SAP EWM - Quick Guide
SAP EWM - Quick Guide
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 Warehouse Management is opposite to Inventory management. Inventory management tells the
count of goods in the storage location and its physical location is unknown. Warehouse management
deals with goods movement and monitoring the physical location of the goods recorded with specific
documents.
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.
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 −
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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 −
RF Environment /SCWM/RFUI
Storage Type − There are different types of storage where products are physically stored in a
warehouse such as open storage, goods issue and goods receipt, racks.
Storage Section − This is a part of storage type and represents a group of bins with same
characteristics. Commonly used storage sections are fast moving or slow moving items, etc.
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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.
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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.
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Enter the Storage type and Storage section as per the requirement and then click on the Save icon as
shown in the following screenshot.
Now to lock this Storage bin for put away, go to the Status box and select Putaway block at the
bottom → Save your entry.
You can also remove the put-away block by going to Warehouse monitor again.
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.
Enter the Product number and press Enter as shown in the following screenshot.
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The next step is to select the pilferable flag filed → Enter → Yes in popup window
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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.
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Here we will discuss on how to create a Warehouse Product Master (WPM) for a Material Record
Transfer via the CIF.
Go to the Warehouse data tab and enter the following details for the product master −
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system.
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 −
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Open storage
Goods Issue
Goods Receipt
Racks
A Storage type is a four-character name and shows a physical or a logical subdivision of a warehouse.
A Storage type can consist of one or more storage sections and bins. A storage type is defined by the
role it is used for in a warehouse.
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.
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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
Quality Inspection
Storage Type
Inbound section
Outbound Section
To define a work center, navigate to the Extended Warehouse management → Master Data → Work
Center → Define Work Center.
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Click on copy as, and this will overwrite the new work center with an existing work center.
Storage Type
Inbound Section
Outbound Section
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Choose Enter
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
Physical inventory
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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.
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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.
Quality Inspection
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.
To assign serial numbers to a product, you use a serial number profile that determines transactions
for issuing a serial number to the products.
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 −
Order Header
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
Go to VAS oiling tab → select the End button w/o variances in right frame on VAS Activity and Items
tab.
A warehouse process type is defined for each line item when an outbound delivery request is created.
This process type is used in picking warehouse task.
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 Removal control indicator (This is taken from the product master)
Stock Type
Stock Usage
Hazard rating
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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
Click on Save
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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.
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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.
When a deconsolidation is defined in EWM, it is required for the following reasons in warehouse
management −
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.
This module is used to manage picking, packing and transportation of goods in the activity areas in
the warehouse. This can be used in RF environment commonly and process flow is same as for the
standard RF process. In pick, pack and pass goods are moved from activity area to activity area till it
arrives at destination point in the system.
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).
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
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Order Related Replenishment − Order related replenishment is performed when stock figure
is less than required quantity. The system rounds up the replenishment quantity to a multiple
of minimum replenishment quantity. The maximum quantity can be exceeded and order
related replenishment can be performed in the background or interactively.
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.
Product#
Warehouse #
Storage type
To check the warehouse product master data and check which fixed bin is assigned to it.
Enter Product #, Warehouse Number E100 and Party Entitled to Dispose SPCW. Click on change or
Create.
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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.
Replenishment strategy
Warehouse #
Change the selection criterion to Warehouse Task, enter the warehouse task number in the search
field and select Execute Search.
Product Specific
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
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Packaging Data
Demand Forecast
The following table shows the product related data for slotting −
2 Rotate Indicator T
3 Theft-prone N
Optimizing Resources
You can perform various activities in SAP Extended Warehouse Management System for optimizing
resources.
RF framework
Labor Management
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
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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.
In the LM attribute tab, enter the warehouse # and supply chain unit. In the Warehouse assignment
tab, select warehouse# line and then click on Create external step.
Enter the external steps as required. You can click on Insert row to add multiple rows. Click on the
save button and note down the processor number.
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
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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.
Material
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.
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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 −
These documents can be created and transferred using the following two methods −
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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.
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Click on Execute and you can see that expected goods receipt documentation is successful.
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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.
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You can note down the document numbers created for production order.
Merchandise Distribution
Push deployment
Pick from goods receipt
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.
To do this, go to Easy Access Menu of your ERP system: Logistics → Logistics Execution → Inbound
Process → Goods Receipt for Inbound Delivery → Inbound Delivery → Create → Single Documents
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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.
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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.
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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 −
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F5
1. To display the next pushbuttons in the sequence (in case of more than four push buttons
for a screen).
F6
2.
To clear a selected input Field, or all input fields.
F7
3.
To return to previous screen
F8
4
To display list screen for a selected field
F9
5.
To display full message on a separate screen
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.
To open the Warehouse monitor, select the Warehouse and monitoring type. You can select SAP
Standard Monitor.
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.
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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.
Vendor
Purchase Org
Company Code
Enter the material details
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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.
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Now you can see all the details like the shipment, stock placement, etc.
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.
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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.
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You can enter the transport unit or any of these parameters and can check the Vehicle number,
planned arrival and departure period, etc.
As in the previous step, you can perform a search based on various parameters. Enter the TU number
and click on the Search button.
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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.