METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DETERMINING THE USABILITY OF OVERAGE UNITS IN A SORTATION PROCESS

Various embodiments of a method and apparatus for determining the usability of overage units in a sortation process are described. The embodiments described herein may include a control system of an order fulfillment center. For each unit of multiple units picked from inventory in an order fulfillment center, the control system may be configured to determine whether the given unit is designated to be inducted into a sortation system for sorting units of items into shipments. The control system may be configured to determine an overage unit of a particular item. The control system may also be configured to dynamically determine one or more incomplete shipments that each requires at least one unit of the particular item in order to become a completed shipment. Once such incomplete shipments are determined, the control system may generate an instruction to induct the unit into the sortation system.