Tips & Tricks on Optimising SAP Warehouse Management Sytems after Go-Live!
Author: Ian McLean, Senior Logistics Consultant
The SAP Warehouse Management system module allows a client to manage their inventory at the warehouse storage bin level (for a particular plant – storage location combination), and to optimise the material flow through the warehouse with advanced put-away and picking techniques.
All movements of stock in, out and within the warehouse must be actioned via a warehouse movement document called a transfer order that defines the source and destination storage bins, and the material and, of course, quantity to be moved.
Although the impact of this extra level of complexity below the standard Inventory Management (IM) functions is understood by the client’s warehouse inventory team, a common problem is that this information is sometimes not well understood by other client business groups who might have, in the past, been allowed to process inventory movements in the system. An example might be a sales person who takes material from the warehouse for samples.
Any IM movements performed on the system will now have a follow-on WM movement whereby the source warehouse storage bin (where the material exists) must be defined.
It is usual after go-live for this fact to be forgotten, resulting in numerous open transfer requirement and posting change documents in the WM module which will obviously affect inventory accuracy.
What can you do to solve this?
Personally, I like the approach of prohibiting any IM movements from being performed by anyone who is not part of the Warehouse Inventory team, however, this is not always practical or agreeable!
So, the solution I recommend is to provide all the non-warehouse users a WM-101 training course to present them with the information on how their actions could potentially affect warehouse inventory accuracy, with the knock-on effect on customer order fulfillment. Imparting users with the knowledge and understanding of how the system works ensures everyone utilises the system correctly.
The SAP Warehouse Inventory Controller has a number of tools to be assist in monitoring these issues. The SAP Warehouse Activity Monitor and RF Monitor can be set up by the WM Consultant to display all open documents in the SAP WM system. Also, as part of the daily routine it is good practice to check these monitors for any open WM posting change and transfer requirement (excluding replenishment) documents as this is a good indicator of potential system (or user) based issues.
