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SAP EWM MFS September2020

The document discusses SAP's Material Flow System (MFS), which enables automated warehouses to be connected to SAP Extended Warehouse Management (EWM) without an additional warehouse control unit. MFS subdivides warehouse tasks into smaller steps that are passed to a programmable logic controller (PLC) via telegrams. This allows for fully automated storage and retrieval of handling units. MFS features include automatic identification of units, capacity planning, and bidirectional communication between EWM and PLCs. The integration of MFS with EWM provides sophisticated automation strategies while maintaining transparency and scalability.

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0% found this document useful (0 votes)
700 views61 pages

SAP EWM MFS September2020

The document discusses SAP's Material Flow System (MFS), which enables automated warehouses to be connected to SAP Extended Warehouse Management (EWM) without an additional warehouse control unit. MFS subdivides warehouse tasks into smaller steps that are passed to a programmable logic controller (PLC) via telegrams. This allows for fully automated storage and retrieval of handling units. MFS features include automatic identification of units, capacity planning, and bidirectional communication between EWM and PLCs. The integration of MFS with EWM provides sophisticated automation strategies while maintaining transparency and scalability.

Uploaded by

sandeshlikes
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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SAP Material Flow System

Warehouse Automation with SAP Extended Warehouse Management

EWM Development, SAP SE


September 2020
PUBLIC
Disclaimer

The information in this presentation is confidential and proprietary to SAP and may not be disclosed without the permission of SAP.
Except for your obligation to protect confidential information, this presentation is not subject to your license agreement or any other service
or subscription agreement with SAP. SAP has no obligation to pursue any course of business outlined in this presentation or any related
document, or to develop or release any functionality mentioned therein.
This presentation, or any related document and SAP's strategy and possible future developments, products and or platforms directions and
functionality are all subject to change and may be changed by SAP at any time for any reason without notice. The information in this
presentation is not a commitment, promise or legal obligation to deliver any material, code or functionality. This presentation is provided
without a warranty of any kind, either express or implied, including but not limited to, the implied warranties of merchantability, fitness for a
particular purpose, or non-infringement. This presentation is for informational purposes and may not be incorporated into a contract. SAP
assumes no responsibility for errors or omissions in this presentation, except if such damages were caused by SAP’s intentional or gross
negligence.
All forward-looking statements are subject to various risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from
expectations. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of their dates,
and they should not be relied upon in making purchasing decisions.

© 2020 SAP SE or an SAP affiliate company. All rights reserved. ǀ PUBLIC 2


Agenda

1
Overview
2
Functional
3
Customer
4
Frequently Asked
5
Related Topics /
Principles Examples Questions Outlook

© 2020 SAP SE or an SAP affiliate company. All rights reserved. ǀ PUBLIC 3


Agenda

1
Overview
2
Functional
3
Customer
4
Frequently Asked
5
Related Topics /
Principles Examples Questions Outlook

© 2020 SAP SE or an SAP affiliate company. All rights reserved. ǀ PUBLIC 4


What is SAP Material Flow System (MFS)?
Definition and general way of working

• The material flow system (MFS) enables you to connect an


automatic warehouse to Extended Warehouse
Management (EWM) without the need for an additional warehouse
control unit.
• You can set up the MFS in such a way that warehouse tasks (e.g. from an identification point to a storage
bin in an automatic high-rack storage area) are subdivided into smaller tasks. These are passed on step by
step to the programmable logic controller (PLC)* responsible in each case using telegram communication.
The putaway and removal from storage of handling units (HUs) can thus take place without the use of
another software system.

• You can define capacity limits for communication points, conveyer segments or resources.
The EWM system then holds back tasks for the PLC as soon as these limits are exceeded. The same
applies if the PLC reports that one of the individual elements of conveyance (vehicles, legs, communication
points) are subject to malfunction.

* PLC: Underlying realtime system controlling the physical transportation of HUs on conveyer systems and their components.
© 2020 SAP SE or an SAP affiliate company. All rights reserved. ǀ PUBLIC 5
What is SAP Material Flow System (MFS)?
Features

• Automatic identification of HUs using scanners on the automatic storage retrieval facility

• Automatic diversion of HUs that cannot be stored (incorrect contours, excessive weight, unidentified)

• Fully automatic putaway of HUs in the storage bin using any number of interim steps. Interim steps are
represented by communication points.

• Malfunctions reported by the controls taken into account

• Capacity limits for communication points, conveyer segments, and vehicles taken into account

• Reduction in empty traveling paths for stacker cranes through interleaving

• Goods-to-Person picking principle

• Stock available for deliveries during transportation within the system

• Stable telegram communication between EWM and PLC using parallel, bidirectional communication
channels

© 2020 SAP SE or an SAP affiliate company. All rights reserved. ǀ PUBLIC 6


Leading-Edge Warehouse Automation With SAP MFS
MFS is able to control and monitor completely automated warehouses

Supported Processes Use Cases Predefined Implementation Service


• Pick, pack & pass • Cases / pallets • Cranes, pallet conveyers & lifts
• Goods-to-Person • Single / multi-deep bins • Case conveyer
• Pick points • Fixed / flexible aisles • Robots and automatic guided vehicles (AGV)
• Picking & pallet Building • Hand-over points • Picking systems
• Automated storage and retrieval system (ASRS)

Business Benefits
→ Sophisticated strategies to consider physics
→ Higher transparency on processes
→ PLC link, material flow and monitoring in one central system
→ Scalable architecture
© 2020 SAP SE or an SAP affiliate company. All rights reserved. ǀ PUBLIC 7
Logical Layers in Automated Warehouses
Context

Inbound & Outbound


Order / Inventory Management Deliveries

Stock per HU & bin


Warehouse Management
warehouse tasks

Warehouse equipment
Material Flow Control Detailed warehouse tasks

Real Time Controllers (PLC) Control of equipment

Sensors & drivers

© 2020 SAP SE or an SAP affiliate company. All rights reserved. ǀ PUBLIC 8


Integration of Warehouse Automation
SAP EWM with integrated Material Flow System
Since 2008 (EWM 5.1) Since 2015 (EWM 9.4)

Order / SAP ERP / SAP ERP / SAP ERP /


Inventory S/4HANA S/4HANA S/4HANA
Management

Warehouse SAP EWM


SAP EWM (including SAP EWM
Management (including
Material Flow
System) Material Flow
System)
Material flow
3rd party MFS
control RFC

Plant Connectivity
TCP/IP
TCP/IP

Control sensor PLC PLC


PLC
and drivers

SAP MFS is integrated within EWM and can be connected to one or more PLCs

© 2020 SAP SE or an SAP affiliate company. All rights reserved. ǀ PUBLIC 9


MFS is Not a Separate System But Integrated With EWM
EWM creates PLC relevant warehouse orders

EWM Objects Warehouse


order
Queue A Resource R1

Handling Warehouse
Unit task
PLC
relevant
Storage bin Storage bin
2 3

MFS Objects Communication Communication


PLC telegram
PLC A

point 2 point 3 Resource R1


Communication
channel A1

PLC Task for resource R1


move HU 1 from CP2 to CP3
Communication
channel A1

Devices HU 1

Resource
CP1 CP2 CP3
R1

© 2020 SAP SE or an SAP affiliate company. All rights reserved. ǀ PUBLIC 10


Types of Equipment That Can be Handled With SAP MFS
Overview

Conveyers
• Pallets / cases / packages
• Transfer cars
• Sorter
• Label applicators
• Pick, pack & pass picking principle

Storage retrieval machines


• Automated storage and retrieval system (ASRS) pallets / cases
• Goods-to-Person picking principle
• Shuttle warehouses

Subsystems
• Monorail system
• Automated guided vehicle systems (AGV)

© 2020 SAP SE or an SAP affiliate company. All rights reserved. ǀ PUBLIC 11


Benefits For Our Customers

• Direct connection of PLC


• Control of any kind of automation without SAP ERP / SAP ERP /
external Material Flow System S/4HANA S/4HANA

• Reduction of interfaces
• ONE responsibility for warehouse management SAP EWM SAP EWM
and material flow control (including
Material Flow
• Only SAP knowledge necessary System)

• Only one SAP System landscape necessary 3rd party MFS

• Central monitoring of WMS and MFS TCP/IP

• At any time: Enhancement und upgrade* PLC PLC

*Material Flow integrated in SAP release cycle

© 2020 SAP SE or an SAP affiliate company. All rights reserved. ǀ PUBLIC 12


Agenda

1
Overview
2
Functional
3
Customer
4
Frequently Asked
5
Related Topics /
Principles Examples Questions Outlook

© 2020 SAP SE or an SAP affiliate company. All rights reserved. ǀ PUBLIC 13


Warehouse Automation Interfaces to EWM
WCU vs. RFC – TCP/IP

EWM-WCU RFC - TCP/IP


• Restricted set of • More flexibility
SAP ERP / SAP ERP / SAP ERP /
S/4HANA functions S/4HANA S/4HANA • Higher first
• No routing decisions implementation effort
• Separate software • Freedom in hardware

SAP EWM
required (MFS) SAP EWM
SAP EWM
vendor selection
(including
• 3rd party dependence (including
Material Flow
System) Material Flow
System)
3rd party MFS
RFC

Plant Connectivity
TCP/IP
TCP/IP

PLC PLC PLC

Since 2008 (EWM 5.1) Since 2015 (EWM 9.4)

© 2020 SAP SE or an SAP affiliate company. All rights reserved. ǀ PUBLIC 14


Direct Link to Programmable Logic Controllers (PLC)

Crane
3

PLC RACK3

Crane
Storing
2
PLC RACK2

Crane
1

PLC RACK1
SAP EWM

TCAR

PLC CONSYS1 IP

Picking
PP

Receiving GI
GR Clearing

© 2020 SAP SE or an SAP affiliate company. All rights reserved. ǀ PUBLIC 15


Example
EWM controls single transportation steps (1a – request)

Aisle 1 Aisle 2
EWM

Final
Destination
CP12

HU “1” at
Scanner “CP01” CP11

1
Scanner
CP02 CP01 TCAR1

Conveyer
PLC

© 2020 SAP SE or an SAP affiliate company. All rights reserved. ǀ PUBLIC 16


Example
EWM controls single transportation steps (1b – response)

Aisle 1 Aisle 2
EWM

Final
Move HU “1”
from “CP01” to “CP02” Destination
CP12

Intermediate CP11

Destination
1
Scanner
CP02 CP01 TCAR1

Conveyer
PLC

© 2020 SAP SE or an SAP affiliate company. All rights reserved. ǀ PUBLIC 17


Example
EWM controls single transportation steps (2a – request)

Aisle 1 Aisle 2
EWM

CP12

CP11
HU “1” arrived
at position “CP02”
1
Scanner
CP02 CP01 TCAR1

Conveyer
PLC

© 2020 SAP SE or an SAP affiliate company. All rights reserved. ǀ PUBLIC 18


Example
EWM controls single transportation steps (2b – response)

Aisle 1 Aisle 2
EWM

Move HU “1”
from “CP02” to “CP11”
with resource “TCAR1”

CP12

CP11

1
Scanner
CP02 CP01 TCAR1

Conveyer
PLC

© 2020 SAP SE or an SAP affiliate company. All rights reserved. ǀ PUBLIC 19


Example
EWM controls single transportation steps (3a – request)

Aisle 1 Aisle 2
EWM

CP12

Task Confirmation: 1
HU “1” at “CP11”
CP11

Scanner
CP02 CP01
TCAR

Conveyer
PLC

© 2020 SAP SE or an SAP affiliate company. All rights reserved. ǀ PUBLIC 20


Example
EWM controls single transportation steps (3b – response)

Aisle 1 Aisle 2
EWM

Task: HU “1”
from “CP11” to “CP12”

CP12

CP11

Scanner
CP02 CP01
TCAR

Conveyer
PLC

© 2020 SAP SE or an SAP affiliate company. All rights reserved. ǀ PUBLIC 21


Example
EWM controls single transportation steps (4a – request)

Aisle 1 Aisle 2
EWM

CP12

Task
Confirmation CP11
HU “1” at “CP12”

Scanner
CP02 CP01
TCAR

Crane1
PLC

© 2020 SAP SE or an SAP affiliate company. All rights reserved. ǀ PUBLIC 22


Example
EWM controls single transportation steps (4b – response)

Aisle 1 Aisle 2
EWM

Task for crane PLC:


HU “1”
from “CP12” to 1
storage bin “010201”
with resource CP12
“Crane01”

CP11

Scanner
CP02 CP01
TCAR

Crane1
PLC

© 2020 SAP SE or an SAP affiliate company. All rights reserved. ǀ PUBLIC 23


Example
EWM controls single transportation steps (5)

Quantity Aisle 1 Aisle 2


available for sale
EWM

CP12

Task
Confirmation
HU “1” at “010201” CP11

Scanner
CP02 CP01
TCAR

Crane1
PLC

© 2020 SAP SE or an SAP affiliate company. All rights reserved. ǀ PUBLIC 24


Integrated Material Flow System
For direct control of automation – pallets
Aisle 1 Aisle 2 Aisle 3
Crane
System architecture 2

Storage Bins HRS


Crane
SAP ERP / 3
S/4HANA

SAP EWM Crane


(including 1

Material Flow
System)

Conveyers TCAR Shuttle


TCP/IP
I-Point

PLC

P-Point

GI
GR NiO

Empty pallets
© 2020 SAP SE or an SAP affiliate company. All rights reserved. ǀ PUBLIC 25
Integrated Material Flow System
For direct control of automation – pick, pack & pass

System architecture Work


Center

SAP ERP /
S/4HANA CP

Sorter Decision
CP CP
GI Point

SAP EWM
(including
Material Flow
System)
Sorter Decision
CP CP
Point
GR

CP
TCP/IP

PLC Work
Center

© 2020 SAP SE or an SAP affiliate company. All rights reserved. ǀ PUBLIC 26


PLC Communication Protocol Implemented in MFS

Rules to assure that every telegram is


EWM MFS communicated successfully:
Send buffer Channel 1
No Telegram Snd Ack • Receiver sends an acknowledge
17 State Request CP13 Y N
telegram for every telegram he
18 TASK CP02 – CP03 N N Last No. received 923
receives
TCP/IP Acknowledge
Telegram
Telegram
No. 17
No. 923
• Sender repeats a telegram as long as
he hasn‘t received the
ABAP Push Channel TCP acknowledgment (every n seconds)
Acknowledge Telegram
Telegram No. 923
No. 17 • Sender does not send a new telegram
TCP/IP before the previous one has been
Last No. received 17 Send buffer Channel 1
acknowledged
No Telegram Snd Ack

PLC 1 923 State CP13 Y N


• Receiver processes a telegram only
924 CONF CP02 – CP03 N N

the first time he receives it (criterion:


Sequence number)

© 2020 SAP SE or an SAP affiliate company. All rights reserved. ǀ PUBLIC 27


MFS For Pallet Conveyers (EWM 5.1 – 7.01)
Routing by dedicated warehouse tasks

HU warehouse task 1 HU warehouse task 2

Intermediate position
Start position End position
EWM

Typically
up to 1
sec.

Task 1 confirm Task 1 Task 2 Confirm task 2

PLC

© 2020 SAP SE or an SAP affiliate company. All rights reserved. ǀ PUBLIC 28


© SAP 2009 / Page 28
MFS For Case Conveyers (Since EWM 7.02)
Routing by handling unit context

HU context, e.g. open pick warehouse tasks

Start position Intermediate position End position


EWM

Typically
up to 0,5
sec.

PLC

© 2020 SAP SE or an SAP affiliate company. All rights reserved. ǀ PUBLIC 29


© SAP 2009 / Page 29
Agenda

1
Overview
2
Functional
3
Customer
4
Frequently Asked
5
Related Topics /
Principles Examples Questions Outlook

© 2020 SAP SE or an SAP affiliate company. All rights reserved. ǀ PUBLIC 30


More than 350 known automated
warehouses run by SAP EWM
Customer Example: Sick AG
High tech, manufacturer of sensors and sensor solutions

Some Facts
• Location: Waldkirch, Germany
• > 48,000 products
• High bay warehouse with 6,600 pallet locations
and 4 aisles
• Small parts warehouse with 8 aisles and 117,000
locations for containers, 4-deep storage
• Shuttle warehouse with 7,200 locations
• Implementation partner: Salt

Link to video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zCEtjXXn2Ik


Link to Salt reference: https://www.salt-solutions.de/solutions/detail/sap-ewm-fuer-weltweite-distribution-bei-sick-ag.html
© 2020 SAP SE or an SAP affiliate company. All rights reserved. ǀ PUBLIC 32
Customer Example: Peter Kölln GmbH & Co. KGaA
Consumer products, german food manufacturer known for their oats

Some Facts
• Location: Elmshorn, Germany
• Integration of automatic high shelves into SAP
environment
• Double height pallets as storage unit
• 4 aisles pallet warehouse
• 5,600 pallet locations on 12 levels
• Implementation partner: Viastore Software

Link to official reference: https://www.sap.com/content/dam/site/events/emea/germany/assets/2017-11-07-de-effizientere-ressourcen-agenda.pdf (German only)


Link to Viastore reference: https://www.viastore.com/fileadmin/media/media_us/customer_success/viastore_EN_Kolln_Letter.pdf
© 2020 SAP SE or an SAP affiliate company. All rights reserved. ǀ PUBLIC 33
Customer Example: Biologische Heilmittel Heel GmbH
Life sciences

Some Facts
• Location: Baden-Baden, Germany
• Automated high bay warehouse for finished
goods
• Goods to person picking from automated
high bay
• 6,000 pallet locations in high bay warehouse
• Pick-by-light with 2,800 picks per day
• 86% increase in feedback response time
and 10% higher process efficiency overall
• Implementation partner: Aberle Software
GmbH

Link to video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tWz83EvKUI4 (German only)


Link to official reference: https://www.sap.com/content/dam/site/events/emea/germany/assets/2017-11-07-de-email-sap-infotag-lager-und-transportmanagement.pdf
(German only)
© 2020 SAP SE or an SAP affiliate company. All rights reserved. ǀ PUBLIC 34
Customer Example: Hazet Werke
Industrial machinery & components manufacturer

Some Facts
• Location: Heinsberg, Germany
• 10,000 sqm
• 5,500 products
• 21,000 storage bins
• Fully automated warehouse for buffering,
1,200 boxes, >300 double plays per hour
• Pick-by-voice
• Implementation partner: Aberle GmbH
and Aberle Software GmbH

Link to video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=08mMdnFag-o (German only)


Link to article: https://vialog-logistik.com/referenz/hazet-planung-ausschreibung-und-inbetriebnahme-einer-lagererweiterung/ (German only)
© 2020 SAP SE or an SAP affiliate company. All rights reserved. ǀ PUBLIC 35
Customer Example: Viessmann IT Service GmbH
Industrial machinery & components manufacturer

Some Facts
• Location: Allendorf,
Germany
• Automated high-bay
warehouse with 19 aisles
• Automated mini-load
system with 2-deep
storage and 2 aisles
• Productivity increase in
picking and loading up to
10%
• Implementation partner:
inconso AG

Link to video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X7bgAzCpDYg (German only)


Link to inconso article: https://www.inconso.com/fileadmin/Content/Referenzen/Case-Study-Viessmann-SAP-EWM.pdf
© 2020 SAP SE or an SAP affiliate company. All rights reserved. ǀ PUBLIC 36
Customer Example: La Lorraine Bakery Group
Bakery and milling

Some Facts
• Location: Vanlor, Belgium
• Pallet warehouse with double deep bins (5 aisles,
16,000 bins)
• Two pallet spots on a crane (double stacker
cranes)
• Implemented by: SAP Consulting

© 2020 SAP SE or an SAP affiliate company. All rights reserved. ǀ PUBLIC 37


Customer Example: Bechtle Logistik & Service GmbH
Wholesale distribution

Some Facts
• Location: Neckarsulm, Germany
• SAP MFS for pick, pack & pass
• Pick, pack & pass and putaway supported by
case conveyor
• 15,000 bins at conveyor systems
• 18 packing work center, 6 picking stations
• Implemented by: SAP Consulting

Link to video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r9fGRcX_o9s

© 2020 SAP SE or an SAP affiliate company. All rights reserved. ǀ PUBLIC 38


Customer Example: Aspöck Systems GmbH
Industrial machinery & components manufacturer

Some Facts
• Location: Austria
• High bay warehouse with 8,000 pallet locations
• 2 double deep aisles
• 3,000 locations in automatic small parts
warehouse
• Implementation partner: IGZ

Link to video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ric1EVzofSg


Link to IGZ reference: https://www.igz.com/referenzen/aspoeck/
Link to official reference: https://www.sap.com/assetdetail/2017/02/64cb5414-a97c-0010-82c7-eda71af511fa.html
© 2020 SAP SE or an SAP affiliate company. All rights reserved. ǀ PUBLIC 39
Customer Example: Würth Netherlands
Wholesale distribution

Some Facts KPIs: MFS architecture

• Location: s’Hertogenbosch, • 83,600 bins • Case conveyor


Netherlands
• Up to 30 telegrams/s • SAP PCo
• Pick, pack & pass process • Vanderlande® PLC (S7), Posisorter,
• Average response time < 200ms
• Volume: throughput up to • Rober integration (palletization robot)
3,000boxes/h • 10,000 outbound delivery items/day
• Implementation partner: SAP • Pick list feeder, delivery note feeder,
• Required response times: <500ms DG label application, shipping label
Consulting, comgroup
printer
• Synchronization of printouts with
EWM-MFS
• Proof-of-concept with MFS emulation

“With the Proof of Concept, SAP has demonstrated the capability of EWM-MFS to handle the high performance requirements of the container handling
technology. During this „Sportive Challenge“, SAP showed its full commitment to take over responsibility in a project, delivered in partnership.”
Sven Bertelmann, Adolf Würth GmbH & Co. KG

© 2020 SAP SE or an SAP affiliate company. All rights reserved. ǀ PUBLIC 40


Customer Example: Liverpool
Retail, largest chain of department stores in Mexico

Some Facts
• Location: Mexico
• no human intervention in the cross dock process
through the sorter
• Deconsolidation is done at the outlets of the
sorter
• Automated storage and retrieval system (ASRS)
• Layout oriented storage control
• > 125,000 telegrams processes in 10 hours (3.5
telegrams / second)
• 4,500 containers processes per hour
• Implementation partner: SAP Services
Link to slide deck: https://docplayer.es/19396308-Implementacion-sap-ewm-en-liverpool-sap-webinar-daniel-tapia-nosedal-gerente-centro-de-
competencias-area-logistica-18-de-noviembre-de-2015.html (Spanish only)
© 2020 SAP SE or an SAP affiliate company. All rights reserved. ǀ PUBLIC 41
Customer Example: Brose Fahrzeugteile SE & Co.
Automotive, world‘s fifth-largest family-owned automotive supplier

Some Facts
• Location: Koprivnice near Ostrava, Czech Republic
• Fully automated goods receipt warehouse for production supply
• Fully automated tugger train production supply
• 180 heavy load containers stored per hour by conveyors
• 5 aisle high bay warehouse
• 10,000 storage spaces in high bay warehouse
• Fully automated depalletizing by robot
• Automated small parts warehouse with 7 aisles, and 23,500 storage
spaces on 28 levels
• Implementation partner: SSI Schäfer, Swan

Link to video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0RCIMh9R4L0


© 2020 SAP SE or an SAP affiliate company. All rights reserved. ǀ PUBLIC 42
More Official References

Tempo Beverages Ltd. (Israel)


• Industry: Consumer products, Israels largest brewer
• Implementation partner: Dematic

Evonik Industries AG (Germany)


• Industry: Speciality chemicals
• Implementation partner: SAP Consulting
• Link to official reference: https://www.sap.com/documents/2018/08/b0d0b17b-157d-0010-87a3-
c30de2ffd8ff.html

© 2020 SAP SE or an SAP affiliate company. All rights reserved. ǀ PUBLIC 43


Implementing SAP EWM / SAP MFS for Industries With Unique Requirements
Japanese fashion retailer

• Example how Japanese PLCs can be integrated with EWM-


MFS
• highly automated warehouse with 3.5 km of carton conveyor
tracks and several high-rack shelf systems for automated box
and pallet storage retrieval
• Digital picking system and many label printers to be connected
on material flow level

Link to blog post: https://blogs.sap.com/2020/04/08/agile-sap-extended-warehouse-management-implementation-for-japanese-fashion-industry/


© 2020 SAP SE or an SAP affiliate company. All rights reserved. ǀ PUBLIC 44
More Video Showcases of MFS Implementations
List not complete

Aberle GmbH @ Greiner Bio-One https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a8lGqsOHRiU


Cpro industry Projects @ cosnova https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4KTgzMjq8YA
& Solutions GmbH
SAP Consulting @ Ifm group of companies https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nsmOZk6u57I
SAP Consulting @ asianpaints https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bQUuvNKZx4A
Dematic Europe @ R. Nussbaum AG https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_IrCeThdHp8
viastore GROUP @ KAESER Kompressoren https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z9Ht8oHuoHs
IGZ @ Gebr. Heinemann KG https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e0ID8VNHGk8
https://www.igz.com/referenzen/heinemann/
Westernacher @ Komplett Group https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pQbTuqJHALo
SALT solutions @ Würth https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=THXr7CqmgEU
Dematic Europe @ SFS unimarket AG https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZMqE-86hOQc
… … …

© 2020 SAP SE or an SAP affiliate company. All rights reserved. ǀ PUBLIC 45


Agenda

1
Overview
2
Functional
3
Customer
4
Frequently Asked
5
Related Topics /
Principles Examples Questions Outlook

© 2020 SAP SE or an SAP affiliate company. All rights reserved. ǀ PUBLIC 46


‘Will MFS be fast enough?’

© 2020 SAP SE or an SAP affiliate company. All rights reserved. ǀ PUBLIC 47


Will MFS be Fast Enough?
Performance requirements

Facts
• MFS is part of the SAP system environment and not a real time system
• MFS is integrated in EWM and not a separate application
• Processing of PLC requests competes with EWM user requests for system resources
• Consider note 1914127

Concern
• Will MFS be fast enough?
• Would it be possible to drive an automated warehouse from a centralized SAP System Landscape?

Remote Warehouse

Headquarter
© 2020 SAP SE or an SAP affiliate company. All rights reserved. ǀ PUBLIC Local Warehouse 48
Will MFS be Fast Enough?
Performance: Communication channel scalability

Several channels per PLC possible.


Channels are working in parallel.

• The telegrams of each channel PLC 1 PLC 2


are transmitted sequentially.
Channel A Channel C Channel B Channel D

• Data transmission and data


processing are decoupled by
the database.

• The telegrams of each channel EWM Function


module
Function
module
Function
module
Function
module
are processed sequentially.
• Follow-up events are triggered
asynchronously. → Main influence to performance:
Number of work processes

© 2020 SAP SE or an SAP affiliate company. All rights reserved. ǀ PUBLIC 49


Will MFS be Fast Enough?
MFS server location options
Response times are not critical Response times are critical
(e.g. pallets, small volume) (e.g. cartons, sorters)

Headquarters
SAP ERP / SAP ERP / SAP ERP / SAP ERP / SAP ERP / SAP ERP /
S/4HANA S/4HANA S/4HANA S/4HANA S/4HANA S/4HANA

EWM on EWM on EWM on


S/4HANA S/4HANA S/4HANA

PLC PLC
Local warehouse

Remote location at
Decentral EWM
same continent
on S/4HANA

PLC
PLC
Near-shore warehouse

Remote location at
other continent Decentral EWM Decentral EWM
on S/4HANA on S/4HANA

PLC PLC
Off-shore warehouse

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Will MFS be Fast Enough?
MFS system responsiveness depends on MFS processing time and network latency

Latency LAN Latency WAN*


Typically < 5ms Typical network latency (example: Verizon’s Global Latency and Packet Delivery SLA)
Average round-trip packet transmission (latency) within Verizon’s global IP network:

North America Intra-Europe Trans-Atlantic Trans-Pacific Europe-Asia

≤ 45ms ≤ 30ms ≤ 90ms ≤ 160ms ≤ 250ms

Source: http://www.verizonenterprise.com/about/network/latency/ - April 2020

Critical time window needs to be evaluated per warehouse Every request results in 4 messages
• Request - Acknowledgment
• Response - Acknowledgment

Event PLC MFS


Request
Example Request
Pallets Cases
MFS processing time:
Ack
Max 3s 500ms • Parallel processing
Avg. <1s <200ms Response • Available work processes
Response • Sizing
Reaction Ack

*WAN network capacity needs to be considered as hard constraint


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‘What are the limitations of
SAP MFS?’

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What Are Known Functional Limitations of SAP MFS?
List not complete

Available in standard (no limitation)


• Pallet and case conveyers with capacity management and layout-oriented routing of handling units
• Case conveyer routing based on put away or pick tasks (fast routing) – available since EWM 7.02
• Resource management for cranes (interleaving), resource management for transfer cars (FIFO)
• Automated ID point, goods-to-man picking principle
• Specific exception handling (no read at scanners, unknown HU, crane put away and retrieval exceptions)
• Multi-depth storage, cranes moving multiple HUs at a time (with BAdI)

Additional developments but already implemented on project base (limitation type 1)


• Automated label applicators
• Pallet stacking robots
• High performance requirements (needs to be evaluated thoroughly)
• …

Additional requirements not yet implemented and probably complex or not recommended (limitation type 2)
• High sophisticated material flow throughput optimization, e.g. overall load balancing for automated equipment
• Low level PLC events to be reflected by MFS (sensor related events instead of HU related events)
• …

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Agenda

1
Overview
2
Functional
3
Customer
4
Frequently Asked
5
Related Topics /
Principles Examples Questions Outlook

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Warehouse Automation
SAP EWM with integrated Material Flow System (MFS)

Digital core: System of record Digital innovation: System of innovation

ECC
S/4HANA
Connected
devices

RF Integration
SAP EWM Warehouse
Robotics platform automation

SAP Material Flow Systems

Hands free
picking
Communication* via Telegram or Web Services

SAP ME/MII
Pick by Voice
Augmented reality

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SAP Connected Warehousing
Comprehensive built in automation and validation for routing, putaway, picking, pallet building, packing

Connected Devices Connected Automation


• Mobile devices • Conveyers
• RFID scanners • Lifts
• Voice recognition headsets • Robots
• Augmented aeality • Picking systems
• Pagers & phones • Manufacturing Execution Systems
• Label printers
• Scales

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SAP EWM Integration With Robots / Automated Guided Vehicles

Key Benefits

SAP Extended Warehouse Management • Drastically reduces


transport time
(SAP EWM) • Improves warehouse
throughput by 30%
• Improves picker
Robot / AGV Guidance productivity by 40%
Communication* via Telegram or Web Services

• Project-based
implementation
using SAP EWM
• Material Flow System
(MFS)
or web service calls

Link to video SAP EWM and autonomous robots: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pmDXM70GbrQ&


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SAP Cloud Robotics
Open source solution with out-of-the-box EWM scenarios

• SAP Cloud Robotics is an add-on to EWM with out-of-the-


box EWM scenarios

• It reduces the need for specialized system integrators

• Works with warehouse robots of most vendors with very


little adaptation and can run heterogeneous fleets

• Solution is provided as open source

Blog post series on SAP Cloud Robotics


https://blogs.sap.com/2019/11/08/cloud-robotics-for-sap-extended-
warehouse-management/

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Further Information

SAP Help Portal Setting up the Material Flow System

How-To-Guide: Configuration of ABAP push channels TCP for MFS in EWM

EWM Consulting Solutions for MFS by SAP Consulting:


• Physical inventory for HUs
• PLC emulation
• SimpleUIs (see also SAP note 2232962)

Notes (list not complete):


• 1914127 - Performance optimization in EWM MFS
• 1700153 - Problem analysis in material flow system environment
• 2830659 - MFS – Trigger communication points on channel start
• 2070351 - Example for adjustment of the MFS putaway strategy
• 2064457 - BAdIs for connection of MFS resources that can move multiple HUs

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Thank you.
Nadine Ried
Product Management EWM, EWM Development, SAP SE
nadine.ried@sap.com
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