With this process, products are picked, packed, and sent from your warehouse. This scope item supports different outbound process scenarios. For example, you can send ordered products to external customers, return products to suppliers, and supply products to internal customers.
The goods are stored in the warehouse in three different storage types:
- Bulk Storage: This storage type is divided into columns of single bins where multiple storage units are placed according to size and dimensions.
- Fixed Bin Storage: This storage type is used if you want to put away a product in a fixed storage bin because you pick the product usually from this storage type
- Standard Storage: This is the most common storage type used to store different types of products, for example a high-rack storage
At the end of the outbound process the goods are picked and moved to the goods issue zone.
From the goods issue zone the transportation unit, for example a truck, is loaded and the goods issue is posted when the transportation unit leaves the warehouse.
It is possible to use packing proposals based on packing instructions to optimize and streamline the process.
Business Benefits
- Control and record movements of products and handling units in the warehouse.
- Map your warehouse complex in the system down to storage bin level.
- Improve visibility and control in warehouse operations.
- Leverage shipping handling units, including label printing during packing.
- Handle exceptions.
Release stock after picking
You can also use the Run Outbound Process - Deliveries app to release stock after it has been picked, before goods issue. The process is different depending on whether the stock is unpacked or packed.
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Key Process Flows
- Assign carrier (optional):
Depending on whether or not you carry out transportation planning, you assign a carrier responsible for transport in this step.
- Create pick warehouse tasks and print picking lists:
The goods have to be picked from the regular storage location before packing, staging, and loading. In this step, the warehouse tasks are created and assigned to warehouse orders. In case of a paper-driven environment, the picking lists are printed as well.
- Confirm pick warehouse tasks:
The warehouse operative carries out the picking warehouse tasks and confirms the activities.
- Pack goods into shipping handling units and print labels (optional):
To be able to ship the goods, they have to be packed into shipping handling units for transportation. Usually, handling unit labels are printed in this step as well, for labeling the handling units.
- Print loading instruction (optional):
Depending on the loading process, instructions that might be required are printed in this step.
- Post goods issue:
Finally, the goods issue is posted when the goods are loaded and the handling unit / products have left the warehouse and are en route.
Automatic Packing in Outbound Work Center
You can now automatically create handling units (HUs) based on packing instructions, including HU hierarchies, in the Pack Handling Units - Advanced and the Work Center Packing for Outbound Delivery apps.
Automatic packing is based on packing instructions that are determined based on the delivery criteria.
Using automatic packing drastically reduces manual effort when packing repeatedly. It is also a guidance for the end user on how to pack, which is a special advantage when having new inexperienced workers or seasonal workers.
Pack Handling Units - Advanced app
With the app Pack Handling Units - Advanced you can manage handling units (HUs) as a warehouse operative. On the initial screen, you select your warehouse number and work center. You can set filters, including storage bin, HU, or warehouse request. On the left-hand side of the screen, you can view the HU hierarchy, and pack, unpack or repack products or HUs by dragging and dropping them into an HU or storage bin. You can use a keyboard or a scanner - provided the necessary information is available as a bar code - for the same purpose in the tabs on the upper right-hand side of the screen. On the right-hand screen area, you can edit or request detailed information about the HUs and products.
- View the HU hierarchy and work with nested HUs; that is, HUs that have been packed into other HUs
- Create, change, and delete HUs
- Repack HUs and products
- Print HU labels
- Post differences
- Repack batch-managed materials as well as products with a stock-level serialization requirement
- Upload, read, update, or delete attachments to HUs, for example, photos or documents in various file formats or URLs
Configure your settings in the Control tab to set default values
The app allows you to do the following:
Run a Simulation to Check the System Behavior
You can use the following simulation to work your way through the main process steps about how to run the warehouse outbound process.
Business Roles and SAP Fiori Apps
The following SAP S/4HANA Cloud business roles are used for this scenario:
Warehouse Clerk (EWM)
Warehouse Operative (EWM)
The Roles and Apps Used in the Scenario Warehouse Outbound Processing (3BS) figure shows the roles and SAP Fiori apps involved in the process. Whereas the warehouse clerk is responsible for the main process steps, the warehouse operative carries out and confirms the warehouse activities.