Conveyor Segment

Definition

Use

Conveyor segments physically transport handling units (HUs) from one communication point to the next. You can define a capacity limit for conveyor segments too. As in the case of communication points, the capacity relates to the number of HUs that can simultaneously be transported via the relevant conveyor segment. If the capacity of a conveyor segment is full, EWM holds back further orders for this segment.

You assign conveyor segments to your start and end points in layout-oriented storage control.

You can combine different conveyor segments to form a conveyor segment group by conveyor segment group type (such as status). Thus, for example, you can assign an exception to the entire conveyor segment group instead of to individual conveyor segments in the case of a malfunction report; the system then holds back orders for these conveyor segments.

You only need to define conveyor segments if you want to check their status (readiness, capacity) in EWM. In many cases, it is enough to record capacity and status at communication points.

Using conveyor segments with MFS for case conveyor systems is not supported.

Example

You have the following legs for a particular route in the warehouse:

A -> B -> C -> Destination

You are awaiting status messages from the PLC for the segment between A and B. Likewise for the leg between B and C. Furthermore, not more than three orders are to be sent to the PLC simultaneously in this segment.

You define two conveyor segments, AB and BC. You enter the capacity 3 for BC.

In layout-oriented storage control, you define the interim destination B for the leg from A to the destination and assign the segment AB to this entry. You define the interim destination C for the leg from B to the destination and assign the segment BC to this entry.

The MFS can now take any malfunctions in the segments AB and BC into account (in addition to the status of the affected communication points). It can also take account of the capacity limit in the segment BC.