SAP EWM add-ons (4.): Master data verification

The reader application for verifying the master data of goods is another one of our extensions for SAP Extended Warehouse Management.

As part of our series on add-ons for SAP EWM, I have so far focused on topics related to warehouse management. EWM offers a range of useful optimization algorithms, such as utilizing empty space in shelves, optimizing piece or carton picking, or building shipping pallets using the PackageBuilder tool. Each of these topics could easily be the subject of a separate, interesting article.

In all of these processes, however, the system relies on accurate logistical master data for products, such as their dimensions, weights, and unit conversions. And it is precisely the accuracy and up-to-date nature of this data that often undermines these great ideas, so to speak.

The concept of an application that helps solve this problem was first implemented by us in 2012, and we have been refining it ever since.

Business case

Verify and update the logistics data of the goods at the moment when the receiving agent has the goods physically in front of him.

The standard offered by SAP EWM does not include such a process and does not offer a mobile application for it.

mib:solution

We have developed a new application for the mobile terminal to check and update logistical master data. The application is launched during the receipt of new goods or after a certain period since the last check, or on an ad-hoc basis. Its goal is to:

provide the user with information about the master data of goods: dimensions, volume, weight, EAN codes, conversions to alternative units of measurement (KAR, BAL), material group, preferred unit of measurement
enable him to change some of this data (you can set which ones)
enable the acquisition of a new alternative unit of measurement (e.g. BAL, KAR)
enable the registration of a new supplier EAN in the master data
log all data changes from the mentioned application and, if necessary, to insert an additional control step for manual approval of changes to master data from a special report of inconsistent information.
based on the modified master data, perform Slotting and thus re-determine the EWM data for the given item (such as storage types, location types, maximum quantities for replenishment, etc.)
cancel the storage tasks that were created based on the original master data and to recreate them according to the modified master data