Issue

Syensqo currently operates on the SAP ECC platform, utilizing the SAP Warehouse Management (WM) solution for its logistics and inventory management processes in some of its locations.
SAP WM is the backbone of the warehouse operations for packed items which includes goods receipt, putaway, picking, packing and inventory tracking.

As part of the transition into SAP S/4HANA, the SAP WM module is obsolete and has been replaced with alternate options. 
Therefore, a decision is required on the future Warehouse Management System of Syensqo.

Recommendation

The recommendation is to implement the basic SAP Extended Warehouse Management module and functionality (Option B) as this will support Syensqo’s current and likely future warehouse management requirements. 

Background & Context

Below an overview of the SAP Warehouse Management Systems (WMS) are displayed: 

Not all warehouses at Syensqo are required to use a Warehouse Management System. Warehouses which are not using a Warehouse Management Solution will manage stock at Inventory Management level:

A additional comparison between Warehouse Management Systems and Inventory Management is displayed: 

Assumptions

• The SAP S/4 HANA implementation is a green field implementation. 
• To be in line with the standardization goals of Syensqo, only one of the options outlined in this document will be selected for implementation.
• Not every warehouse will require a Warehouse Management System. These decisions on warehouse level will be taken during detailed design based on the business rules described in this document.
  • Note:
    • This also includes the warehouses which are currently using Lean Warehouse Management in WP1. 
      This is a simplified approach for Warehouse Management which won't be used anymore in the future. 
    • This also includes spare parts warehouses.
    • R&I Centers are assumed to be handled in Inventory Management. 
• In general, Warehouse Management is not considered for 3PL warehouses because the equivalent functionalities can be achieved in 3PL systems.
  However there might be exceptions. These decisions will be taken during detailed design based on the business rules described in this document.
  
  

• SAP EWM offers different deployment options.
  Based on below explanation and assumptions, decentral EWM is not further considered in this document.

  • Embedded EWM: EWM is embedded within the SAP S/4HANA system. Embedded EWM is suitable for simpler warehouse processes and organizations looking for tighter integration between logistics and other business processes.
  • Decentral EWM: EWM is deployed as a standalone system separate from the core SAP S/4HANA system. It provides advanced warehouse management capabilities. Main reasons to implement Decentral EWM:
    • WMS should integrate with multiple ERP systems.
    • Integration of 1 ERP system with multiple WMS.
    • High throughput , high volumes.
    • High automation and integration.

Assumptions:

• • • For Syensqo it is assumed that the transactional volumes can be handled in an Embedded EWM system. Further analysis is in progress to confirm this statement.
    • So far no requirements have been identified for the other functionalities mentioned above.
      
      
• To ensure a successful cutover and deployment of a warehouse management system, the quality of data during stock migration is crucial. We assume that Syensqo can provide accurate and realistic data.
• Some Syensqo warehouses operate on a 24-hour basis, however all warehouses and warehouse related business processes are able to accommodate system maintenance windows on weekends. 
• The developments required to integrate basic EWM with advanced TM has limited complexity, impact and risk on the overall solution.

Constraints

• Refer to impact: By default, there is no integration between advanced TM and basic EWM, and such integration would need to be built using custom development. 

Impacts

• Change Management:
  • The future proof EWM solution offers greater flexibility. However, this increased flexibility also introduces complexity. To strike the right balance, our implementation approach will prioritize simplicity. We’ll provide sufficient training to ensure users become proficient in the new terminology and Fiori tiles.
  • Change Management is an important aspect. Note that the degree of change will be highly impacted by the Mobility Solutions which will be used in the warehouse. A separate KDD exists on Mobility Solutions in Logistics and Warehouse Management. 
    
    
• Data Migration:
  • Today, the material master data of SAP WM is exclusively covered by transaction MM01 (Warehouse Management 1 and 2). In SAP EWM, the material master data has to be maintained separately. A development can facilitate this data maintenance; this will be discussed further during detailed design.
  • Data migration for EWM involves adapting to its distinct data structures, which will require additional effort.
    
    
• Integrations:
  • SAP TM: The implementation of Basic EWM will impact the integration of EWM and TM. A separate KDD exists on the decision between advanced and basic TM.
    • Basic EWM can integrate with basic TM.
      The benefit is that the information of the freight order -this is similar to shipment - is visible during monitoring and execution of warehouse activities. This functionality is called Advanced Shipping and Receiving. Some of the advantage are:
      • The freight order is visible in warehouse reporting.
      • Loading can be done on the level of freight order. 
    • Advanced EWM can integrate with advanced TM. 
    • There is no integration between basic EWM and advanced TM.
      This means that all warehouse activities will be executed on the level of deliveries since freight orders are not visible.
      Extra developments will be required for this solution. 
• Process:
  • Yard Management: The basic EWM implementation doesn’t provide Yard Management functionalities in the SAP system.
    • Syensqo currently relies on various solutions for this purpose. Initial high-level analysis identified the use of Selfy, Simba, and Google Docs. To determine the optimal solution moving forward, a more detailed assessment of current usage and future yard management needs is essential.
      
      
• System downtime:  
  
  • If the WMS is embedded in the S/4HANA system, then any planned/unplanned outage to S/4HANA will also affect all warehouses.

Business Rules

As mentioned before, a Warehouse Management System is not required in all warehouses. 

• These 4 criteria will be used during detailed design to determine if a warehouse* requires a warehouse management system.
  *Note: These criteria will also be used for spare parts warehouses. These criteria are not relevant for 3PL warehouses. 

1. Stock visibility: Real time visibility on the physical locations of goods in the warehouse is required.
   Knowing the exact location of materials is critical.
   
   
2. Warehouse execution:
   1. Automated putaway and picking strategies based on business rules.
      E.g. The system can suggest relevant putaway or picking locations. 
   2. The warehouse operator requires guidance from the system during execution of the warehouse processes.
      E.g. The system will guide the operator to the area/ location in the warehouse where the goods need to be picked or putaway.
      
      
3. Number of storage bins: More than X storage bins are required. The specific number of storage bins will be determined during detailed design.
   This can deviate between manufacturing warehouses and spare parts or R&I centers.
   
   
4. Number of warehouse operators: More than X warehouse operators are working in the warehouse.
   The specific number of warehouse operators will be determined during detailed design.
   This can deviate between manufacturing warehouses and spare parts or R&I centers.

• There are guidelines on how to manage 3PL warehouses.
  
  In general, for 3PL warehouses handling the execution of the warehouse processes and having their own WMS, 
  stock can be handled on higher level in the Syenqo system using Inventory Mangement.
  This means no setup of Warehouse Management is required.
  To optimize efficiency and stock accuracy, updates of stock levels and other registrations are posted automatically using an interface. 
  
  However, reasons can be identified to manage stock in 3PL warehouses on Warehouse Management level.
  Some valid reasons are: 
  
  • Syensqo is handling the execution of the processes internally in the 3PL warehouses. 
  • Syensqo requires more detailed visibility of 3PL stock in the Syensqo system. 
  • There is no interface created with the 3PL warehouses.
    The 3PL is expected to do double registration; registration in their own WMS and directly in the Syensqo system.
    
    These are some of the reasons no interface is created with 3PL warehouses:
    • Limited maturity/ capabilities of 3PL sites. 
    • Limited term of agreement with 3PL. 
    • Limited volume processed by 3PL. 
    • Type of activities performed by 3PL.

Options considered

There are 4 options considered.
Option A relates to the SRM solution, Option B and C related to the two flavours of EWM and Option D considers a potential external (best of breed) warehouse management solution.

Option A: Stock Room Management

A basic version of the current SAP WM solution used at Syensqo.
 This means that the terminology and processes would be similar for the users.

 Functionalities in Stock Room Management are more limited compared to SAP WM functionalities.
By going from SAP WM to Stock Room Management, these are some of the functionalities that will be lost:

• Value Added Services
• Yard  Management
• Cross-Docking
• Wave Management

  This solution is no longer on the roadmap of SAP.
This means that SAP won't further invest in this solutions and no more improvements are expected.

Option B: Basic Extended Warehouse Management 

The new Warehouse Management Solution in S/4 HANA to support basic warehouse processes.
No extra licenses are required. There is the option to use extra functionalities and go to advanced EWM if required (Option C).

More extended monitoring functionalities compared to Stock Room Management.

The terminology and processes are different for the users compared to SAP WM in ECC.
Sufficient training is required. Complexity can be limited by keeping it light during the design.

Option C: Advanced Extended Warehouse Management

 This advanced option is adding advanced Warehouse Management functionalities on top of the basic ones of option B.
Some of the functionalities: 

• Value Added Services, e.g. Kit to order 
• Yard  Management
• Cross-Docking
• Wave Management

Extra licenses required.

Option D: Non-SAP Warehouse Management System/ Best-in-class WMS

Example of a Best-in-class WMS Körber.

Working with a non-SAP solution require extra interfaces to SAP S/4 HANA.

The terminology and processes are different for the users compared to SAP WM in ECC.
Sufficient training is required. 

Advanced Warehouse Management functionalities.

Evaluation

Given the fact that Warehouse Management is not Syensqo's core business, the suggested approach is to support all basic warehouse processes and avoid adding complexity of advanced warehouse management solutions.

Implementing Basic SAP EWM provides a future-proof solution to support Syensqo’s warehouse management processes (Option B).

Additional functionalities and complexity can be added where needed in later phases (Option C). 

	Option A: SRM	Option B: Basic EWM	Option C: Advanced EWM	Option D: Non-SAP WMS/ Best-in-class WMS
Functionalities	Less functionalities compared to the old SAP WM solution in ECC. Only supports basic warehouse management processes.	Better monitoring capabilities. Only supports basic warehouse management processes.	Supports advanced warehouse management processes.	Supports advanced warehouse management processes.
Integration	Embedded in S/4 HANA	Embedded in S/4 HANA	Embedded in S/4 HANA	Interface with S/4 HANA is required.
Scalability and future growth	Not on the future roadmap of SAP, so no more improvements.	Future proof SAP solution.	Future proof SAP solution.	Future proof solution.
Implementing effort and Change Management	Terminology and processes would be similar for the users. Less implementation effort e.g. less training required.	Sufficient training required for the users.  Limited scope of EWM implementation will limit complexity.	Sufficient training required for the users. More implementation effort because of extensive scope. Limit increased complexity of advanced functionalities by using a phased approach; first Option B, Option C in a later phase if required.	Sufficient training required for the users. Interface with S/4 HANA adds complexity to the solution landscape.

See also

1. Reference to KDD Transportation Management: 
   TM KDD 19 Basic Shipping vs Advanced TM - ERP Rebuild - Syensqo - Wiki knowledge base
2. Reference to KDD Logistics: 
   Logistics - Global Track & Trace Options: Batch vs Serial Number - ERP Rebuild - Syensqo - Wiki knowledge base  
3. Reference to Körber website:
   WMS for SMB Businesses (koerber-supplychain-software.com)
   
4. Reference to KDD Mobility solutions in Warehousing:
   WM: Mobility Solutions in Warehouse Management - ERP Rebuild - Syensqo - Wiki knowledge base
   

Change log

Workflow history