SAP EWM Storage bins determination during Putaway using CLSP Sorting

[anilverma02]

Business requirement is always to fill the required bins first to optimize the space equally so one part of the warehouse is not overburdened and also to minimize the distance during Putaway and picking processes. 

In order for the Putaway task to determine the destination storage bin, one must use CLSP sorting sequence functionality which will support the system to search the suitable storage bins during Putaway WT creation.

The below article explains you the standard CLSP sorting's available in SAP EWM.

Note: Please do not get confused with sorting of PTWY activity, as PTWY is used to sort the warehouse task within warehouse order and not to determine the destination bin search during Putaway WT creation.

Pre-Requisites: 

• In storage type configurations the Putaway Rules is 5 - Empty Bin or 2 - Addition to Existing Stock/Empty Bin. For the empty bin strategy, the activity CLSP - Cross-Line Stock Putaway and the bin sorting with this activity area required. 
• Storage behavior can be Standard, Pallet or Bulk with above Putaway Rules.
• Storage bins (/SCWM/LS01) are created with Aisle-Stack-Level-Bin subdivision (eg. 1-2-3-1) values.

Configuration:

• Define an activity area under this path in SPRO: SCWM Extended Warehouse Management -> Extended Warehouse Management -> Master Data -> Activities Areas -> Define Activities
• Then assign this Activity Area to storage type. Path in SPRO: SCWM Extended Warehouse Management -> Extended Warehouse Management -> Master Data -> Activities Areas -> Assign Storage Bins to Activity Areas
• Then define sort sequence for CLSP Activity. Path in SPRO: SCWM Extended Warehouse Management -> Extended Warehouse Management -> Master Data -> Activities Areas -> Define Sort Sequence for Cross-Line Stock Putaway. Here you will see 6 different options of sort sequence. However its always confusing for the consultants which one will fit with the business requirement.

Below i would explain the different sorting sequence. To ease with, I created 2 stacks having 3 levels, each with 9 storage bins in it and both the stacks are at aisle 1. Please see the below diagrams for better visualization and understanding.

Sort Sequence 1: Stack, Level, Bin Subdivision - In this system first sorts the stack, level and bin subdivision in sequence. So, now when the Putaway WT are created, system will first propose you the destination bin "1-1-1-1" for the first HU, second will be "1-2-1-1" and after that next will be 1-1-2-1, 1-2-2-1 and so on.

The Bold numeric numbers inside bins are the sorting sequence of bins as per the sort sequence you choose.

Sort Sequence 2: Stack, Bin Subdivision, Level - In this system first sorts the stack, bin subdivision and level in sequence. So, if you see below, bin 1-1-1-1 will be first and then 1-2-1-1 after that. next will be 1-1-1-2, 1-2-1-1 and so on.

Sort Sequence 3: Level, Stack, Bin Subdivision - In this system first sorts the level, Stack and bin subdivision in sequence. So, if you see below, bin 1-1-1-1 will be first and then 1-1-2-1, 1-1-3-1. The next will be 1-2-1-1, 1-2-2-1, 1-2-3-1 and so on.

Sort Sequence 4: Level, Bin Subdivision, Stack - In this system first sorts the Level, Bin subdivision and Stack in sequence. So, the sequence will be bin 1-1-1-1, 1-1-2-1, 1-1-3-1. The next will be 1-1-1-2, 1-1-2-2, 1-1-3-2 and so on.

Sort Sequence 5: Bin Subdivision, Level, Stack - In this system first sorts the Bin subdivision, Level and Stack in sequence. The sequence will be bin 1-1-1-1, 1-1-1-2, 1-1-1-3, 1-1-2-1, 1-1-2-2...for the first stack and then from the second stack the sequence will be followed as 1-2-1-1, 1-2-1-2, 1-2-1-3, 1-2-2-1...

Sort Sequence 6: Bin Subdivision, Stack, Level - In this system first sorts the Bin subdivision, Stack and Level in sequence. Here the sequence will be to fill the bottom row for stack 1 first and then for stack 2 respectively. The sequence will be bin 1-1-1-1, 1-1-1-2, 1-1-1-3 and then 1-2-1-1, 1-2-1-2, 1-2-1-3...

PS:  

• If you have not defined a sort sequence, the system sorts by storage bin name in ascending order.
• If the system cannot find a storage bin for the addition to existing stock, it uses sort sequences to search for a empty storage bin. This means that you can also define cross-line stock Putaway for storage types with Putaway rules Addition to Existing Stock / Empty Bin.