Sap Ewm
Sap Ewm
The main process in a Warehouse is incoming and outgoing materials, goods receipt and goods
issue, fulfil customer orders, and distribution of goods. When a company doesn’t store any goods,
then there is no need of Warehouse management to manage goods.
Inbound process involves storage of goods in warehouse and their location and Outbound process
involves picking up the goods. Whenever a material is stored in a warehouse, it is stored in the
storage bin and you can find its current location.
With the help of SAP EWM all the goods movement are controlled by a warehouse management
system and provides you the tools to monitor warehouse activities. You can also manage additional
functions in the Warehouse like creating a serial number, batch number, vendor management
inventory, resource optimization and value added services. SAP Extended Warehouse Management
allows you to not only monitor the quantity of goods in Warehouse but to manage other critical
functions and delivery of goods efficiently.
SAP EWM is a part of SAP Supply Chain Management like Warehouse management system but
provides more robust and advanced features to manage key activities in the Warehouse.
SAP Extended Warehouse Management is similar to Warehouse management but it provides more
features like picking, put away, RF framework, Warehouse structure and more flexible options to
manage the warehouse functions.
You can create new elements like an activity area, resources, labor management and work centers in
SAP EWM which were not available in WM.
SAP EWM provides more a robust solution to manage warehouse functions in an organization. It is
also a part of SAP Supply Chain Management and also supports all the processes within logistics
and supply chain.
Using SAP EWM, you can control the warehouse activities like picking, posting and
managing storage bin and good receipts.
You can set alert for changed data before goods receipt from EWM to the ERP system,
reversal or correction of the goods receipt from EWM to the ERP system and an inbound
delivery split from EWM to the ERP system.
You can perform deconsolidation of handling units which contain different products before
putting them away in different storage sections.
You can determine storage concepts using slotting for products and optimize arrangement
of goods warehouse automatically.
It allows you to perform executable tasks like work packages, consisting of warehouse tasks
warehouse employees should perform as part of warehouse management activities.
It allows you to manage and track vehicles as well as other transportation units from the
yard check-in to yard check-out, including movements and other tasks within the yard.
SAP EWM also includes storage and handling of hazardous substances and their
transportation in accordance with the regulations from SAP Environmental Health & Safety
EHS.
In SAP EWM, you can also plan labor times and resources more effectively and hence you
can make your Warehouse efficient by managing key resource management tasks
effectively.
In SAP EWM, you can use Warehouse cockpit that allows you to display warehouse key
figures graphically and to evaluate or monitor activities using defined chart types.
You can use cross-docking that allows you to perform transportation of handling units
across different distribution centers or warehouses till they reach final location in the
Warehouse.
Deployed Options in SAP EWM
SAP EWM can be considered as deployed in an ERP server or you can also consider it as an
application in the Supply Chain Management landscape.
SAP Extended Warehouse Management is integrated with ERP to access transaction and master
data and use of features like slotting, availability check also requires its integration with CRM.
It is considered as a separate application and shares the same server with the SCM applications.
You can also run SAP EWM in its own SCM environment which is suitable to get improved
performance.
The following image shows the deployment options for SAP EWM −
Communication Method
SAP ERP and EWM are closely integrated with each other for transfer of transaction and master
data. There are two different ways of communication.
Core Interface (CIF) − Core interface is one of the common method for communication between
SAP SCM system and SAP Advanced Planning and Optimization APO. Master data maintained in
ERP system like customer, material and vendor which are available in ERP system are transferred to
EWM system use Core Interface CIF communication.
For transaction data (inbound/outbound delivery docs), a separate integration model is used for
communication. This model uses iDocs or queued remote function call RFC.
Login to the SCM system and navigate to the Extended Warehouse management node in the SAP
menu. You can use various transactions to manage basic functions in Warehouse management −
Storage Bin − The Storage bins represent the physical location of storage space where the
products are stored in Warehouse. They are at the lowest level of the organization structure
and when you store an item in a Warehouse you need to mention its exact location.
Activity Areas − Storage bins are further categorized in this activity area. It includes
activities like picking, put away or a physical inventory. As per the activity, you can assign the
same storage bin to multiple activity areas.
Quant − The quantity of goods in the storage bin is represented by Quant. The quant is used
for managing inventory in storage bin.
How to Create Storage Bins and Block them for Put Away?
Navigate to the Extended Warehouse Management → Master data → Storage Bin → Create Storage
Bin.
Enter your Warehouse number and Storage bin as per the requirement → Press Enter as shown in
the following screenshot.
Enter the Storage type and Storage section as per the requirement and then click on the Save icon as
shown in the following screenshot.
You can also remove the put-away block by going to Warehouse monitor again.
SAP EWM - Master Data
In the ERP system, you have master data which includes the details of the customer, vendor, plant
and shipping point which are also used by the SCM. At the time of data transfer using CIM, this data
is copied to the corresponding to SCM master data. For example, the location.
The master data that is transferred from the ERP system to the SCM system consists of fields like
material description, unit of measures, weight volume details, etc. The product and location master
data is used in all the applications of the SCM.
An integration model is created to perform data transfer, you can define master data type and
selection criteria to find the material master data. Once this model is created you need to save and
execute the model. To perform data transfer to the SCM system, you have to activate the model.
Let us maintain a pilferable flag in the ERP system and confirm that it was transferred to the product
master in SCM.
The next step is to select the pilferable flag filed → Enter → Yes in popup window
You will get a confirmation that the material has been changed.
To confirm that this flag is transferred to the product master in the SCM, navigate to Extended
Warehouse Management → Master Data → Product → Maintain Product.
Enter the Product as shown in the previous screenshot and then check view Global data. Click on
Display.
Go to the Storage tab → check if the field pilferable is flagged.
Here we will discuss on how to create a Warehouse Product Master (WPM) for a Material Record
Transfer via the CIF.
Warehouse Number
Storage Type
Storage Section
Storage bin
Activity Area
The highest unit in a Warehouse is the Warehouse number and the smallest unit is a storage bin. A
Storage Bin tells the exact location of a product in a warehouse.
Warehouse Number − Each warehouse consists of a warehouse number which is at the highest level
in a warehouse management system. Each warehouse number consists of a sub structure that
maps the warehouse relationship.
Storage Section − This is a part of storage type and represents a group of bins with the same
characteristics. The commonly used storage sections are fast moving or slow moving items, etc.
Storage Bin − The storage bins represent the physical location of a storage space where the
products are stored in a Warehouse. They are at the lowest level of organization structure and when
you store an item in a Warehouse you need to mention its exact location.
Activity Areas − Storage bins are further categorized in activity areas. It includes activities like
picking, put away or a physical inventory. As per the activity, you can assign the same storage bin to
multiple activity areas.
Quant − The quantity of goods in a storage bin is represented by Quant. The quant is used for
managing inventory in a storage bin.
Storage Types
There are different types of storage where products are physically stored in a warehouse such as −
Open storage
Goods Issue
Goods Receipt
Racks
Standard Storage Type − Physical area where products are stored in a warehouse.
Identification Point − An area where products are labeled, identified or cross checked during
a goods receipt process.
Pick Point − Goods are packed when a goods pick-up process is performed.
Work Center − This represents an area in the warehouse where deconsolidation, inspection
or VAS processing is done.
Apart from the above mentioned, there are storage types like Yard, Doors, Staging Area and many
more.
SAP EWM - Work Center
A work center in a Warehouse is assigned to a storage type and a physical unit to perform packing,
deconsolidation or weighing activities. Storage type assigned to a work center has a role of the work
center, pick point or pick point and identification. You can also configure more than one work center
in a storage type.
Packing
Deconsolidation
Counting
Quality check
It is also possible to combine work centers into work center groups. This allows you to send
individual products to a work center group.
Deconsolidation
Packing
Value added Service VAS
Quality Inspection
How to create a work center for packing?
To create a work center for packing, you need information:
Warehouse #
Storage Type
Inbound section
Outbound Section
To define a work center, navigate to the Extended Warehouse management → Master Data → Work
Center → Define Work Center.
In a new window, select Warehouse # and work center to copy.
Click on copy as, and this will overwrite the new work center with an existing work center.
Storage Type
Inbound Section
Outbound Section
Choose Enter
Choose Save and Exit
Example
For simple movements, warehouse process type defines the storage type and bin for the movement
of goods. Warehouse process type is defined at the point of creation of the warehouse document or
in separate step.
All warehouse process types are further grouped into warehouse process categories. Warehouse
process categories are used to define the goods movement in a warehouse.
There are different warehouse process categories that are predefined in the EWM system −
Stock Removal
Putaway
Internal Movement
Goods receipt posting
Goods issue posting
Physical inventory
Cross Line putaway
You can then select warehouse process type to copy. Click on Copy button at the top.
In stock/putaway removal section enter the storage bin and type and click Enter.
First is to send the purchase order to supplier for goods delivery and once goods are
received, goods receipt is posted.
Other way is to receive an announcement from supplier about the goods arrival as per
purchase order request.
When a purchase order is created, you can set a CTRL key to enable notification from supplier. When
you set the control key, an inbound delivery must be created on the basis of the purchase order.
When a control key is set and an inbound delivery is not created, you can put the goods receipt.
An inbound delivery contains the information about the goods arrival, quantity of goods, store and
plant location. The system checks the combination of the plant and storage location to check if the
warehouse is in the EWM and then the system replicates an inbound delivery notification in the EWM
system.
Process Flow
Whenever you make any changes in the inbound delivery document, these changes are reverted in
the ERP system. The status of the inbound delivery is updated as per goods delivery. If the status of
an inbound delivery document is execution completed, it shows proof of delivery in the ERP.
A serial number is a series of characters that have been assigned to each product in the warehouse
so that it remains separate and are identified in the warehouse system. You can use serial numbers
up to a length of 30 characters in an EWM system. However, SAP recommends to use a maximum of
18 characters to make it compatible with the ERP system.
There are two different types of serial number profiles that can be used −
Sales General Plant − This serial number profiles are used in the ERP system and must be
defined to use serial numbers in the delivery documents for goods issue or receipts.
LES Serial Number − This is maintained in the product master data view.
When you click on the WM execution, you need to select serial number profile which is sent to SCM
system and is used in EWM.
A serial number profile is maintained in the ERP or in the EWM system. There are four types of serial
number requirement available in the system −
Serial Number for Document items − This serial number is used for returns. When a
customer complains about a product and return is raised, you can perform a check if this is
the same product that is supplied to him. This serial number is not used for other warehouse
tasks.
Serial Numbers on warehouse number level − This serial number requirement type is used
to check which serial number is available in your warehouse.
Serial number of warehouse movement − This serial number requirement type is used to
know the exact storage bin information for products. Serial numbers are used in each
warehouse task and must be entered before posting goods receipt or goods issue.
No Serial number requirement − This requirement type is used when some products are
serialized in few of the warehouses.
It is required to enter serial numbers before posting a goods issue or a goods receipt. In this
scenario, you can configure the system to use provisional serial numbers.
The provisional serial numbers are 30 characters and always start with a $ sign. When you post
goods receipt, provisional serial number is assigned and when you confirm putaway warehouse
tasks, you must replace the provisional serial number with the real ones.
To perform interim steps in the goods issue or goods receipt, you can use storage control to
perform interim steps.
In the following illustration, you can see the process flow of the Value Added Services in a
warehouse function −
Value Added Services Order
This is used to inform the warehouse employees about the work that they have to do as part of the
delivery and packing specifications. A VAS order is an instruction to perform value added service for
one or more products and to link delivery items to the packing instructions.
Order Header
Items
Auxiliary products (Packing material, labels, oil, etc.)
A VAS order can be printed for employee use to inform what VAS activities has to be performed and
on which product.
An auxiliary product posting includes use of other products like packing material, hangers, oil, etc.
and quantity of these products used to perform VAS.
Enter the product and click on Continue. Select new Packaging specification → Activate.
Warehouse #
Work Center
Handling Unit and click on Execute.
Go to VAS oiling tab → select the End button w/o variances in right frame on VAS Activity and
Items tab.
Activity Pick
To perform this, the system determines the source location of the goods to be picked from. To
configure this, the following steps have to be performed.
The following parameters are used to determine the storage type search sequence −
Warehouse Number
Stock Type
Stock Usage
Hazard rating
Navigate to EWM → Goods Issue Process → Strategies → Specify Storage type search sequence.
Warehouse #
Select the entry and click on Assign storage type to storage type search sequence
Click on New Entries
Denial Scenario
When an outbound delivery request is created, EWM system does not create a warehouse task or
task is created with a partial quantity, this is called as the Denial scenario.
The following are the common denial scenarios in a warehouse while processing a goods issue −
When a warehouse task can’t meet the quantity requested in the outbound delivery request,
the system can be configured to raise a pick denial.
To configure EWM for pick denial, navigate to Extended Warehouse Management → Goods Issue
Process → Pick Denial → Activate pick denial at warehouse number level.
In the next window, find your warehouse in the table and select the activation checkbox.
Layout Oriented
Process Oriented
In SAP Extended Warehouse Management, process oriented storage control is executed first and
layout storage control is executed to check if the put away step is possible in the warehouse layout
view and also adjust the put away or stock removal as per the layout view.
Click on the New Entry and enter new external process steps.
Once this is created, you need to assign the external process step to storage process and
warehouse #. To do this, go to Storage process definition dialog box and click on New entries at the
top.
In the next window, enter warehouse #, storage process and other details and press ENTER.
Enter the new external process steps and click on save button.
The activity areas for the products within an HU are the same, but the consolidation groups
are different.
The activity areas and consolidation groups for the products within an HU are the same, but
the maximum number of warehouse tasks for the HU has been exceeded.
System Controlled
User Controlled
You need a warehouse order creation rule that supports the top warehouse order creation for the
pick, pack, and pass process. The creation categories for this are −
System-driven
For the system-driven option, the sequence of the warehouse orders in the top warehouse order is
determined according to the sort sequence of the assigned in the configuration settings for joining
the activity areas.
User-driven
For the user-driven option, the sequence is manually determined during the execution, which means
it can also be done by the Material Flow System (MFS).
SAP EWM - Replenishment
Replenishment is defined as the movement of goods from the warehouse to the shipment locations.
In SAP EWM, you can use predefined techniques for replenishment of storage bins. There are
different replenishment control fields defined at the storage type level or storage bin level. The data
for control fields can be entered manually in the system or you can use slotting process to define
these fields.
After the replenishment control data has been entered or determined, replenishment processing can
begin. The replenishment control type is assigned to the storage type in Customizing. Some of the
replenishment control types require additional settings in Customizing.
Types of Replenishment
Following are the different types of replenishments in SAP EWM.
Direct Replenishment − Direct Replenishment is started during a pick denial and is only
possible for fixed bin scenario. The system calculates replenishment as per maximum and
minimum quantity. Direct replenishment is performed by picket and it assumes zero storage
bin quantity.
How to Perform a Planned Replenishment?
The first step is to assign one fixed bin to your product. Go to Extended Warehouse Management →
Master Data → Storage Bin → Assign fixed storage bins to products.
Product#
Warehouse #
Storage type
Enter Product #, Warehouse Number E100 and Party Entitled to Dispose SPCW. Click on change or
Create.
How to Find out the Assigned Fixed Bin?
To find out the assigned fixed bin, choose navigate to Display Fixed Bins from the menu bar.
Select the tab Storage Type Data and enter the following details −
Storage type
Min quantity
Unit of measure
Maximum quantity
Once these details are entered, click on Adopt data and save your warehouse product.
The next step is to check warehouse task for replenishment. Navigate to EWM → Monitoring →
Warehouse Management Monitor.
Enter the warehouse # and the monitoring type, once done, click on Continue.
Go to Stock and bin → Double click physical stock.
Replenishment strategy
Warehouse #
Party entitled to dispose
Product #
You can perform physical inventory in EWM on the following stock types −
Periodic − The system is configured to perform an inventory on a specific day or over a short
time period.
Continuous − This can be executed anytime during the physical period year.
Cycle Counting − You have divided the objects in categories – A, B, C, D. In customizing, you
define the cycle counting indicator codes with an interval (in work days) after which a new
physical inventory should be performed.
Ad-hoc Inventory
Ad-hoc Physical Inventory is a type of continuous physical inventory and it can be executed anytime
during the fiscal year. You can perform an ad-hoc physical inventory in various scenarios, for
example, if a product has been damaged. This procedure can be performed at the storage bin level
or it can be product-specific.
Choose Continue.
Select Storage Bin in the Find field. Enter the storage bin from the previous step. Choose Perform
Search.
Select the checkbox for the Block Indicator. Then, select the line and choose Set Flag.
Choose Save.
Note − The Pl document number that was created (in the task bar the Pl document number is
followed by the current year).
Product Data
Packaging Data
Demand Forecast
The following table shows the product related data for slotting −
Optimizing Resources
You can perform various activities in SAP Extended Warehouse Management System for optimizing
resources.
Cross docking
RF framework
Labor Management
SAP EWM - Labor Management
Labor Management helps you to lower down the cost by making suitable use of resources in
managing warehouse activities. Labor management tool can be used to record and measure
employee’s productivity and you can also visualize reports in warehouse cockpit based on key
figures. Using Labor management, you can also compare productivity of the warehouse employees.
In LM (Labor Management), you have to enter the master data processor which represents the
warehouse employee and is defined as a Business Role Processor.
Process Steps
Rate
Role in a group, etc.
You can check the information related to the Processor in a Warehouse Monitor tab in the EWM
system. When you activate Labor Management in EWM, you can find additional nodes in the Monitor
Tab → Labor Management.
Labor Utilization
Executed Workload
Indirect Labor Task
Planned Workload
Labor Time in Labor Management
Direct Labor − This includes the time to perform warehouse activities like picking, packing,
put away, etc.
Indirect Labor − This includes extra activities to manage warehouse like Sweeping, cleaning,
housekeeping etc.
Unproductive Time − Breaks, etc.
When a production order is raised, all the components that are required for production is listed in the
bill of material. You need to stage the products for a production order. Production Supply Area
(PSA) is an area where products are staged in a warehouse.
There are different staging types that can be used, some of them are −
Pick Parts
Release Order Parts
Crate Parts
Each PSA contains storage bin to stage the products for production order. Each PSA can contain
one or multiple storage bins.
The first step is to review the bill of material. Then go to SAP ERP system, Easy access Go to
Logistics → Production → Master Data → Bills of Material → Bill of Material → Material BOM →
Display.
Enter the following details −
Material
Plant and BOM usage
You can select each material and choose Item for the details. The Prod.stor.location and the Supply
Area can be found on the tab Status/Lng text.
The next step is to create a control cycle production supply. Go to Logistics → Logistics Execution
→ Master Data → Warehouse → Production Supply → Control cycle production supply → Create.
Enter the following details −
Plant
Supply Area and press ENTER
If your ERP system is down, you can still execute the expected goods receipt in EWM. An expected
goods receipt is based on the data in production order, so it can be used as a preview of the goods
receipt.
This process requires two documents to be used in the EWM system, which are −
Push − The
Scenario process is triggered in ERP by executing the report
/SPE/INB_EGR_CREATE.
Pull Scenario − The process is triggered in EWM by executing the report
/SCWM/ERP_DLV_DELETE.
Enter warehouse #. Then go to special selection parameters, go to Production number and enter the
number there.
In the area “Selection Time Period” activate Free Interval and enter a date 2 weeks in the future in the
Field to Period. In the area Technical Settings choose the option Delete and Create.
Click on Execute and you can see that expected goods receipt documentation is successful.
How to Check the Expected Goods Receipt Document?
To check the expected goods receipt document, go to EWM → Inbound Delivery → Expected goods
receipt → Maintain Notifications of goods receipt.
Enter the Production Order number and click on the Search button.
You can note down the document numbers created for production order.
Push deployment
Pick from goods receipt
Opportunistic Cross docking
Process
Create a purchase order and a sales order with the corresponding delivery documents. Post the
goods receipt and move the required quantity directly to the GI-Zone.
The next step is to create a Sales Order. For doing this, go to the ERP system → Easy Access Menu
of your ERP system → Logistics → Sales and Distribution → Sales → Order → Create.
The next step is to create an Outbound delivery and confirm the outbound delivery order number.
For doing this, navigate to the Easy Access Menu of your ERP system −
Logistics → Logistics Execution → Outbound Process → Goods Issue for Outbound Delivery →
Create → Single Document → With Reference to Sales Order.
Create a Warehouse task using this outbound delivery number for picking.
Create and confirm the warehouse task for the inbound delivery. Note that two warehouse tasks are
created. Check the source and destination storage types.
The next step is to post the goods issue for outbound delivery order. To do this, navigate to
Extended Warehouse Management → Delivery Processing → Outbound Delivery → Maintain
Outbound Delivery Order.
The RF framework supports both browser based and GUI devices to connect to the SAP system. You
can create screen templates and merge them to a so called display profile. This display profile is
assigned to the presentation device.
The RF framework in SAP EWM system provides all the warehouse functionalities, which are −
Loading
Unloading
Deconsolidation
Put away
Picking
Packing
Replenishment
Physical inventory
In the RF framework there are various functions that can be triggered through with function keys,
some of these are mentioned in the following table −
The EWM Warehouse Monitor is a central tool for keeping warehouse managers constantly up-to-
date as to the current situation in the warehouse, and to enable them to initiate appropriate
responses in light of this situation. The warehouse monitor also contains alert monitoring
capabilities, which highlights the warehouse managers towards the actual and potential problematic
situations in the warehouse, and provide exception handling tools to assist in the correction of these
situations.
You can similarly drill down to the lower-level nodes from the lower view area.
In the following screenshot, an example shows a display of resource management queue data.
There are different ways to be notified about alert situations.
For example − There are Alert Nodes in the Warehouse Monitor and then there are Alerts in the SCM
Alert Monitor.
In storage bins − the capacity checks are also available for warehouse doors and staging
areas.
On resources − forklift, pick HU's.
Vendor
Purchase Org
Company Code
Enter the material details
You can scroll to the bottom of the screen and the information is automatically filled.
Click on save at the top to save the PO and then the PO number is created.
To see this purchase order, go to the diplay tab as shown in the following screenshot or use T-code:
me23.
Click on the save button and you will get the confirmation.
The next step is to go to the EWM system and see that this inbound delivery notification is replicated
in the EWM.
Login to the EWM system. Go to Maintain Inbound delivery notification as shown in the following
screenshot.
Select the warehouse number. If you want to change the default value, click on the default value.
Select the warehouse # and click on the tick mark.
Perform a search using the purchase order created in the previous step.
To perform check in, check out in EWM, go to EWM system and use T-code: /scwm/cico. You can
perform checkpoint using various parameters.
You can enter the transport unit or any of these parameters and can check the Vehicle number,
planned arrival and departure period, etc.
To see yard movement, you can use T-code: /scwm/ymove.
As in the previous step, you can perform a search based on various parameters. Enter the TU
number and click on the Search button.
In a similar way, you can perform unload task using Transaction Code: /scwm/unload and perform a
search on the TU number or any other parameters. The next step is to perform deconsolidation and
put up activity.