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Extended Warehouse Management (EWM)

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Migration from LE-WM

This section contains information on the functions available to migrate data from an LE-WM system to Extended Warehouse
Management (EWM). The following features are available:

Warehouse Product Migration

Storage Bin Migration

Stock Migration

Physical Inventory Completeness Migration

Map Storage Unit Type to Packaging Material

Map Warehouse Management Unit of Measure to Packaging Material

Travel Distance Calculation

The travel distance calculation calculates the travel distance that a warehouse worker must travel to execute a warehouse order.

Use
The result of the travel distance calculation is used for:

Planning the workers, if you have activated Labor Management (LM). For more information, see Operational Planning.

Calculating engineered labor standards (ELS), if you have activated LM. For more information, see Determination of Normal
Time Using Engineered Labor Standards.

Calculating the latest start time for a warehouse order.

In addition to calculating the travel distance, the system determines the travel time required by a worker to execute the warehouse
order. The system calculates the time required based on the speed of the resource used, among other factors. For more
information, see Travel Time Calculation.

Prerequisites
You have activated the travel distance calculation for your warehouse number in Customizing for Extended Warehouse
Management under Master Data Define Warehouse Number Control .

When Is Travel Distance Calculated?

The system calculates the travel distance needed to execute a warehouse order at the following times:

When a warehouse order is created, for planning purposes.

When a warehouse order is confirmed, for evaluation purposes.

When calculating the distance during warehouse order creation, the system uses the following values:

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For the speed, the system uses the speed of the slowest resource (pessimistic approach). This is relevant for the travel time
calculation.

For the distance to be covered in order to reach the first item of a storage type, the system uses the default distance which
you have specified in Customizing for Extended Warehouse Management. This is because the system does not know which
resource will execute the warehouse order, and therefore its position is also unknown.

If a travel network is available, the system uses all defined routes in the network without resource-type restrictions.

The system can only access more detailed information when the warehouse order is confirmed, as only then is the executing
resource known. The following information is then available:

Speed of the resource (relevant for the travel time calculation).

Last position of the resource prior to executing the warehouse order.

The travel network allowed for the resource, if available.

The system saves the result of the travel distance calculation in the planned workload. If you have activated Labor Management,
the system also saves the result of the travel distance calculation in the executed workload. For more information, see Labor
Management (LM).

Types of Distance
Direct distance

The system can calculate the travel distance using the direct distance, based either on the Euclidean or Manhattan metric.

The figure below shows the direct distance between two storage bins of a storage type. The solid line represents the
Euclidean metric; the dotted line represents the Manhattan metric.

Distance based on networks

The system can calculate the travel distance based on an existing valid network. For more information about networks, see
Networks.

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The figure below shows the distance between two storage bins of a storage type. The resource moves across the valid
routes.

Networks
Networks define the valid routes (streets) in the warehouse, on which the resources move.

Types of Network
A network consists of edges and nodes. Edges are connected to each other by way of nodes. Edges represent the valid routes in the
warehouse, and nodes represent crossings.

The figure below shows a warehouse consisting of different storage types. Each storage type is displayed in a different color.
Storage-type-specific networks are defined (with green, blue and gold edges), which are connected to each other by a global
network (red edges).

Hover over each area for a description.

This image is interactive. Hover over each area for a description.

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Please note that image maps are not interactive in PDF outputs.

Two different networks exist:

Storage-type-specific networks, which you define for each storage type.

These networks consist of edges corresponding to the aisles of a storage type, and edges that connect these aisles to each
other. In the example above, these are the green, blue and gold edges.

You assign storage bins of a storage type to:

An edge, if they are located in an aisle, and an edge exists for the aisle.

A node that matches your X and Y coordinates, or lies close to them in terms of the chosen metric (Euclidean or
Manhattan metric), if you have not assigned an edge.

Global network

The global network connects the defined, storage-type-specific networks to each other. If no storage-type-specific
networks are defined, it connects the storage bins to each other directly. In the example above, these are the red edges.

The edges have the following properties:

Each edge has a start node and end node.

An edge is usually passable in both directions, however it can also be defined as a one-way street. The direction is defined
through the start and end nodes.

For each edge, you can define which resource types are allowed to pass.

You can assign an edge to an aisle.

An edge has a length that is used by the system to calculate the travel distance, if a resource passes along the edge.

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A network is valid if every node can be reached from every other node. The system calculates the validity for each resource type.
The global network is valid if every node of a valid storage-type-specific network can be reached from every other node of a valid
storage-type-specific network. The travel distance calculation only uses valid networks. The system ignores edges in invalid
networks.

How to Create Your Networks

There are several methods available for you to create your networks:

You can create both global and storage-type-specific networks in the settings for the travel distance calculation. For more
information, see Settings for the Travel Distance Calculation.

You can generate storage-type-specific networks using the Generate Edges - Travel Distance Calculation app. For more
information, see Generate Storage-Type-Specific Networks.

You can upload CSV files containing your network data. For more information, see Upload Travel Distance Network.

How to Verify Your Networks

You can use the Travel Distance Evaluation app to check travel paths between two bins in your travel distance network (for
example, to verify your travel distance network). The travel path is displayed as a list of sections. When you click on the message
log icon, you can see more details about the travel distance calculation.

On the launchpad, choose Extended Warehouse Management Settings Travel Distance Calculation Evaluate Travel
Distance Network .

1. Enter your warehouse number.

2. Enter two bins.

3. If you want travel time information to be included in the message log, you can additionally specify the executing resource
and whether or not it is unloaded.

4. Choose either the Euclidean metric or Manhattan metric.

Settings for the Travel Distance Calculation

You use this function to define edges for global and storage-type-specific networks and the average distance between storage type
and resource. The validity of the networks for each resource type is also displayed.

Features

On the launchpad, choose Extended Warehouse Management Settings Travel Distance Calculation Configure TDC -
Travel Distance Calculation.

You can make the following settings for storage-type-specific networks:

Define average distance for warehouse number and storage type

Define edges in storage-type-specific networks:

X and Y coordinates for the start of the network

X and Y coordinates for the end of the network

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Define edge direction (unidirectional, bidirectional)

Define aisle (optional)

Define edge length in the unit of length of the warehouse number

Define excluded resource types

The validity of the networks for each resource type is displayed.

You can make the following settings for global networks:

For edges in the global network:

X and Y coordinates for the start of the edge

X and Y coordinates for the end of the edge

Define edge direction (unidirectional, bidirectional)

Define edge length in the unit of length of the warehouse number

Define excluded resource types

The validity of the networks for each resource type is displayed.

Generate Storage-Type-Specific Networks

You can use the Generate Edges - Travel Distance Calculation app to automatically generate storage-type-specific networks for
the travel distance calculation in Extended Warehouse Management.

Context
You can define networks:

For aisles only

For aisles and their connecting edges

The edges for the aisles have the following properties:

Edges are only created for aisles that have more than one storage bin.

Edges can be passed in both directions.

The length of the edges corresponds to the Euclidean distance between the start and end nodes.

If storage bins are located on both sides of the aisle, the edges are located in the center of the aisle.

If there are only storage bins on one side of the aisle, the edges lie half a bin depth away from the aisle.

The edges start and end outside the aisle (half a bin depth).

The system generates connecting edges between neighboring aisles by connecting both the start and end nodes of two
neighboring aisles with an edge.

Procedure

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1. On the launchpad, choose Extended Warehouse Management Settings Travel Distance Calculation Generate
Edges - Travel Distance Calculation.

2. Select from the following criteria:

Warehouse number

Storage type

Indicate whether you want to generate edges for aisles only, or for an entire network

3. The following information is available from the storage bins:

Aisle attribute for grouping storage bins and allocating edges. The system generates an edge for each aisle.

The X and Y coordinates of the storage bins (these define the bottom left corner of a storage bin) are there to
position the start and end nodes of the edges.

The system uses the breadth and depth of the storage bin type to define the center of the aisle and the distance
between the edge and the aisle.

4. The system writes a log for edge generation.

Upload Travel Distance Network

You use this function to upload edges and excluded resource types per edge which define your global and storage-type-specific
networks.

Procedure
1. On the launchpad, choose Extended Warehouse Management Settings Travel Distance Calculation Upload Travel
Distance Network .

2. Select the warehouse number for which you want to maintain the travel distance network. Specify whether you want to
change the storage type-specific networks and/or the global network.

3. In the section Upload Object, select whether you want to upload edges or excluded resource types.

4. Choose your upload settings, for example, whether you want to replace the existing data for the networks selected in step 1
with the uploaded data or only add new edges.

5. Select and upload a CSV file.

Your CSV file for edges should have the following format:

Storage Edge ID X Cood. Y Coord. X Coord. Y Coord. Direction Length Aisle

Type Start Start End End

Format NUMC(10) DEC(10,3) DEC(10,3) DEC(10,3) DEC(10,3) CHAR(1) DEC(10,3) CHAR(18)

For global edges, leave the storage type field empty. You specify the edge ID yourself and it has to be unique on warehouse
level.

Your CSV file for excluded resource types per edge should have the following format:

Storage Type Edge ID Resource Type

Format NUMC(10) CHAR(4)

6. Optional: Perform network checks.

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7. Start the data transfer.

How Travel Distance Is Calculated

The travel distance is calculated for the storage bin list. The system generates the list of storage bins from the warehouse order
creation rules. The order is fixed, meaning the travel distance calculation does not change the sequence of storage bins.

Horizontal and Vertical Movements

The system differentiates between horizontal (X and Y coordinates) and vertical movements (Z coordinates).

For the movements, we assume that:

The resource visits each storage bin in the sequence defined by the list.

The resource executes the horizontal movement first, meaning the resource first moves to the storage bin in a horizontal
direction.

The resource then executes the vertical movement, namely the movement from the floor to the bin and back.

The resource then moves to the next storage bin in a horizontal direction.

The total travel distance in a vertical direction therefore corresponds to twice the Z distance of the storage bins to the floor (point
of origin Z = 0).

For the horizontal movements, three types of distance influence the calculation: the direct distance, the distance between a bin
and a node, and movements within a network.

Direct Movement Between Bins

The system uses the direct distance:

For movements between storage bins within a storage type, if no valid storage-type-specific network exists.

For movements between storage bins from different storage types, if no global valid network exists.

For movements within an aisle. Here, the system uses the direct distance between storage bins to calculate the travel
distance.

This figure shows examples for travel distances between multiple storage bins within an aisle. The green line represents the
Euclidean metric; the dotted blue line represents the Manhattan metric.

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Distance Between a Bin and a Node in the Network

Storage bins are connected to the network using either of the following:

Using the nearest node, if no edge has been assigned to the storage bin. The node comes from the storage-type-specific
network, or if this does not exist, the global network.

Calculating the travel distance using the nearest node, if no edge is assigned to the storage bins

Using the nodes of an edge, if the storage bin is in an aisle, and an edge exists for the aisle.

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Calculating the travel distance using the nodes of an edge, if one storage bin is in an aisle and an edge exists for the aisle, and then
moving to the nearest node, if no edge has been assigned to the second storage bin

Fundamentally, there are four options. However, for a one-way route, only one option is allowed: entering the edge at the
start node and leaving it at the end node.

This figure displays how a bin sequence within an aisle can be connected with the node or nodes of the respective edge. As
stated in the section above, the edge itself is not used for the calculation within an aisle, because the direct distance is used
between storage bins.

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Movements Within a Network

These take place if the storage bins:

Lie in the same storage type but not in the same aisle, and a valid storage-type-specific network exists.

Are in different storage types and a valid global network exists.

When calculating movements within the valid global network and any valid storage-type-specific networks, the system:

1. Connects the storage bins with the nodes of the respective edge or with the nearest node.

2. Adds the travel distance between the assigned nodes. If a bin is assigned to the nodes of an edge, there are several possible
options for calculating the network distance.

Example: Both bins are assigned to different edges, which are not one-way routes. There are four options:

From the start node of the first edge to the start node of the second edge

From the start node of the first edge to the end node of the second edge

From the end node of the first edge to the start node of the second edge

From the end node of the first edge to the end node of the second edge

This figure shows the different connections between edges (black lines), edge and node (black dots), and possible connections
between the assigned nodes (green lines). The system uses the option with the shortest travel distance.

Examples for the Travel Distance Calculation

Example 1: Travel Distance Calculation Within a Storage Type

The warehouse manager wants to calculate the travel distance from storage bin 1 to storage bin 3 within a storage type with a valid
network (green edges). 1, 2, and 3 are storage bins at which warehouse worker X withdraws goods.

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The travel distance comprises the following:

Direct distances A (within an aisle), B and D (connection between storage bin and network)

Distance C (connecting edge) within the network.

Of the four possible calculations, the system uses the first option, as that represents the shortest travel distance.

Option one for calculating travel distance from 1 - 3

Option two for calculating travel distance from 1 - 3

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Option three for calculating travel distance from 1 - 3

Option four for calculating travel distance from 1 - 3

Example 2: Travel Distance Calculation Between Two Storage Types with Valid
Networks
This example shows a travel distance calculation between two storage types that each have a valid, storage-type-specific network
(green and blue edges) and a valid, global network (red edges).

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The travel distance comprises the direct distances A and C (connection between storage bin and network) and distance B within
the entire network (local and global).

Example 3: Travel Distance Calculation Between Two Storage Types with a Global
Valid Network
This example shows the travel distance calculation between two storage types with a valid global network (red edges). Only one
storage type (green) has a valid network (green edges).

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The travel distance comprises the direct distances A and C (connection between storage bin and network) and distance within
network B.

Heuristics for the Travel Distance Calculation

Use

Two heuristics for the travel distance calculation within a network exist. The system calls both by default. You can control the
heuristics using the Business Add-Ins (BAdIs) for the travel distance calculation.

Depth-first search

The system attempts to find a route between the specified nodes of a network in the shortest time possible. Here, the
search runs in the direction of start node to end node. The search finishes when the first complete route is found.

Breadth-first search

The system looks for all possible routes in the network, and selects the one that has the shortest distance. This heuristic is
more performance intensive at runtime, and is only appropriate for small networks.

Stopping criterion

The stopping criterion quickens the breadth-first search. This may have a negative impact on the solution quality, and the
system may fail to find the shortest route. The parameter restricts the number of nodes that can be visited by a route, in
relation to the route found by the depth-first search.

Travel Time Calculation

The system uses the travel distance and other information to determine the time required by a worker to execute a warehouse
order.

Default Travel Time Calculation

By default, the total travel time is calculated as follows. You can find the result in the message log in Evaluate Travel Distance
Network and in the planned workload. If you have activated Labor Management, you can also find it in the executed workload.

Total travel time = Horizontal travel time + Vertical travel time

The horizontal travel time and vertical travel time are calculated as follows:

Horizontal travel time = Total horizontal travel distance / Horizontal resource type speed

Vertical travel time = Total vertical travel distance / Vertical resource type speed

If you want to use a more complex travel time calculation, you can maintain your own set of calculation rules in BRFplus. For more
information, see Configuring the Travel Distance Calculation and Travel Time Using BRFplus.

EWM provides a standard BRFplus application /SCWM/TDC_SYS and function /SCWM/TDC_CALC_TIME to which you can assign
your own rulesets. The interface of the standard function includes the following:

The total horizontal travel distance

The total vertical travel distance

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Consolidated section information of horizontal movements

Section information of vertical movements

Resource type information (such as speed)

Business information (such as activity area)

When you define your own rules, you can use any or all of the above information as input.

Consolidated Section Information

In contrast to the total travel distance, consolidated section information lets you consider each section of the calculated travel
path separately. For example, you might want to consider turns and stops in the travel path, because they limit the maximum
speed of a resource. The shorter a straight segment is, the less likely it is for the resource to travel at its maximum speed.

Technically, a travel path is defined as a list of points. These points can either be nodes (N) of edges or bins (B). A pair of
consecutive points defines a section of the travel path. Two consecutive sections define a turn angle for the resource. Sometimes,
the turn angle is zero, which indicates that both involved sections can be consolidated into one straight section. However, if the
shared point of both sections is a bin - where the resource needs to stop - the sections cannot be consolidated, even if the turn
angle is zero.

The above figure demonstrates how sections are consolidated. Sections S1 and S2 cannot be consolidated as there is a turn in
between. Sections S2 and S3 cannot be consolidated as there is a bin in between. However, the two sections following S4 can be
consolidated into S5.

Examples for the Travel Time Calculation

The following examples demonstrate ways to define rules that are assigned to the EWM standard function
/SCWM/TDC_CALC_TIME.

Example 1

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We use the following information from the function interface:

The total horizontal travel distance

The total vertical travel distance

The horizontal resource type speed

The vertical resource type speed

In BRFplus we define the following formulas:

Total travel distance = Horizontal travel time + Vertical travel time

Horizontal travel time = Total horizontal travel distance / Horizontal resource type speed

Vertical travel time = Total vertical travel distance / Vertical resource type speed

The horizontal travel distance is 5 metres. The horizontal resource type speed is 5m/s. The vertical travel distance is 1 metre. The
vertical resource type speed is 0.5m/s. The total travel time is therefore 3 seconds:

5/5 + 1/0.5 = 3

Example 2
We use the following information from the function interface:

The list of consolidated sections

Section Length Further information

S1 2m ...

S2 4m ...

S3 6m ...

The horizontal resource type speed

The list of vertical movements

Section Length Further information

S1 1m ...

S2 1m ...

S3 0.5m ...

S4 0.5m ...

The vertical resource type speed

We can then define a loop expression in BRFplus over the consolidated horizontal sections and define the following formula to be
used in every iteration:

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Total horizontal travel time = Total horizontal travel time + (Current section in iteration / Horizontal resource type speed) + 2s

In this simplified model, we add 2 seconds to the time needed for each section, to account for turns.

For the total vertical travel time, we can define a loop expression over the consolidated vertical sections and use a similar formula
in every iteration:

Total vertical travel time = Total vertical travel time + (Current section in iteration / Vertical resource type speed) + 1s

Assuming a horizontal resource type speed of 2m/s and a vertical resource type speed of 0.5m/s, we arrive at a total travel time of
22 seconds.

Horizontal: 2/2+2+4/2+2+6/2+2 = 3+4+5 = 12

Vertical: 1/0.5+1+1/0.5+1+1/1+1+1/1+1 = 3+3+2+2 = 10

BAdIs for the Travel Distance and Travel Time Calculation

Business Add-Ins (BAdIs) are available for you define your own logic for the travel distance and travel time calculations.

Available BAdIs

The following BAdIs are available in enhancement spot /SCWM/ES_TDC:

BAdI: Change Storage Bin List for Travel Distance Calculation /SCWM/EX_TDC_BIN_LIST

You can do the following:

Sort the list.

Delete storage bins from the list.

Add new storage bins to the list.

Influence the default distance to the first storage bin in the storage bin list.

BAdI: Travel Distance Calculation Using Storage Bins /SCWM/EX_TDC_START

The system calls this BAdI to calculate the travel distance of a warehouse order. If you implement this BAdI, you can define
your own logic for calculating the travel distance along the sorted storage bin list transmitted to the BAdI.

BAdI: Travel Time Calculation /SCWM/EX_TDC_BRF_CALC_TIME

You can implement this BAdI to define your own logic for the travel time calculation or to determine how travel time is
calculated. For more information, see Configuring the Travel Distance Calculation and Travel Time Using BRFplus.

For more information about these BadIs, see Customizing for Extended Warehouse Management, under Business-Add-Ins
(BAdIs) for Extended Warehouse Management Cross-Process Settings Travel Distance Calculation .

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