RF in SAP Warehouse Management Significance of RF in Warehou Warehouse se Management:
Mobile data entry in the warehouse involves the use of wireless radio frequency (RF) terminals or devices carried by the warehouse staff to record data. The use of bar codes and RF devices has made warehouse operations more efficient. Data entry errors are fewer and the time needed to perform operations in the warehouse has been reduced because the date can be collected by a RF device without requiring manual collection and manual entry of data. The use of RF devices for data collection and transaction processing in warehouse management has been increasing over a number of !" releases. The modern efficient warehouse uses RF technology and constantly reviews procedures to further adopt the technology to improve operations. Technical Te chnical and Functional Landscape of RF environment
#fficien #fficientt warehouse warehouse management management processes processes requires requires faster faster data entry and processing processing for inbound$ inbound$ outbound outbound and internal warehouse operations. !" transactions can be e%ecuted on RF devices that are handheld (terminals$ barcode scanners) or for&lift mounted. 'o middleware software is required to connect the devices to !". !"s functionality enables real time handling of material flow through RF scanning devices. There are two standard RF devices that can be used with !" which are . *+, Devices- uses windows based operating system and this graphical user interface RF device can use 1. a small &eypad$ touch screen or some other procedure$ but the data is always displayed to the user in a graphical manner. The device is connected to the !" system as any other standalone computer. . /haracter based devices- The character based device is not connected directly to !" but communicates 2. via an interface called !" /onsole. The communication between !" console and the RF device can be achieved using a Telnet server. Two Two industry standard screen si0es are supported by !" A. B.
RF Devices for For&lift- 1 2 34 (1 lines by 34 characters) "ortable RF Devices- 524 (5 lines by 4 characters) RF screen for 12 34 loo&s li&e
!" /onsole enables RF devices to be run within !" applications. !" /onsole is used as a framewor& for automatic data collection in a warehouse environment. !" console translates *+, screens to character based screens that are used on a variety of data collection devices. The !" console does not contain business logic$ database or e%ternal functionality. ,ts sole function is to translate !" *+, screens in the !" environment to the character based equivalent. The !" console consists of four components$ which are-
1.
RF terminal- The RF terminal which is the Telnet /lient receives data directly from the !" ystem and transmits the results bac& to the system. 6e can scan the information that needs to be reco record rded ed$$ such such as stor storag age e unit unit numb number ers$ s$ usin using g a bar bar code code (for (for e%am e%ampl ple$ e$ base based d on +//7#!'1 standards)$ and also use the bar code scan to verify the storage bins.
RF !ccess "oint which allows for wireless #thernet Telnet erver7!" /onsole !dministrator$ which allows each RF terminal to convert to the window machine in character$ based mode and supports 8T4 terminal emulation. !" R79 system that receives the data from mobile terminals 4. 2. 3.
1.
RF in distribution environment
Radio Frequency is primarily used in 6arehouse Management process in distribution environment as it efficiently handles the huge volumes of transactional data processing requirements and minimi0es human interventions. The high volume of warehouse transaction processing requirements in industries li&e Retail$ chemicals$ pharmaceuticals$
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!uto /omponents can be handled using the RF integration with warehouse Management. The following processes can utili0e radio frequency devices*oods Receipt "rocesses with shipping notifications *oods ,ssue "rocesses for outbound Deliveries ,nternal 6arehouse "rocesses toc& Transfer "rocesses within the Distribution 'etwor& "hysical ,nventory "rocesses for the warehouses within the Distribution 'etwor&
2.
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RF Supported Warehouse Processes: The foo!ing Warehouse Warehous e Management Processes are supported b" RF #oods Receipt Processes !ith RF RF::
RF supports *oods Receipt "rocesses with ,nbound Delivery. The goods receipt for the inbound delivery can be performed based on the ,nbound Delivery number$ :andling +nit 'umber$ taging !rea$ hipment 'umber etc. warehouse wor&ers can perform the following goods receipt;related functions• • • • • • •
B.
/hec& all delivery items and report differences 8iew and change shipment information "rint shipping unit labels +nload deliveries "ac&7unpac& delivery items *enerate and confirm T
#oods $ssue Processes: The goods issue processes are based on the outbound outbound delivery and can be performed for the outbound deliveries deliveries identified by Delivery 'umber$ :andling +nit (:+) 'umber$ taging taging !rea$ hipment 'umber$ *roup 'umber etc. +sing the RF devices$ 6arehouse 6or&ers can perform the goods issue related activities li&e view and change shipment related information$ print shipping unit labels$ pac&7unpac& delivery items$ load deliveries$ split deliveries$ generate and confirm transfer orders for delivery items$ post goods issue to inventory management
C.
Put a!a" Processing: Radio Frequency supports the put away processes and it is based on the Transfer
D.
Pic%ing Process for &eiveries: "ic&ing e%ecution is based on transfer orders created in the warehouse management as part of the delivery process ing processes.
E.
Ph"sica $nventor": RF devices can be used for inventory counting$ enabling a greater degree of accuracy and efficiency. 'ew Dynamic /ycle /ounting functionality provides a number of features that facilitate cycle count in the warehouse including "hysical ,nventory counting against inactive inventory documents (while open transfer orders e%ist for a bin)$ inventory counting at quant level$ creation of inventory documents by RF users and automatic clearing of active and inactive documents.
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Associated SAP (on)guration for RF
Confi gur at i onf orBarc odes :Ver i fi c at i onpr ofi l ei sas etoffi el dst hatc anbev er i fi edb yt h eus er . Path: $M#*+ogistics ,-ecution*Mobie &ata ,ntr"* eri)cation contro* &e)ne Pro)es Ve r i fi c at i o np r o fil ec anbeas s i g ne dt omo mo v eme ntt y pe sus edi nwa r e ho us est h atwi l l b es ub j e ctt oba rc od e s c a nn i n g. Path: $M#*+ogistics ,-ecution*Mobie &ata ,ntr"* eri)catio eri)cation n contro* Assign eri)cation Pro)es to #oods Movements. De fi n eba rc o d esf o rwa r e h ou s e Path: $M#*+ogistics ,-ecution*Mobie &ata ,ntr"*/ar (ode* Assign /ar (ode T"pes to Warehouses. Ma i n t a i n i n gBa rc o des pe ci fi c at i o ns Path: $M#*+ogistics ,-ecution*Mobie &ata ,ntr"*/ar (ode* Maintain /ar (ode Speci)cation. Defi ni ngt heRadi oFr equenc yQu Queue:T oas s i g nar a ngeofac t i v i t i est oc er t a i nus er s ,f u nc t i on al i t yc al l edt heRF QueueManage mentmus tbedefi ned Path: $M#*+ogistics ,-ecution*Mobie ,-ecution*Mobie &ata ,ntr"*Rf 0ueue Management * RF 0ueue &e)nition Pat h:I MG>Logi st i csExecut i on>Mo Mobi l eDat aEnt r y>RFQu QueueMa Manageme ment>RFQueue>Assi gn a r e a sa nda ct i v i t i e st oque ue Pat h:I MG>Logi st i csExecut i on>Mo Mobi l eDat aEnt r y>RFQu QueueMa Manageme ment>RFQueue>Assi gn pr ocessor st oqueue
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Reasoning for &eveoping (ustom RF transactions
1. 2.
The following developments ta&e place in warehouse management with RF Ma&ing /hanges in tandard !" Transaction Transaction using user e%its Ma&ing /ustom Development
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,n the first case li&e other !" modules$ changes can be made in the standard !" transactions to meet the specific business requirements using the suitable user e%its. ,n general the custom RF transactions are developed to merge several RF transactions into one RF transaction in order to optimi0e and reduce the process steps to be carried out. For e%ample for a goods receipt of an inbound delivery with handling units the *R transfer order should be created$ it should be confirmed and put away transfer order should be created for the same. Therefore the *R process includes e%ecution of three standard !" RF transactions but the same processes can be e%ecuted using single custom developed RF transaction. The custom RF Transaction development includes the following steps/reation of the e%ecutable program /reation of the screen /reation of the function module to access the screen creen "rogramming ubroutines to call the screen and chec& the data coming from the screen !ssigning transaction code to to the program !ssigning transaction code to to the RF menu The custom development should be made considering the wor&load and the e%tent to which the automation is required in the warehouse. The average transaction volume$ warehouse efficiency and the cost7benefit analysis should be made before deciding on the custom development requirement.
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&a" in the +ife 3o! using RF Technoog"
6arehouse 6arehouse Management Management transaction transaction =RF is used to monitor monitor the queues queues of warehouse warehouse person. 6arehouse 6arehouse supervisors can drag and drop the transfer orders from one queue to other as per the load situation$ user absence. The transfer transfer order priorities priorities can also be changed changed as per the requirement. requirement. The monitoring monitoring of the queue can be configured per warehouse based on the business requirements by following the given steps; Define >ueue
; !ssign areas and activities to the queue ; !ssign processors (users) to the queue The limitation imposed by the transaction =RF restricts more than one user to access the transaction per warehouse. The transaction =RF can also be used in con?unction with the !" Delivery Monitor transaction 8=45 for warehouse wor&load estimating.
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(hange Management Reated topics for WM and RF
The following change management related topics should be considered before implementing 6M and RF election of appropriate RF Device based on the e%isting business processes Transaction 8olume 8olume analysis and assessment of custom developments ,dentifying users and setting up appropriate users profile and assigning users to the RF monitoring queue +sers training and "rocess Documentation
SAP Mobile Data Entry in Wareho!e Mana"e#ent Po!ted by She$har %ane in %ane in !he$har.rane3 !he$har.rane3 on on &an 16' 2(11 1)(6)5( AM inShare
$ntroduction Co#*anie! that ha+e de*loyed SAP Wareho!e #ana"e#ent ,WM- !ot/are ha+e co#e to rely on it! 0eibility and ca*abilitie! in #ana"in" increa!in"ly co#*le and ti#e!en!iti+e !hi**in"' recei+in" and /areho!in" ta!$!. Etendin" the ca*abilitie! o SAP WM !ot/are to #obile /or$er! increa!e! the ability to "ather data and direct o*eration! in a !ea#le!! and ecient #anner. nder!tandin" the reire#ent! and ca*abilitie! o #obile ter#inal! in an SAP en+iron#ent can hel* #a$e the ri"ht deci!ion! at the ri"ht ti#e. SAP &ata (oection Soutions 5 SAP(onsoe6 WebSAP(onsoe WebSAP(onsoe and $TSMobie SAP oer! #lti*le o*tion! or connectin" %lin$ed #obile ter#inal! to the SAP #ainra#e) SAP (onsoe'WebSAP(onsoe' and $TS Mobie are the #o!t co##on #ethod! in !e today. Each o the!e !oltion! i! de!i"ned and a!!#e! an al/ay!on % lin$ bac$ to SAP %83. SAP Con!ole tran!late! SAP9: *a"e! into tetonly *a"e! or characterba!ed ter#inal!. WebSAPCon!ole and :;S Mobile *ro+ide a !i#ilar interace bt #aintain the SAP9: loo$ or #obile ter#inal! rnnin" Windo/! CE or other "ra*hic!ca*able o*eratin" !y!te#!. SAP(onsoe inclde! an ad#ini!trati+e nction ,SAPCon!ole Ad#ini!trator- to create and #ana"e connection *ro
! o/n Web A**lication Ser+er ,WAS-. ;he !a#e ca*abilitie! and *rocedre! are !ed or ter#inal :D and co##nication bet/een the #obile ter#inal' the WebSAPCon!ole !er+er and the SAP WM #odle. ;he !i"ni
SAP@! E%P Wareho!e Mana"e#ent nctionality oer! a n#ber o *recon<"red % tran!action! that are acce!!ible by SAPCon!ole' WebSAPCon!ole and :;SMobile. ;he!e tran!action! inclde the #o!t co##on tran!action! and !i#*liy the !et* and con<"ration o #obile ter#inal!. Since each a**lication i! dierent and *recon<"red #odle! cannot be *ro+ided to co+er e+ery contin"ency' each o*tion !**ort! tran!action de+elo*#ent !in" SAP@! !tandard Ad+ance B!ine!! A**lication Pro"ra##in" ,ABAP- and SAP 9ra*hical !er :nterace ,9:-. RF &evice Support Mobile data entry in the /areho!e today in+ol+e! the !e o /irele!! radio reency ,%- ter#inal! or de+ice! carried by the /areho!e !ta to record data. ;he data i! !ally in a bar code or#' either a! bar code *rinted in ;ran!er order! or bar code! that identiy *rodct!' !tora"e bin! or other obect!. Mobile Data Entry crrently !**ort! t/o de+ice ty*e!) #7$ devices ,/ith "ra*hical !er interace- that rn on Windo/! 3.858 (haracter devices ,characterba!ed- nder ter#inal e#lation #ode #7$ &evices ;he!e de+ice! de+ice! are connected connected to the SAP Sy!te# Sy!te# !t li$e li$e any other clientde*en clientde*endent dent PC. ;he !creen! !creen! can be toch !creen!' !in" *rede
!in" toch !creen!' yo !i#*ly toch the a**ro*riate *o!ition! on the toch !creen in!tead o clic$in" /ith the #o!e on a *!hbtton. Sy!te# ont! and !ie !hold corre!*ond to the "ideline! *ro+ided in order to achie+e o*ti#al tiliation o the !creen !ie. (haracter5/ased &evices ;he!e de+ice! de+ice! are lin$ed lin$ed to the !y!te# thro"h thro"h an an SAP !tandard !tandard interace called called the SAPCon!ole. SAPCon!ole. ;he SAPCon!ole o*erate! on a Windo/! ?;8Windo/! 2((( *lator# and interact! /ith the % ter#inal! connected to it. ;hi! conce*t i! crrently !**orted by the leadin" *ro+ider! o % ter#inal!. ;he ollo/in" ollo/in" t/o ind!try ind!try !tandard! !tandard! or !creen !creen !ie! !ie! are !**orted) !**orted) De+ice! or or$lit!) line! by 4( character! each Portable handheld de+ice!) 16 line! by 2( character! each /ar code support in SAP: SAP read! bar code! or identi
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RF5 Supported Warehouse Processes ;he Mobile Data Data Entry % !oltion !oltion !**ort! !**ort! the ollo/in" ollo/in" /areho!e /areho!e *roce!!e!) *roce!!e!) 9ood! recei*t 9ood! i!!e Pt a/ay Pic$in"8re*leni!h#ent :nterlea+in" Pac$in" and n*ac$in" :n+entory contin" Hoadin" and nloadin" Serial n#ber ca*tre :nirie! Mo+e#ent by !tora"e nit Po!tin" chan"e!
(on)guration steps in SAP Mobie &ata ,ntr" SPR8 Path (on)guration for /ar codes •
Maintainin" Bar code !*eci
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Path: $M#*+ogistics ,-ecution*Mobie &ata ,ntr"*Menu Management. •
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:n thi! ;ran!action yo con<"re the !ettin"! o the !creen!. Jo can de
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;he ee!
SAP ,as" Access Menu (on)guration Addin" a !er or #obile data entry !in" ;ran!action code +RFM& Ho""in" on to Mobile Data Entry !in" ;ran!action code +M99 RF Monitor +RF1; ;he % #onitor #onitor i! a tool or central' cro!! cro!!ee ee#onitorin" #onitorin" and coordination o tran!er order ,;=*roce!!in". Each % !er i! a!!i"ned to a ee in C!to#iin" or Mobile Data Entry. ;hi! a!!i"n#ent can be +ie/ed and chan"ed !in" the % #onitor. ;he !er@! +ie/ at the % ter#inal i! li#ited to the tran!er order! o it! crrent ee. ;he % #onitor o*erate! a! a central coordination *oint' en!rin" that ;= *roce!!in" i! rn a! eciently a! *o!!ible.
!in" the % #onitor' an athoried % !er can do the ollo/in") •
Monitor ee!' incldin" the n#ber o a!!i"ned ;=!' n#ber o !er! and ratio o /or$load to !er!
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A!!i"n ;=! and !er! to other ee!
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Chan"e the *roce!!in" *rioritie! o ;=!
7ser ,-its in RF !er eit! oer yo the o*tion o enhancin" ei!tin" nction! accordin" to yor *er!onal reire#ent!. 7ser ,-it Screens ;he % !oltion !oltion !**ort! !**ort! the t/o !creen !creen or#at! ,4(816 ,4(8162(2(- that are are oered by by #o!t #anactrer! #anactrer! o % de+ice!. ;he !er eit nction enable! yo to di!*lay other
Stora"e bin
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Stora"e nit n#ber
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Material
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Gantity
;o ;o be able to +eriy +eriy other
Performing a #oods Receipt 7se !in" an % de+ice' yo can *eror# a "ood! recei*t or an inbond deli+ery identi
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We reco##end that yo !e the !ta"in" area !election #ethod only /hen yo cannot identiy deli+erie! deli+erie! by any o the other criteria' !ince thi! #ethod i! ti#e con!#in".
Procedure #R for &eiver" $denti)ed b": &eiver"
1 ro# th the e % % #en' choo!e:nbond
=7
Staging Area
Shipment
8ther (riteria
ro# the % #en' choo!e:nbond
ro# the % #en' choo!e:nbond
ro# the % #en' choo!e:nbond
ro# the % #en' choo!e:nbond
Proce!! @9ood! %ecei*t@ 9% by Deli+ery. ;he Select Deli+ery !creen a**ear!.
2 Ente Enterr th the e de deli li+e +ery ry n#ber !in" the !canner or $eyboard.
Proce!! @9ood! %ecei*t@ 9% by Fandlin" nit. ;he Select Stora"e nit8Fandlin" nit !creen a**ear!.
Proce!!@ 9ood! %ecei*t @ 9% by Sta"in" Area. ;he Select Deli+ery by Sta"in" Area!creen a**ear!.
Enter the handlin" Enter the !ta"in" nit n#ber !in" area. the !canner or $eyboard.
Proce!!@ 9ood! Proce!!@ 9ood! %ecei*t @ 9% by %ecei*t@ 9% by Shi*#ent. =ther!. ;he Select ;he Select Deli+ery by Deli+ery by Shi*#ent !creen =ther! !creen a**ear!. a**ear!. Enter the Enter one or #ore !hi*#ent n#ber o the ollo/in" !in" the !canner criteria) Material or $eyboard. Iendor Deli+ery date Eternal deli+ery reerence Ser+ice a"ent • • •
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3 Choo!e ?t. ?t. ;he Deli+ery Feader :nor#ation !creen a**ear!' di!*layin" the ollo/in" ollo/in" inor#ation or the deli+ery) Hoad8nload !tat! Iendor accont n#ber Iendor na#e Shi**in" *oint and !hi**in" date ;otal ; otal /ei"ht o "ood! deli+ered deli+ered ?#ber o *ac$a"e! F indicator indicatin" /hether or not a F ei!t! or the deli+ery ;= indicator indicatin" indicatin" /hether /hether or not a ;= ei!t! ei!t! or the deli+ery deli+ery • • • • • • • •
4 Jo can !crol !crolll bet/een bet/een deli+er deli+erie! ie! by choo! choo!in" in" P"* , A) 7 P"Dn (B) (applies to deliveries identified by staging area$ shipment number or other criteria only) 5 Choo!e :te#!. :te#!. ;he Deli+ery :te# :nor#ation :nor#ation !creen !creen a**ear!' a**ear!' di!*layin" di!*layin" the ollo/in" ollo/in" inor#ation) Deli+ery inor#ation' incldin" incldin" total n#ber o ite#! in deli+ery and n#ber o ite#! con
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6 Scr Scroll oll bet/ee bet/een n the deli+ deli+ery ery ite#! ite#! by by choo!in" choo!in" P"* , A) 7 P"Dn (B). 7 : the recei+ed recei+ed antity antity o a #aterial #aterial i! not eal eal to the ;= antity' antity' re*ort the the dierence dierence by doin" the ollo/in") 1. Choo!e Di. ;he Dierence! !creen a**ear!. 2. Enter the actal antity in the rele+ant
antity i! ato#atically ato#atically calclated. 3. Choo!e Co Con to to co con
"erforming =oading7+nloading (=oad7+nload =oading7+nloading (=oad7+nload by Delivery). 1 ; ;o o *ac$ or n*ac$ n*ac$ deli+ery ite#!) ite#!) ( 1. Choo!e More and then Pac$ or n*c$. ;he Pac$8n*ac$ !creen a**ear!' di!*layin" the !tat! o
"ac&ing or +npac&ing. Follow steps onwards in"ac&ing "ac&ing or or +npac&ing +npac&ing..
1 : a ;= doe! not ei!t or !o#e or all o the ite#! in the deli+ery' choo!e 9.;=. to "enerate a ;= 1 or the ite#! /ithot a ;=. : the deli+ery contain! batch#ana"ed batch#ana"ed #aterial' the batch n#ber #!t be entered in the deli+ery in order to "enerate a tran!er order. 1 ;o ;o con
"erforming a "utaway. 1 ;o ;o *o!t the "ood! in in :n+entory Mana"e#ent) 3 1. Choo!e Po!t. A #e!!a"e a**ear!. 2. Choo!e Je! to *o!t the "ood!. 9enerally !*ea$in"' !*ea$in"' the ;= #!t be con
%ecei*t. Jo J o can al!o al!o deter#ine that that the deli+ery deli+ery i! ato#atically ato#atically *o!ted *o!ted /hen all o the deli+ery ite#! are *roce!!ed in C!to#iin" or Ho"i!tic! Eection Eection @Wareho!e Mana"e#ent @ :nterace! @ Shi**in" @ De
