Implementing Two-Step Picking

Objective

After completing this lesson, you will be able to implement two-step picking

Two-Step Picking

In two-step picking, the picking process is split into two separate steps. You remove products from a storage type for multiple outbound deliveries in the first step, and assign the products that you have withdrawn to the relevant outbound deliveries in the second step.

This optimizes the process by picking a large number of outbound deliveries on a collective basis. Furthermore, you minimize the total number of picking operations performed during picking by removing the total required quantity of the products in a cross-requirement way in the first step. Moreover, stock removal and allocation are two separate warehouse processes. You create a separate warehouse task for each of these steps.

Steps in a storage and delivery process: Step 1 involves withdrawal from high rack storage area (St. Type 0010) to intermediate storage (St. Type 2010). Step 2 allocates products to outbound deliveries in goods issue zone (St. Type 9010).

Picking Step One: Withdrawal

During the first picking step, the withdrawal, the following occurs:

  1. You combine the outbound deliveries into a wave.

  2. As soon as you form a group of outbound deliveries, EWM determines the relevance of the corresponding products as two-step picking. You can change the relevance of the entire wave to two-step picking by changing the value in the Two-Step Pick field on the user interface for wave maintenance (no entry = not relevant, 2 = two-step picking).

  3. To create the warehouse tasks for the first step, you release the wave for the withdrawal step. To do this, on the EWM Index screen, choose Extended Warehouse Management → Work Scheduling → Wave Management → Maintain Waves. Select the wave and then choose the Release Withdrawal button.

    The release of the withdrawal step can also be done automatically.

  4. You confirm the warehouse orders for the withdrawal step, and, in doing so, you confirm that the necessary products are in the intermediate storage type.

Picking Step Two: Allocation

During the second picking step, the allocation, the following occurs:

  1. You create warehouse tasks for the second step by wave release for the allocation step (manually or automatically). In doing so, you distribute the total quantity that has been picked among the individual requirements.
  2. You transport the products that belong to a wave from the intermediate storage type to the destination storage bins (for example, to a goods issue zone or packing station) by confirming the warehouse orders.

Two-Step Picking Prerequisites

Note the following:

  1. You have activated two-step picking for your warehouse in Customizing for EWM. If you want to define the two-step process on a product basis, set the 2-Step Matl-Dep. indicator as well. You then maintain the indicator for the products which you want to be 2-step picking relevant (on the Warehouse Data tab page of the warehouse product).

    If you use wave templates, you can decide for each wave template whether two-step picking is to be used, independent of the setting on warehouse level.

  2. You have defined and assigned a warehouse process type for the withdrawal step. In the standard system, the warehouse process type 2020 is defined for the first picking step.

  3. You have created a storage type and storage bins for the intermediate storage section. In the standard system, the storage type 2010 is defined for this purpose.

  4. The stock removal strategy for the second picking step must find the storage type of the intermediate storage section. You control this by setting the 2 indicator for two-step picking in Customizing for the storage type search sequence.

  5. You have combined the outbound deliveries into a wave.

Note

As an alternative method to reduce the number of picks from one bin, you can also check the "Combined Picking Profile". It is not the same as 2-step picking, but with this feature you can confirm several warehouse tasks which pick a material from the same bin with one confirmation.

Optimization of Two-Step Picking

Two-step picking increases the overall efficiency of the picking process. Nevertheless, you can further improve the two-step picking process by allowing the system to automatically create allocation tasks or to minimize the total number of warehouse tasks by creating the optimal combination of direct picking and two-step picking tasks.

  • Automatic Creation of Allocation Warehouse Tasks

    There are two options for the automatic creation of the allocation warehouse tasks:

    • The wave template has a second release time. Therefore, a manual release is not required (as it was in previous EWM releases)
    • You can trigger the creation of the allocation warehouse tasks when the withdrawal warehouse tasks are confirmed. This automation reduces the number of times you have to manually release waves, and it minimizes the amount of stock located at the intermediate storage section.

      Note

      As the automatic creation of allocation tasks releases individual wave items, not the entire wave, the wave must be released a final time, either manually or automatically, to update the wave status to Released.

      In some cases, the system can't identify the related wave items that are to be released and therefore doesn't automatically create the allocation tasks. This can happen if warehouse task confirmation to the intermediate bin is more complex, such as when layout-oriented storage control is used. For that reason, once all withdrawal tasks are confirmed, SAP recommends that you release the wave for allocation, either manually or automatically, to ensure that all warehouse tasks are created.

  • Optimal combination of direct picking and two-step picking tasks.

    Depending on the stock situation in the warehouse, it can be more efficient to use direct picking for some items, but two-step picking for other wave items. This is determined in two-step picking optimization. For example, if stock of the requested quantity is available in the warehouse as a unit, it's more efficient to use a direct picking task.

    The optimization can be set up to be done automatically at wave release and / or at wave release simulation, or manually. BAdIs are available for implementing custom logic.

Learning

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