Wave 

Definition

Grouping of warehouse request items to control warehouse activities, for example, picking, or posting changes.

These groupings are then processed together in subsequent processes, for example, the transfer of all warehouse request items assigned to a wave at a certain point in time to warehouse task creation. The warehouse task items created are then forwarded to warehouse task creation.

Use

Extended Warehouse Management (EWM) can combine warehouse request items and split items into waves on the basis of criteria such as activity area, route, or product.

Waves can be created automatically or manually using existing wave templates. If you want to manually create a wave, on the SAP Easy Access screen, choose Extended Warehouse Management ® Work Scheduling ® Wave Management ® /SCWM/WAVE Maintain Waves and then choose Create. EWM creates an empty wave. You must manually enter the remaining information, for example, the assignment of warehouse request items. For more information, see Processing of Waves.

Example

Example of Grouping Warehouse Request Items

The following figure shows how EWM combines items from different warehouse requests with different routes and picking areas into waves. EWM combines the items WR Item 10 and WR Item 20 from warehouse request 100 and the item WR Item 10 from warehouse request 20 into wave 1on the basis of route A.

Assignment of an Item to Different Waves

The following figure shows how EWM assigns a warehouse request item with different partial quantities to different waves if rough picking location determination results in different items due to a quantity-dependent picking strategy.

In rough picking location determination, EWM assigns warehouse request item 10 with a quantity of 111 of product A to three different picking areas in accordance with the quantity-dependent picking strategy. One piece is assigned to picking area PA1, ten pieces are assigned to picking area PA2, and 100 pieces are assigned to picking area PA3.