Two-Step Picking 

Purpose

In the case of two-step picking, the picking process is split into two separate steps. You optimize the picking process by collectively removing products from your warehouse for multiple outbound deliveries in the first step, and assigning the products that you have withdrawn to the relevant outbound deliveries in the second step. In this way, you pick a large number of outbound deliveries on a collective basis. Another advantage of two-step picking is that you can minimize the total number of picking operations performed during picking, by removing the total required quantity of the products in a cross-requirement way in the first step. Moreover, stock removal and allocation are two separate warehouse processes. You create a separate warehouse task for each of these steps.

Prerequisites

●      You have activated two-step picking in Customizing for Extended Warehouse Management (EWM).

If you want to define the two-step process on a product basis, set the 2-Step Matl-Dep. indicator as well. EWM uses this indicator to determine in the product master record on the Warehouse Data tab page whether you want to pick this product directly from the warehouse or whether you intend to use two-step picking for this product.

For more information, see the Implementation Guide (IMG) for EWM under Goods Issue Process ® Wave Management ® General Settings ® Set Up Two-Step Picking in the Two-Step Pick field or the 2-St. Matl-Dep. indicator.

●      You have defined a warehouse process type for the first picking step. In the standard system, warehouse process type 2020 is defined for the first picking step. For more information, see the IMG for EWM under Cross-Process Settings ® Warehouse Task ® Define Warehouse Process Type.

●      You have assigned the warehouse process type for the first picking step to the warehouse number. For more information, see the IMG for EWM under Goods Issue Process ® Wave Management ® General Settings ® Set Up Two-Step Picking in the Process Type field.

●      You have created a storage type and storage bins for the intermediate storage section. In the standard system, storage type 2010 is defined. For more information, see the IMG for EWM under Master Data ® Define Storage Type and Master Data ® Storage Bins ® Define Storage Bin Structure.

●      The stock removal strategy for the second picking step must find the storage type of the intermediate storage section. You control this by setting the 2 indicator for two-step picking in Customizing for the storage type search sequence. For more information, see the IMG for EWM under Goods Issue Process ® Strategies ® Determine Storage Type Search Sequence for Stock Removal.

●      You have combined the outbound deliveries into a wave. To do so, on the SAP Easy Access screen, choose Extended Warehouse Management ® Work Scheduling ® Wave Management ® /SCWM/WAVE – Maintain Waves.

Process

The following figure provides an overview of two-step picking:

Two-step picking splits the picking process in the warehouse into two separate steps:

...

       1.      In the first picking step, in other words, withdrawal, the following substeps occur:

                            a.      You combine the outbound deliveries into a wave. For more information about creating waves, see Wave.

                            b.      As soon as you form a group of outbound deliveries, EWM determines the relevance of the corresponding products to two-step picking

You can change the relevance of the entire wave to two-step picking by changing the value in the Two-Step Pick. field on the user interface for wave maintenance (no entry = not relevant, Two = two-step picking).

                            c.      You create the withdrawal warehouse tasks for the wave, in other words, wave release for the withdrawal step.

To do so, on the SAP Easy Access screen, choose Extended Warehouse Management ® Work Scheduling ® Wave Management ® Maintain Waves. Select the wave and then choose the Release Withdrawal pushbutton. As a result, the release of the first step of picking is completed.

                            d.      You pick the entire product quantity to fulfill the requirements from multiple deliveries.

                            e.      You execute the goods movements for the withdrawal step and transfer the products that you have picked for the group from source storage bins to an intermediate storage section.

                              f.      You confirm the warehouse tasks for the withdrawal step and, in doing so, you confirm that the necessary products are in the intermediate storage section.

You have completed the first step of two-step picking (withdrawal).

       2.      In the second picking step, in other words, allocation, the following substeps occur:

                            a.      You create warehouse tasks for the allocation step, in other words, wave release for the allocation step. In doing so, you distribute the total quantity that has been picked among the individual requirements.

                            b.      You transport the products that belong to a wave from the intermediate storage section to the destination storage bins (for example, to a goods issue zone or packing station).

                            c.      You confirm the warehouse tasks for the allocation step and, in doing so, you confirm that the necessary products are in the destination storage bins.

You have completed the second step of two-step picking (allocation).

Result

You have performed two-step picking.