The customer orders 10 products and the warehouse staff takes the order. Employee goes to the storage area, packages the order and sends it on for delivery. Till the moment the customer receives the product which is not what he/she ordered and/or two items are missing, everything seems to be fine.
This can cause extra work for warehouse employees, delays in delivery and impact customer trust. This may not be a fault of the product. The problem can begin with the location of inventory, picking, checking and movement into and out of the warehouse.
This is where SAP Extended Warehouse Management (SAP EWM) comes into play. Warehouse picking is an interesting subject for students interested in taking SAP EWM Training in Bangalore as they get a glimpse into the functioning of a warehouse and the way software can play a major role in managing it.
What is the importance of picking in a warehouse?
Picking” is the action of removing products from their storage area to meet an order. While it may seem like a no-brainer, warehouses can be used to store thousands of objects that vary in size, quantity in stock, storage space needed, and frequency of movement.
It is possible for an employee to pick up multiple items from several aisles for a single order. Failure to enter the correct storage location or failure to check the correct amount can cause delays in the order or the wrong amount to be packed.
There are several reasons for picking mistakes:
- Close storage of similar products.
- The wrong storage bin is visited by an employee.
- The desired amount is not equal to the selected amount.
- Information on inventory is not up to date.
- Products are not moved with the required system updates.
- The warehouse instructions are not understood or followed.
These risks can be minimised with a well organised picking process. SAP EWM enables warehouse operations handling stock locations, warehouse tasks and associated processing steps, based on the configured warehouse processes.
How does SAP EWM help with the picking process?
SAP EWM isn’t only for inventory, it’s meant to be used for the activities going on in the warehouse, in far greater detail than inventory alone. It can assist businesses to track product location, task generation at warehouse and stock transfer between warehouses.
Suppose one warehouse is tasked with creating an order with three different products. The system needs to be able to recognize the stock and then locate the picking points based on the rules defined in the system and then direct the warehouse process.
Here are the usual steps of a picking process.
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The Warehouse Request is received.
The process starts when outbound delivery is required or any other relevant reason triggers the demand for delivery of products. The information of the delivery is processed by SAP EWM and can be used to create warehouse work, depending on the system configuration.
Students must understand how outbound deliveries relate to the execution of the warehouse and the importance of accurate delivery information.
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Determination of Storage Location
Products can be stored in various bins throughout the warehouse. Configurable warehouse strategies, stock information, and so on can be utilized to determine where the needed quantity should be picked from with the aid of SAP EWM.
For instance, there can be more than one storage bin for a product. The task assigned to the employee is affected by the configuration, stock availability and warehouse rules.
That’s one of the reasons why warehouse structure and master data are learning areas.
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Set up and execute Warehouse tasks
A warehouse task is a movement or action that must be carried out, like picking up a product from a storage bin and moving it to a picking or staging area.
These are the jobs that are done by Warehouse workers, based on the tools and processes set up for the process. Mobile devices or scanners can assist in the process in some warehouses by confirming the appropriate product, location or quantity.
The actual workflow will vary depending on the warehouse setup and type of equipment being utilized.
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Confirming the quantity picked.
If the order is 15 units, and 12 is the number of units available in the chosen bin, then 12 is the minimum.If 15 is the order and 12 is the unit in the selected bin, then 12 is the minimum. It’s not possible for the warehouse employee to just assume that the whole amount has been picked.
The shortage needs to be handled according to the warehouse’s procedures. This can be done by checking a different storage area, taking a brief pick or escalating the matter for further action.
Students need to know the impact of exception handling and task confirmation in the remaining process in the warehouse context.
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Moving Products towards Packing and Dispatch.
Once harvested, products can be transported to a packing station, consolidation area, or staging area prior to transport. The exact requirements vary in accordance with the warehouse design.
Ensuring task processing is done accurately provides the visibility of where products are, and what tasks are still outstanding.
A Real-Life Example: Identifying the cause of a picking error
Suppose a computer store orders 5 wireless keyboards and 5 wireless mice. Both products are packaged in similar ways, and stored in bins nearby.
By mistake the employee selects 5 mice rather than 5 keyboards. If the error isn’t caught, the packing crew could make a shipment error.
When studying SAP EWM, a student should look at the fact that they may have made more than one mistake.
Had an appropriate storage bin been designated? Did they correctly determine what the product was? Did the employee correctly confirm the task? Was the master data for the product correct? Did an appropriate verification step take place?
These questions are used to tie in the configuration of the system with warehouse activities. They also illustrate the importance of the accurate selection of people, process and data.
What is it that a student should learn in the SAP EWM training?
Students should seek a course which will introduce them to the entire warehouse process and not just the individual transactions without context.
Useful learning areas can be:
- Architecture of SAP EWM and its involvement in the warehouse management.
- The warehouse structure, storage types, storage sections and bins.
- Product master data and Warehouse-specific settings.
- Inwards deliveries and goods receipts.
- Putaway strategies and Warehouse tasks.
- Deliveries and picking operations outside of the building.
- Task confirmation and exception handling in the Warehouse.
- Concepts for packing, staging and goods issue.
- Keep a stock control and elementary warehouse fault diagnosis.
- Real-world business scenarios and documentation of processes.
Specific syllabus depends on the course. When choosing a training program, inquire if it includes examples of typical warehouse issues, demonstrations and hands-on exercises.
Who can avail SAP EWM training in Bangalore?
Graduates, supply chain professionals, warehouse staff, logistics experts, and SAP consultants might be interested in SAP EWM to gain insights into warehouse execution processes.
Many of the business situations discussed in the training may be familiar to persons with experience in inventory management or warehouse operations. A basic warehouse terminology is also included in the beginners’ section to help them build up their understanding before moving on to configuring a system and learning about scenarios.
When preparing for a job, students should be able to describe a warehouse process, explain the need for a specific task and how a problem can impact on the following tasks. Memorization is not as helpful as practical knowledge.
Learning Warehouse Processes with Version IT
When learning SAP EWM Training in Bangalore, students should enquire about the topic areas covered in the curriculum, the warehouse scenarios that are demonstrated and the chances of hands-on practice of common processes.
Make an effort to understand the case from a delivery demand all the way through to picking, verification, packing and preparing products for delivery. Document each step. Explain what can go wrong. This will help you build an understanding of how warehouse execution works.
When comparing training options take a look, at the Course Syllabus. Check which topics are covered in a hands-on experience. This will give you an idea of how well the training matches real-world tasks.
Final Thoughts
The accuracy of picking in a warehouse can directly affect how fast deliveries happen and how satisfied customers feel. When items are missing or the wrong product is picked it creates work in several ways. That’s why warehouse teams must have a process and accurate stock information.
If you are thinking of taking a SAP EWM Training Course in Bangalore, then the first option is to get in-depth understanding of SAP Extended Warehouse Management by selecting and warehouse task management. Students will gain a better understanding of the warehouse tasks, their creation, confirmation and monitoring, and use this to build a strong base for the more advanced topics covered in SAP EWM.
