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Streamlining Warehouse Operations: SAP EWM Slotting Process

SharmaGaurav
Explorer
‎2025 May 05 9:35 AM
0 Kudos
518

In the ever-evolving landscape of supply chain management, effective warehouse operations are crucial for maintaining competitive advantages. One of the key components of optimizing warehouse efficiency is the slotting process. Slotting in SAP Extended Warehouse Management (EWM) plays a pivotal role in determining the best placement of goods within a warehouse, ultimately enhancing picking efficiency, reducing travel time, and maximizing space utilization. This article delves into the intricacies of the SAP EWM slotting process, covering its significance, methodologies, and configuration steps to help organizations implement this essential function effectively.

Understanding the Slotting Process

What is Slotting?

Slotting is the practice of organizing products in a warehouse to optimize storage, retrieval, and overall operational efficiency. The primary goal of slotting is to ensure that frequently picked items are placed in easily accessible locations, while less frequently picked items can be stored in less accessible areas. This strategic placement helps reduce the time and effort required for picking, ultimately contributing to faster order fulfillment and improved customer satisfaction.

Importance of Slotting in Warehouse Management

  1. Increased Picking Efficiency: By placing high-velocity items closer to shipping areas, warehouses can significantly reduce the time spent on picking operations.
  2. Enhanced Space Utilization: Slotting helps to maximize the use of available storage space by ensuring that products are stored in optimal locations.
  3. Reduced Labor Costs: Effective slotting strategies can lower labor costs by minimizing the distance workers need to travel while picking.
  4. Improved Inventory Management: Slotting enables better visibility of inventory levels and facilitates easier stock rotation, which is essential for perishable goods.

Configuration in SAP EWM

Define Warehouse Number Parameters for Slotting

Select “Use of Bins” option and select Procedure 0WHTA” for your warehouse.

SPRO > SCM Extended Warehouse Management > Extended Warehouse Management > Goods Receipt Process > Slotting > General Settings > Define Warehouse Number Parameters for Slotting

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Define Storage Type Parameters for Slotting

For this example updated parameters for our storage type T210 to selected Determination Rule 007 “Weight check and simple volume check” and selected “Slotting: Det.MaxQty” checkbox for slotting.

SPRO > SCM Extended Warehouse Management > Extended Warehouse Management > Goods Receipt Process > Slotting > General Settings > Define Storage Type Parameters for Slotting

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Define Storage Bin Type List

Maintained for both small & large bin types for storage type T210

SPRO > SCM Extended Warehouse Management > Extended Warehouse Management > Goods Receipt Process > Slotting > General Settings >Define Storage Bin Type List

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Define Requirement Types

Maintained Req Type 01 using below IMG path

SPRO > SCM Extended Warehouse Management > Extended Warehouse Management > Goods Receipt Process > Slotting > Influencing Parameters > Define Requirement Types

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Define Requirement Indicators

Maintained two requirement indicators A & B for slow & fast moving goods slotting, and assigned requirement type “01” we created

SPRO > SCM Extended Warehouse Management > Extended Warehouse Management > Goods Receipt Process > Slotting > Influencing Parameters > Intervals > Define Requirement Indicators

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Assign Intervals to Requirement Indicators

Assigned Intervals max req. val. 50 to slow moving Requirement Indicator B & 100 to fast moving Requirement Indicator A

SPRO > SCM Extended Warehouse Management > Extended Warehouse Management > Goods Receipt Process > Slotting > Influencing Parameters > Intervals > Assign Intervals to Requirement Indicators

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Define Dimension Indicators

For this example maintained Slotting Dimension Indicators for Height, Length, Volume, Width & Weight 

SPRO > SCM Extended Warehouse Management > Extended Warehouse Management > Goods Receipt Process > Slotting > Influencing Parameters > Intervals > Define Dimension Indicators

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Assign Intervals to Dimension Indicators

SPRO > SCM Extended Warehouse Management > Extended Warehouse Management > Goods Receipt Process > Slotting > Influencing Parameters > Intervals > Assign Intervals to Dimension Indicators

SharmaGaurav_7-1744224341671.png

Condition Table for Putaway Control Indicator

Created Condition Table “CUS81_PU” for N810 putaway control indicator

SPRO > SCM Extended Warehouse Management > Extended Warehouse Management > Goods Receipt Process > Slotting > Condition Technique > Condition Tables > Edit Condition Table for Putaway Control Indicator

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Condition Table for Storage Section

Created Table “CUS81_SC” for N810 Storage Section indicator

SPRO > SCM Extended Warehouse Management > Extended Warehouse Management > Goods Receipt Process > Slotting > Condition Technique > Condition Tables > Edit Condition Table for Storage Section

SharmaGaurav_9-1744224341852.png

Note: To keep this example simple not maintaining slotting configurations for Storage Bin Type

Access Sequences for Putaway Control Indicator

Maintained access sequence using condition table “CUS81_PU”

SPRO > SCM Extended Warehouse Management > Extended Warehouse Management > Goods Receipt Process > Slotting > Condition Technique > Access Sequences > Edit Access Sequences for Putaway Control Indicator

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Access Sequences for Storage Section

Maintained Access Sequences for Storage Section using condition table “CUS81_SC”

SPRO > SCM Extended Warehouse Management > Extended Warehouse Management > Goods Receipt Process > Slotting > Condition Technique > Access Sequences > Edit Access Sequences for Storage Section

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Condition Types for Putaway Control Indicator

Maintained Condition Type N8PU for Putaway Control Indicator and mapped with Access Sequences for Putaway Control, also selected Chang.Doc checkbox

SPRO > SCM Extended Warehouse Management > Extended Warehouse Management > Goods Receipt Process > Slotting > Condition Technique > Condition Type > Edit Condition Types for Putaway Control Indicator

SharmaGaurav_14-1744224342134.png

Condition Types for Storage Section

Maintained Condition Type N8SC for Storage Section and mapped with Access Sequences for Storage Section, also selected Chang.Doc checkbox

SPRO > SCM Extended Warehouse Management > Extended Warehouse Management > Goods Receipt Process > Slotting > Condition Technique > Condition Type > Edit Condition Types for Storage Section

SharmaGaurav_15-1744224342103.png

Determination Procedure for Putaway Control Indicator

Created Determination Procedure N810_1 and mapped with Condition Type N8PU for Putaway Control

SPRO > SCM Extended Warehouse Management > Extended Warehouse Management > Goods Receipt Process > Slotting > Condition Technique > Determination Procedure > Edit Determination Procedure for Putaway Control Indicator

SharmaGaurav_16-1744224342101.png

Determination Procedure for Storage Section

Created Determination Procedure N810_1 and mapped with Condition Type N8SC for Storage Section

SPRO > SCM Extended Warehouse Management > Extended Warehouse Management > Goods Receipt Process > Slotting > Condition Technique > Determination Procedure > Edit Determination Procedure for Storage Section

SharmaGaurav_17-1744224342212.png

Assign Determination Procedure

Assigned usage to determination procedures
PU N810 N810_1
SC N810 N810_1

SPRO > SCM Extended Warehouse Management > Extended Warehouse Management > Goods Receipt Process > Slotting > Condition Technique > Determination Procedure > Assign Determination Procedure

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Create Condition Maintenance Group

Created Condition Maintenance Group “N710_CMG” and mapped with Putaway Control Indicator & Storage Section Condition Types & Condition Tables using Application = “CON” & Usage “PU” & SC” respectively

SPRO > SCM Extended Warehouse Management > Extended Warehouse Management > Goods Receipt Process > Slotting > Condition Technique > Settings for User Interface > Create Condition Maintenance Group

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Register Condition Maintenance Group

Registered Condition Maintenance Group “N810_CMG” for Work Area “GCM”

SPRO > SCM Extended Warehouse Management > Extended Warehouse Management > Goods Receipt Process > Slotting > Condition Technique > Settings for User Interface > Register Condition Maintenance Group

SharmaGaurav_21-1744224342302.png

Create Storage Section Indicators

Maintained 2 Storage Section Indicators one for slow and one for fast moving goods

SPRO > SCM Extended Warehouse Management > Extended Warehouse Management > Goods Receipt Process > Strategies > Storage Section Search > Create Storage Section Indicators

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Maintained Condition Records

Used transaction /SCWM/GCMC to maintained Condition Records for Application: CON, Main group “N810_CMG” & Context “GCM”

SharmaGaurav_23-1744224342733.png

Review Material Master before running the slotting

Make sure you used correct WH Material Group in WM Execution section of your material. You will also notice that before running slotting there is no Slotting Data, no Planned Putaway Control Indicator on Whse Data Tab, and no Planned Storage Section Indicator in St. Type Data tab of your product.

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Run the slotting and test your configurations

Ran slotting for product 240088. Selected options related to the configurations we made for this example and not selected APO related or demand forecasting related options that we did not configure for this example. Also unchecked determination of Stock Removal Control indicator & Storage Bin type that we did not configure. Selected “Update Mode: Slotting” for Update Material Master for both status Green/Yellow, Save Mode as Save Results and ran the slotting

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Click on Save button after running the slotting to update the product master data. Now observe the slotting tab data is updated on your product with updated status and last slotting run timestamp.

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Planned putaway control on Whse Data tab is also updated according to your configurations 

SharmaGaurav_31-1744224343137.png

Also notice Planned Storage Section Indicator in St. Type Data tabs of your product master also updated according to the slotting configurations

SharmaGaurav_32-1744224343206.png

Conclusion

In conclusion, the SAP EWM slotting process is a critical component for optimizing warehouse operations. By strategically placing goods within the warehouse, organizations can significantly enhance picking efficiency, reduce travel time, and maximize space utilization. The detailed configuration steps outlined in this article provide a comprehensive guide for implementing effective slotting strategies in SAP EWM. Adopting these practices can lead to improved operational efficiency, reduced labor costs, and better inventory management, ultimately contributing to faster order fulfillment and higher customer satisfaction.