Preferred Alternative UoM for Warehouse Operation in EWM

[Harish_SCM]

Definition:

The preferred alternative unit of measure is the unit in which we usually handle a product in the warehouse. This is used in various warehouse processes, such as the UoM proposal for the creation of inbound delivery items or in the stock removal rule.

When creating inbound deliveries in SAP Extended Warehouse Management (EWM), the system can propose the preferred UoM automatically. If the products are usually delivered in the preferred UoM, but the inbound delivery is only created in the base UoM, proposing the preferred UoM can speed up the inbound process as the UoM does not have to be set manually for every delivery item.

How system prioritize Preferred UoM Global Level Vs Warehouse level:

We can maintain the preferred alternative unit of measure in the product master on global level and on warehouse level. In the warehouse processes the global preferred alternative unit of measure is used unless a warehouse-specific one is maintained.

Business case example: The base unit of measure of a product is PC. Sometimes cartons with 6 pieces are delivered, but most of the time you receive cartons with 10 PC per carton, and all the warehouse operation is taking place in the carton unit of measure.

In such scenarios we can use the concept of Preferred UoM o in EWM

Solution Approach:

As I mentioned above this concept is applicable for inbound delivery process, outbound delivery process etc. here, I am showing example for inbound goods receipt process.

Step # 1 Define CAR - Carton as UoM in the ERP system.

Alternative unit of measure mapping in ERP side based below picture should be defined in the material master as master data maintenance.

  1 0 PC =1 CAR

                                        figure (1)

 Step # 2 :

We have to define unit of measure attribute for product under Customizing.

IMG Path – IMG Path – SPRO-->IMG-->SCM Extended Warehouse Management-->Master Data--> Product--> Define Unit of Measure Attributes

Step # 3 :

We have to enabled proposal of the preferred UoM in the inbound process by selecting the checkbox Apply ERP AUoM as SUoM for the delivery item type in Customizing.

IMG Path – SPRO-->IMG-->SCM Extended Warehouse Management-->Goods Receipt Process--> Inbound Delivery-->Define Item Types for Inbound Delivery Process.

we have completed the configuration step for the Preferred alternative UOM, and also we are assuming other configuration related inbound goods receipt is placed in EWM and ERP

Testing:

Example A: Inbound delivery with 80 quantities.

Step # 1: Maintain the Preferred alternative in Transaction /SCWM/MAT1

Step # 2 : Create a purchase order.

Step # 3: Create ERP inbound delivery with quantity 80 PC

Step # 4 : Display distributed ERP inbound deliveries to EWM monitor.

Tcode- /SCWM/MON

Step # 5 Goods receipt and Confirm warehouse task to receive those quantity in final storage bin.

5. a - Confirm Warehouse Task

 5.b - Final Put away Completed

Example B: Inbound delivery with 97 quantities

Step # 1: Create ERP Inbound delivery with 97 quantities.

Step # 2 : Display distributed ERP inbound deliveries to EWM monitor.

Tcode- /SCWM/MON

Step # 3 Goods receipt and Confirm warehouse task to receive those quantities in final storage bin.

3. a - Confirm Warehouse Task  

 3.b - Final Put away Completed.

The system decides whether how to propose the preferred UoM as describe below:

In example A, the preferred UoM is proposed as their quantities are in base UoM as it is multiples of the preferred UoMs.

and in example B , the preferred UoM is not proposed as their quantities are in base UoM are not multiples of the preferred UoMs.

Example A:

Product Name	Base UoM	Preferred UoM
Milk	PC – Piece	CAR – carton of ten PC
ERP Inbound Delivery
Item	Product	Quantity	UoM
10	Milk	80	PC

EWM Inbound Delivery
Item	Product	Quantity	UoM
10	Milk	8	CAR

Example B:

Name	Base UoM	Preferred UoM
Product 1	PC – Piece	CAR – carton of ten PC
ERP Inbound Delivery
Item	Product	Quantity	UoM
10	Milk	97	PC

EWM Inbound Delivery
Item	Product	Quantity	UoM
10	Milk	97	PC

Conclusion:
This blog post walks you through various steps involved in determination of preferred alternative UoM in EWM inbound goods receipt process with test results.

Note: All above testing are done in S/4 embedded EWM 2021 release.