses Fenwick Warehouse, Lakeshore Warehouse, Millbrook Annex and Ridgeway Depot. Choose Fenwick Warehouse.
Click Save. NetSuite confirms the save with a banner, here Zone successfully Saved, and the Zone record lists Location Fenwick Warehouse.
Click Edit. Location is greyed out. In this example a zone can't move to another warehouse after its first save, so if you picked the wrong one, create a new zone. If your account lets you edit the field, check the bins and strategies that use the zone before you change it.
03. Create the WMS Zone
A WMS Zone is a separate custom record. In this example it has a name and an Inactive box, and no Location. In the global search enter Page: WMS Zone and open New WMS Zone. Enter the Name Chilled Storage and click Save. The WMS Zone record opens with its name.
04. Create the bin and assign both zones
Open Lists > Supply Chain > Bins > New. Enter the Bin Number CH-01-01, set Type to Storage and set Location to Fenwick Warehouse. Then open Zone. It lists only the zones of the Location you chose: Chilled Storage, Dry Storage and Inbound Dock. The zones of the other warehouses stay out of it. Choose Chilled Storage.
Now open WMS Zone. On this form it is required, and it offers every WMS Zone, including the ones other warehouses use. If your role can create the record inline, the list also offers - New -. Choose Chilled Storage and click Save. If your form marks WMS Zone optional, fill it in anyway when putaway strategies will use the bin.
05. Check the saved bin
The saved bin shows Bin Number CH-01-01, Type Storage, Location Fenwick Warehouse, Zone Chilled Storage and WMS Zone Chilled Storage. The bin's Location can't be changed after the save, which is standard NetSuite behavior.
Open Lists > Supply Chain > Bins to see CH-01-01 on the list at Fenwick Warehouse.
Check the result
- Zone Chilled Storage saved with Location Fenwick Warehouse, and Location is greyed out when you edit it.
- The WMS Zone Chilled Storage saved with a name and no location.
- Bin CH-01-01 shows Chilled Storage as both its Zone and its WMS Zone, and it is on the Bins list.
Common questions
What is the difference between a Zone and a WMS Zone?
A Zone belongs to one WMS-enabled location and has a name, a description and a Location. Bins use it for organization, and pick strategies use it to choose and prioritize bins. A WMS Zone is a separate record that putaway configuration uses through the bin's WMS Zone field. In this example it has no Location, so the same WMS Zone can be chosen on bins at different locations. NetSuite doesn't pair records with matching names. If you want them to match, name them alike yourself and write the pairing down.
Why does the bin form require a WMS Zone?
On this form the WMS Zone field is mandatory, so the bin won't save without a value. Some WMS setups show it as optional. If yours is mandatory, create the WMS Zone first or use - New - when your role offers it.
Why does the Zone list on my bin show only some zones?
It follows the Location you picked, so choose Location first and then Zone. If a zone is missing, check that its own Location is the same warehouse and that it isn't inactive. Reload the form or choose the Location again if the list looks stale.
Can I move a zone or a bin to another Location after saving?
The bin's Location is locked after the first save, and in this example the Zone's Location is too. Create a new record at the right location. If the wrong one has no inventory, strategies or transactions pointing at it, you may be able to delete it. Otherwise inactivate it once those references are moved. Don't inactivate a bin while it still holds stock or active warehouse work.
Does a zone name make a bin cold?
No. Zone names and WMS Zone assignments don't check temperature. Handle temperature with item controls, inventory statuses, workflows or your own procedures.
Does creating the bin put stock in it?
No. The bin starts empty. An item has to use bins at the location, and stock gets into the bin through receiving, a bin transfer or a putaway. A bin with no stock isn't offered as a source for picking or replenishment.
Will receiving suggest the new bin now?
Not by itself. The location needs a putaway strategy that points at the WMS Zone, and the item and bin have to meet that strategy's other criteria, such as bin type and inventory status. Pick strategies choose and prioritize bins by Zone. After you change bin configuration or a pick strategy, a released wave or pick task may need to be matched again before it shows the new recommended bin.