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Connection of Warehouse Control

Units

Unit Overview

This unit describes scenarios when you might connect the warehouse control unit to Warehouse Management in the SAP system.

Unit Objectives

After completing this unit, you will be able to:

• Describe how the warehouse control unit is connected technically to Warehouse Management in the SAP system

• Describe various scenarios that require the use of a warehouse control unit

Unit Contents

Lesson: The Technical Connection to a Warehouse Control Unit ... 90 Lesson: Using a Warehouse Control Unit - Scenarios... 94

Lesson: The Technical Connection to a Warehouse

Control Unit

Lesson Overview

This lesson provides an overview of the technical connection to the warehouse control unit (WCU) and the data that is exchanged between Warehouse Management in the SAP system and the WCU.

Lesson Objectives

After completing this lesson, you will be able to:

• Describe how the warehouse control unit is connected technically to Warehouse Management in the SAP system

Business Example

You will set up a fully-automated high rack storage area in the warehouse complex. It must be integrated in the warehouse number because other parts of the warehouse are managed by the SAP system. You therefore require an overview of the technical connections.

the transfer orders are being processed physically. In automated systems, this task is the responsibility of the warehouse control unit. A warehouse control unit is often used for fully-automated high rack storage systems, picking systems and forklift control systems. As of SAP R/3 Enterprise, there is a fully integrated solution which takse over the tasks of the warehouse control unit: Task and Resource Management (TRM). TRM is responsible for checking the execution of the warehouse activities. It aims to assign the the most efficient tasks to the correct resources. In addition to checking the physical movements, TRM also maps activities in the warehouse that were not previously possible such as packing with a specific task and price marking. TRM uses geocoordinates that are based on a coordinate system. It therefore recognizes the geographical location of each work center and resource in the warehouse.

With additional programming effort, TRM can successfully manage

fully-automated systems (automatic storage retrieval, high rack storage areas) and can therefore replace the warehouse control unit.

Figure 28: WM-WCU Functions

When warehouse control units are used, standard systems exchange various pieces of information. The figure below demonstrates these different processes. From a technical point of view, the ALE interface is required to exchange the information. If you intend to exchange additional information with the subsystem, the ALE interface must be adjusted.

Figure 29: Technical Overview of MM-MOB / WM-WCU

The ALE interface functions as follows: The SAP system sends intermediate documents (IDocs) to the subsystem and expects to find the information in the receiving area in IDoc format. A program in C or Visual Basic must be created in the external system. The program must be able to access the functions of the RFC library. It is responsible for receiving the IDocs, saving the IDocs and preparing the data that is to be transferred to the SAP system.

Lesson Summary

You should now be able to:

• Describe how the warehouse control unit is connected technically to Warehouse Management in the SAP system

Lesson: Using a Warehouse Control Unit - Scenarios

Lesson Overview

This lesson describes various scenarios that require the use of a warehouse control unit in the warehouse complex.

Lesson Objectives

After completing this lesson, you will be able to:

• Describe various scenarios that require the use of a warehouse control unit

Business Example

You will introduce some automated subsystems into your warehouse complex. These must be integrated in the warehouse number because other parts of the warehouse are managed by the SAP system.

Connections to External Systems: Scenarios

Figure 31: Scenario 2: Semi-Automated Warehouse

In a semi-automated warehouse, the SAP system controls the warehouse management activities. An external system is responsible for executing the movements. A typical semi-automated system is a fork lift system with fixed devices or a conveyor belt. The TRM function can be used for this scenario instead of the warehouse control unit.

In this scenario, the external system is responsible for warehouse control and, if necessary, a specific part of warehouse management. In a fully

automated warehouse, you must consider both the warehouse as a whole and the specifications of the automated warehouse systems to determine the best way of distributing the warehouse functions between the SAP system and the external system. There is no standard solution for distributing the functions. This analysis must be carried out separately for each individual customer and in accordance with the project in question.

This scenario only usually comes into play when other areas of the warehouse complex are managed solely by the SAP system. The storage bins (and therefore the exact bin inventory in the high-shelf storage area) are managed by both systems in this scenario.

Figure 33: Scenario 4: “Black Box”

In this example, the SAP system manages the high rack storage area as a “black box” and there are just dummy storage bins. The external system is responsible for all warehouse functions, including warehouse management and storage control. The quantity and reference data that is transferred during transfer order creation from the SAP system to the warehouse control unit is relevant for the external system. In this scenario, the storage bins and bin inventories are managed solely by an external system. In the SAP system there is just one storage bin (addition to existing stock and mixed stock are allowed without any restrictions) or a fixed

Lesson Summary

You should now be able to:

Unit Summary

You should now be able to:

• Describe how the warehouse control unit is connected technically to Warehouse Management in the SAP system