Strategy P: Storage Unit Type

Use
Using this putaway strategy, the system processes different storage unit types (for
example, pallets) and allocates them to the appropriate section. Often, one storage bin is
divided into several smaller sections. Typically, only the same storage unit types can be
placed into a storage bin at one time.
Explanation of the Strategy
High rack storage is frequently designed so that a storage bin can accommodate several
different storage unit types.
For example a storage bin can accommodate a number of pallets
depending on the size of the pallet, such as three standard pallets (80 x
120) or two industrial pallets (100 x 120). A storage bin may be able to
accommodate a single oversized pallet or several very narrow pallets.
Putaway by storage unit type is illustrated below.

For this strategy, you define the maximum number of quants for each combination of
storage bin type and storage unit type. The first time goods are transferred into the
storage bin, the system determines what type of bin sectioning is assigned to the storage
bin. The system also determines which and how many storage units can be transferred
into the storage bins.

Prerequisites
When
1.
2.
3.

you define the storage type record to use this strategy

Enter p in the Putaway strategy field.
Select the SUT check active field to activate checking of the storage unit type.
Enter x in the Mixed storage field. Mixed storage is allowed.

Without Storage Unit Management only one quant exists for each item.
When SU-Management is active, only one storage unit (SU) exists for each
item. With indicator a (in the Mixed storage field) the SU has only one
quant. With indicator x the SU can have more than one quant.
Defining Bin Sections
The table below defines the number of sections the storage bin can be divided into. That
is, it controls the number of quants that can occupy a storage bin.
Define Bin Sections
WhN

Typ

SecKey

No.Secs

001

007

001

007

.... (Sections)

Section Key
The section key decides which storage unit types and how many storage units of each
type can be put into a bin. The sectioning is determined dynamically in the storage bin
by the first storage unit placed in the bin. The sectioning is deleted as soon as the last
storage unit has been removed from the bin.
Position Identification Codes
To identify each section of a storage bin you enter a one- or two-character code (for
example A1, BB, 12) in one of the columns numbered from 1 to 99 under the
heading Sections. In the Number of Sections field the system displays the total number of
sections that you have defined.
This code is appended to the storage bin coordinate and separated from it by a slash (/).
For example, using the sections defined for warehouse 001 and storage
type 007 (illustrated in the following table) and assuming the storage bin
has the coordinate 02-10-01, the three sections of the bin are identified as
follows:
02-10-01/1 02-10-01/2 02-10-01/3
Once you have defined all the storage bin sections that are required for the
storage type, these values cannot be changed.
Assignment of storage bins and storage unit types
For each storage type, you assign the appropriate bin sectioning to each allowed
combination of storage bin type (the Bin Type field) and storage unit type (the SUT field).
Assign Bin and Storage Unit Types
WhNo.

Typ

BinTy

SUT

SecKey

No.Secs

001

007

PA

E1

001

007

PA

IP

Important: When you create the storage bins for the storage type that uses
this strategy, you must enter a storage bin type. This storage bin type

must match the bin type in the bin and storage unit type assignment table
(above).
Once these assignments have been made they cannot be changed.
See
Storage Bin for information about creating and maintaining storage bins.
If you transfer goods into the storage type for which bin sectioning has been defined, you
must enter the storage unit type in the preparation screen of the transfer order. Based on
the storage unit type you enter, the system searches for suitable empty storage bins.
The system ensures that only a single type of storage unit is stored in a storage bin at
the same time.
Additional Option
If you assign the same bin type and a different storage unit type to the same section
key, is also possible for you to putaway more than one type of pallet into the same
storage bin.
Assign Bin and Storage Unit Types
WhNo.

Typ

BinTy

SUT

SecKey

No.Secs

001

007

PA

E1

001

007

PA

IP

001

007

PA

E2

If you set up the table as shown above, you can place an industrial pallet
(IP) into the first section of a storage bin and an E2 storage unit type into
the second section of the storage bin.

Strategy B: Bulk Storage

Materials that occur in large quantities and therefore generally take up a lot of space in
storage (for example tires, glass products, and beverages) are often stored in bulk
storage. The advantages of bulk storage include:

Reduced need for physical storage bins

Fast access to the containers

Clear structuring of the warehouse (into blocks and rows)

This putaway strategy searches for storage bins in bulk storage.

Use
The following figure illustrates bulk storage in WM.

The most important features of bulk storage processing are:

Freely-defined coordinate structure

When you define the storage bins in bulk storage, you do not have to take
any technical prerequisites of the system into account. The warehouse is
divided into blocks, which in turn are divided into individual rows.
One storage bin per row

In practice, a row is selected as the sort characteristic in bulk storage. In

WM a row is created and managed as a storage bin. The storage bins
(rows) are classified according to storage bin types.
For example, rows 2 and 3 in block A05 (illustrated in the above figure) can
hold up to 16 pallets. However the 4th row can only hold a maximum of 12
pallets, due to a structural column in the row. You can record this exception
(reduction in the capacity of a row) in WM when you define the block
structure (see step 4 in "Setting up the Strategy" below).
Different storage unit types

Bulk storage is often used to manage different types of storage units with
different dimensions, for example standard pallets and industrial pallets
with clip-on mounts. WM supports the management of different storage
unit types in bulk storage.
Mixed storage

Storage units for different materials are generally not stored in the same
row. However, in WM, all combinations of mixed storage are allowed in bulk
storage. You can also define that all materials in the storage bin must
come from the same batch.
Different storage unit types per material

Within bulk storage you can store a specific material in a maximum of

three different storage unit types. In the material master record you can
define storage unit types for each material and the number of units of
measure, such as bottles or liters, per storage unit type.
Automatic blocking per row

To optimize the processes of putting away stock into and removing stock
from bulk storage, you can set a blocking indicator for each row separately.

Prerequisites
To set up this strategy for the storage type, proceed as follows:
1.
Enter b in the Putaway strategy field.
2.
Enter x in the Addn to stock field to allow for addition to existing stock.
3.
Leave the Capacity check method and SUT check active fields blank. A capacity
check and storage unit type (SUT) check are not necessary in bulk storage because an
internal check is carried out based on the block structure definition.
4.
Enter the appropriate indicator in the Mixed storage field. For a description of the
combinations that are allowed, see the F1 help information in the storage type record.
When defining the storage type control for this strategy, there are several indicators that
you must take into consideration to control the putaway of goods into bulk storage. This
data includes:

Combined Placement

Block Transfers into a Row

Time Limit for Blocking

Total

Round Off
See also:
Putaway Strategies
Definition of Bulk Storage Indicators
For this strategy, you can enter bulk storage indicators together with a description. Using
the bulk storage indicator, you define how a particular material is to be stored in bulk
storage. To do this, you enter the bulk storage indicator in the material master record and
again in the bulk storage sectioning table when defining the structure of a block.
Block Structure Definition
You can define various characteristics of bulk storage such as storage bin types, storage
unit types, maximum number of stacks, and stacking height.
When you define storage bins for bulk storage you must enter a storage bin type. For
more information about creating and maintaining storage bins, see
The Storage Bin.
Other Control Options
In the material master record (in the Warehouse Management view), you can

Define up to three storage unit types

Set the bulk storage indicator

Set the indicator allowing addition to existing stock