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Process documentationCross-Docking (CD) Locate this document in the navigation structure

 

If you are aiming to process products and handling units (HUs) as efficiently as possible, and to minimize unnecessary load transfer activities in the warehouse, then you can use this process in a distribution center or warehouse. Reducing the time in storage in the warehouse enables you to reduce stockholding costs. In the case of Transportation Cross-Docking (TCD), you can also optimize transportation costs.

You transport the products or handling units from goods receipt to goods issue without putaway occurring in between. Using cross-docking enables you to fulfil urgent sales orders, or to reduce processing and storage costs.

In Customizing you can define how the cross-docking process is to be executed (see Planned Cross-Docking). You can also start by using a standard goods receipt process. You only have the system determine the cross-docking relevance after the goods have physically arrived in the warehouse (see Opportunistic Cross-Docking).

Process

The following gives you an overview describing the simplest cross-docking process without using storage control. For a detailed description, see the process descriptions of the individual process variants under:

Either EWM gets the information for whether cross-docking is to executed from another system, such as SAP ERP, or it makes this decision itself, such as in opportunistic cross-docking, which EWM triggers itself.

  1. EWM receives inbound and outbound deliveries, and generates corresponding inbound deliveries and outbound delivery orders.

    In the case of planned cross-docking, EWM receives cross-docking information from another system. EWM also receives information about which delivery items are relevant for cross-docking.

  2. You post the goods receipt.

  3. EWM generates the warehouse tasks for cross-docking.

    In the case of planned cross-docking, EWM generates warehouse tasks for cross-docking using a reference, such as a purchase order number in SAP ERP.

    In the case of opportunistic cross-docking, EWM attempts to generate putaway warehouse tasks first, for example. Here it checks whether it can replace existing pick-warehouse tasks. EWM generates the warehouse tasks for cross-docking in their place.

    The warehouse tasks for cross-docking update both the inbound delivery and the outbound delivery order. For more information about updating the inbound delivery in cross-docking, see Updating the Inbound Delivery in the GR Process. These warehouse tasks enable you to move the goods directly from goods receipt to goods issue.

  4. You perform picking, move the goods to goods issue, and post goods issue.