Glossary of Key Terms
Glossary of Key Terms
| Term | Definition |
| Activity Area | A categorization of storage bins used to group them for specific activities like picking, put away, or physical inventory. |
| Ad-hoc Physical Inventory | A type of continuous physical inventory that can be executed at any time during the fiscal year, often in response to a specific event such as product damage. |
| Core Interface (CIF) | A common communication method for transferring master data (e.g., customer, material, vendor) between an SAP ERP system and an SAP SCM system like EWM. |
| Cross Docking | A logistics process that reduces transportation costs and delivery times by moving goods directly from a goods receipt zone to a goods issue zone, minimizing storage. |
| Deconsolidation | The process of dividing a handling unit that contains multiple different products into separate handling units for putaway in different storage sections or activity areas. |
| Expected Goods Receipt | A document that facilitates the creation of an inbound delivery in EWM, often based on a production order, allowing goods receipt processing even if the ERP system is down. |
| Labor Management (LM) | A tool used to record, measure, and analyze employee productivity in the warehouse. It tracks direct labor, indirect labor, and unproductive time to optimize resource use. |
| Outbound Delivery Request (ODR) | A document in the EWM system that is a replica of the outbound delivery document from the ERP system. It serves as the starting point for the goods issue process. |
| Physical Inventory | The process of counting the physical stock in a warehouse to ensure inventory accuracy for financial and operational purposes. Procedures include periodic, continuous, and cycle counting. |
| Production Supply Area (PSA) | A designated area in a warehouse where components are staged for a production order. |
| Quant | A data object that represents a specific quantity of goods in a single storage bin and is used for inventory management at the bin level. |
| Replenishment | The process of moving goods from a reserve storage area to a primary picking location or shipment location. |
| RF Framework | Stands for Radio Frequency Mobile Data Entry, a framework that enables real-time communication between warehouse employees using mobile devices and the EWM system. |
| Serial Number | A unique series of characters assigned to an individual product to identify it separately within the warehouse system for tracking purposes. |
| Slotting | A process that determines the most optimal storage parameters (e.g., storage type, section) for products based on their characteristics and demand forecast. |
| Storage Bin | The smallest unit of space in a warehouse; it is the physical location where products are stored. |
| Storage Control | A function that determines the sequence of product movements in a warehouse for complex putaway or stock removal processes. |
| Storage Section | A subdivision of a storage type that groups together storage bins with similar characteristics (e.g., for fast-moving items). |
| Storage Type | A physical or logical subdivision of a warehouse, such as racks, open storage, or a goods receipt area, defined by the role it serves. |
| Value Added Services (VAS) | Product processing activities performed in the warehouse, such as packing, labeling, or assembling, which are managed through VAS orders. |
| Warehouse Management Monitor | A centralized tool that provides managers with a comprehensive overview of all activities in the warehouse, enabling them to monitor tasks, view alerts, and manage exceptions. |
| Warehouse Number | The highest-level organizational unit in the warehouse structure, representing the entire physical warehouse complex. |
| Warehouse Process Type | A control key that defines the activity or movement for each process in the warehouse (e.g., putaway, picking) and is assigned to warehouse task documents. |
| Wave Management | A function that groups warehouse request items into “waves” based on criteria like route or activity area to optimize work scheduling and execution. |
| Work Center | A specific physical unit within a warehouse assigned to a storage type where activities such as packing, deconsolidation, or quality inspections are performed. |