Supply Chain Management

For companies with regular and large warehouse activities, the introduction of a warehouse management system is a good idea. SAP offers various solutions for this. SAP Warehouse Management (SAP WM) is the simplest and most widely used method of warehouse management. This system allows you to map all warehouse processes transparently, manage them efficiently and control them individually. The WM system thus provides employees and managers with essential information on all goods movements in the warehouse and helps with process automation. The advantage of warehouse management is that it guarantees transparent, all-encompassing, storage location-based management of all materials.

In addition to the introduction of the SAP standard in the area of SAP WM, 4process also supports you in extending the system with the 4process add-on 4process | Mobile Framework. The 4process | Mobile Framework offers scanner solutions and applications on mobile tablets that are directly integrated into Warehouse Management. In addition to providing the software, we support you in selecting, procuring and setting up the necessary hardware. The 4process | Mobile Framework streamlines all warehouse processes through the use of mobile devices and is therefore a helpful tool to support the daily work of warehouse employees. For further information, please also refer to the entry on the 4process add-on 4process | Mobile Framework.

Note: SAP WM will be supported until 2025. From 2025, SAP WM will seamlessly transition to SAP Stock Room Management with almost identical functionality.

Decentralized Extended Warehouse Management (decentralized EWM) is the stand-alone version of the S/4HANA warehouse solution. This means that decentralized EWM is a separate SAP system that is connected to the company's own ERP core system. This makes the decentralized SAP EWM system suitable both for the SAP ERP connection and for the connection to external ERP systems, for example for logistics service providers or freight forwarders. Decentralized EWM offers similar functionalities to embedded EWM. Therefore, please refer to the entry on embedded EWM . Overall, you can fully map all your inbound and outbound processes in the warehouse in stand-alone EWM. Decentralized Extended Warehouse Management therefore also offers a future-proof warehouse solution that enables transparency in the warehouse and flexible process design.

In addition to the introduction of the SAP standard in the area of SAP S/4HANA stand-alone EWM, 4process also supports you in extending the system with the 4process add-on 4process | Mobile Framework. The 4process | Mobile Framework offers scanner solutions and applications on mobile tablets that are directly integrated into the decentralized EWM. In addition to providing the software, we support you in selecting, procuring and setting up the necessary hardware. The 4process | Mobile Framework streamlines all warehouse processes through the use of mobile devices and is therefore a helpful tool to support the daily work of warehouse employees. For further information, please also refer to the entry on the 4process add-on 4process | Mobile Framework.

The SAP Embedded Extended Warehouse Management (Embedded EWM) module is the future of system-supported warehouse logistics. SAP Embedded EWM offers full integration into the S/4HANA system, enabling real-time data flow and maximum transparency. Embedded EWM supports all processes and procedures of a modern warehouse. In addition to traditional goods movements, the functionalities also include handling unit management, deconsolidation, resource and quality management, cross docking and yard management. Serial numbers can also be recorded and corresponding RFID tracking stored in order to map all warehouse processes in the best possible way. In addition, SAP Embedded EWM offers reporting functionalities and precise data analyses to improve product handling and optimize inventory management.

In addition to the introduction of the SAP standard in the area of SAP S/4HANA Embedded EWM, 4process also supports you in extending the system with the 4process add-on 4process | Mobile Framework. The 4process | Mobile Framework offers scanner solutions and applications on mobile tablets that are directly integrated into Embedded EWM. In addition to providing the software, we support you in selecting, procuring and setting up the necessary hardware. The 4process | Mobile Framework streamlines all warehouse processes through the use of mobile devices and is therefore a helpful tool to support the daily work of warehouse employees. For further information, please also refer to the entry on the 4process add-on 4process | Mobile Framework.

SAP Stock Room Management is the warehouse solution for existing LE-WM customers from 2025 and is aimed in particular at companies that will not benefit directly from the switch to SAP EWM as part of S/4HANA. With SAP Stock Room Management, you can continue your light warehouse management implementations with almost identical functionality. Elements of SAP Warehouse Management (WM) that are no longer available in Stock Room Management include Decentralized WM, Cross-Docking, Yard Management and Value Added Services. 4process helps you to introduce and optimize your Stock Room Management solution and takes care of the complete mapping of all incoming and outgoing goods processes in SAP S/4HANA Stock Room Management.

In addition to the introduction of the SAP standard in the area of SAP S/4HANA Stock Room Management, 4process also supports you in extending the system with the 4process add-on 4process | Mobile Framework. The 4process | Mobile Framework offers scanner solutions and applications on mobile tablets that are directly integrated into Stock Room Management. In addition to providing the software, we support you in selecting, procuring and setting up the necessary hardware. The 4process | Mobile Framework streamlines all warehouse processes through the use of mobile devices and is therefore a helpful tool to support the daily work of warehouse employees. For more information, please also see the entry on the 4process add-on 4process | Mobile Framework.

4process helps you with all migration processes as part of the system conversion from SAP Warehouse Management (WM) or SAP Stock Room Management to SAP Extended Warehouse Management (EWM). We take care of the process migration (including the migration of storage and retrieval strategies), customizing and the transfer of the warehouse structure. We also take care of the professional migration of your master data, stocks, numbering and labeling. Further information on SAP WM and SAP EWM can be found in the corresponding entries on these topics.

Inventory management and stocktaking are essential components of every manufacturing company. SAP SCM is particularly suitable for supporting you in this. 4process helps you to implement all stock management and inventory procedures in Material Management (MM), Warehouse Management (WM), Stock Room Management and Extended Warehouse Management (EWM). With the help of SAP, all material stocks can be mapped and all goods movements can be planned and recorded. Customized reports, especially for batches, serial numbers and handling units, can improve stock management and inventory management, saving time and money.

You can also optimize your warehouse and inventory processes with the scanner-based 4process add-on 4process | Mobile Framework, which acts as an extension and improvement to the SAP standard. The specially developed scanner capture can be customized and replaces physical inventory. Finally, the 4process | Mobile Framework also offers customer-specific reports and convenience transactions for simplified, clear data evaluation of the inventory. For more information, please also see the entry on the 4process add-on 4process | Mobile Framework.

4process integrates all external warehouse management systems (WMS) into your company's own SAP system. This ensures the exchange of logistics data between the SAP ERP system and all external systems present in the warehouse. This may be necessary if, for example, external warehouses are managed by third-party providers. We connect external WM systems to both MM and WM or EWM storage locations, check the warehouse structure, provide customer-specific interfaces if necessary and take care of individual customizing. All in all, we ensure that the exchange of logistics-relevant information such as inbound and outbound deliveries and goods movement data runs smoothly and in an integrated manner.

Handling Unit Management (HU Management) in SAP offers additional options in the area of warehouse management. This means that HU Management in SAP can be used to map not only the materials themselves, but also the packing structure. In warehouse processes, only the movement of the handling units that carry a specific material is mapped. HUs contain all inventory management information for the materials packed in them, such as the material identification, the quantity, the packing instructions and, in the case of serial numbers, the corresponding object list. The status messages of the handling units can be called up at any time, ensuring complete transparency. Handling units can be used in goods receipt, warehouse logistics and distribution, resulting in improved warehouse processing with a fast material flow.

4process supports you in the introduction of handling unit management in MM, WM or EWM warehouses. In addition, with the 4process add-on 4process | Mobile Framework, we provide an optimal extension of the SAP standard. For more information on the 4process add-on 4process | Mobile Framework, please refer to the separate entry.

SAP Traceability enables companies to know and track all steps in the life cycle of a product. The product life cycle ranges from the origin of the raw material through the various stages of production to internal and external distribution. SAP Traceability therefore helps to comply with legal regulations and ensures transparency and traceability. For example, in the case of returns, recalls and complaints, SAP Traceability can be used to trace in detail where in the production and distribution process the problem arose. This traceability is made possible by the introduction of batch management and serial numbers, which are passed on for postings along all steps in the product life cycle. SAP Traceability thus contributes to cost minimization through precise problem analysis.

With MRP Live , SAP is providing a new way of carrying out material requirements planning in S/4HANA . MRP Live takes over all the functionalities of the classic MRP run, but impresses with significantly improved performance and is particularly important in SAP S/4HANA systems for detailed planning in Embedded PP/DS. MRP Live can be used to analyze requirements and receipts in real time and thus detect material shortages at an early stage, ensuring the timely availability of materials for production and customer requirements .

SAP Predictive MRP (pMRP) is a solution for predictive and long-term material and resource planning. The aim is to identify and eliminate capacity bottlenecks at an early stage. Based on various individual parameters, such as production and sales data from previous years, pMRP derives a forecast for the current production period and uses this to create an optimal production plan. This takes into account not only the required materials, but also employee and machine capacities , including running times and downtimes. This simulative and interactive long-term requirements planning can save costs and conserve resources.

In addition to the classic MRP run, Demand Driven MRP is also available in SAP S/4HANA. This combines elements of the classic MRP run with lean management. This gives companies the opportunity to gear their production planning more closely to actual market requirements and thus fulfill customer wishes individually.

DD-MRP serves to promote better and faster decisions and measures at the planning and execution level. With the help of this module, the bullwhip effect, in which minimal planning changes across the supply chain trigger disproportionately large fluctuations in demand, as well as the associated sensitivity of the conventional MRP run, can be significantly reduced. This is ensured by decoupling the transfer of requirements at favorable points within the supply chain and using buffers to determine only the actual customer requirements. Overall, the use of SAP DD-MRP leads to a smoother supply chain, lower stock levels and therefore major cost savings.

An important part of supply chain management is the delivery and dispatch of materials as well as semi-finished and finished products. This is carried out by courier, express and parcel service providers (CEP service providers) and freight forwarders. The SAP system also supports you in this area, as external forwarding software can be integrated into the company's own SAP system. This means that service provider-specific labels and tags can be connected directly to your own supply chain, allowing data on route codes, interim storage and service codes to be transparently evaluated and tracked. This also enables shipment tracking and the printing of your own labels. This ensures efficient, time-optimized and low-error shipping logistics.

Material requirements management using KANBAN is a widely used method for replenishment control in production, external procurement and stock transfers. Of course, this process can also be mapped and optimally controlled in your SAP system. Traditionally, KANBAN is used in production to ensure production supply. This is done by keeping small quantities of regularly required materials available in production at all times. The replenishment of a material is triggered as soon as a certain quantity of the material has been used up. The KANBAN process in SAP therefore makes a significant contribution to automation and cost reduction in your company. As well as being used in production, KANBAN scenarios are also used in a similar way in the areas of external procurement and for mapping internal stock transfer processes.

The 4process add-on 4process | Digital Labels can be used to optimize and extend the SAP standard in the KANBAN area. This makes KANBAN management clearer and more transparent by allowing KANBAN containers to be tracked at any time. Please also refer to the separate entry on the 4process Add-on 4process | Digital Labels.

As an all-encompassing solution for logistics processes, SAP SCM is also suitable for mapping all subcontracting and external processing scenarios. In external processing, certain production steps are outsourced from in-house production and carried out by external service providers. At the end, the external processing operation is confirmed in the production order. Examples of the so-called extended workbench (external processing) include electroplating processes and finishing or coating steps. Subcontracting, on the other hand, relates to processes in which, for example, materials are assembled by external service providers, thus creating a new material. Accordingly, a goods receipt posting of the new materials must take place at the end of the subcontracting process. The subcontracted material is posted to a special stock in the SAP system and managed there. In addition, a separate MRP area can be set up for subcontracting to enable clear and well-structured MRP management.

The mapping of wage and external processing scenarios in the SAP system is fully integrated into the SAP purchasing module via purchase orders. 4process supports the introduction of all desired wage and external processing scenarios.

The SAP Business Rule Framework plus(BRFplus or BRF+) is a forward-looking addition to the S/4HANA system. It serves as a comprehensive programming interface (API) for defining and processing business rules and offers a clear user interface (UI). This allows customer-specific business rules to be modeled intuitively and applied in various areas of the company.

BRF+ is a versatile tool that can be used in areas such as variant configuration, setting up workflows for order and purchase requisition approvals, master data maintenance and application checking. For example, specially created business rules can be used to assign roles in a purchase order release scenario based on value limits, or material master data can be created automatically based on BRFplus rules. In this way, business processes can be individually adapted and mapped, resulting in higher system performance and more cost-efficient process handling.

With the Post Processing Framework (PPF), SAP offers a helpful tool for process handling and automation in SAP EWM. With the help of the PPF, actions or step sequences can be started automatically for certain processes depending on a status change. In this way, the system knows at which points in time documents need to be printed and subsequent processes triggered.

The functionalities of the Post Processing Framework include, for example, the printing of delivery bills, the triggering of approval procedures or the release of transfer orders. These actions are executed either directly or at a later time in the background. SAP PPF thus ensures a smooth, fast process flow and helps to minimize the system's susceptibility to errors thanks to a high degree of automation.

With Product Lifecycle Management (PLM), SAP provides a module with which detailed information can be collected, managed and analyzed over the entire lifecycle of a product. This enables valuable insights to be gained that help companies to meet quality standards and compliance regulations, among other things. It also enables a flexible exchange of information on products and processes within the company and across company boundaries. Overall, SAP PLM offers the best possible transparency and control over all data from development to design, prototyping, production, marketing, sales and product recycling.

With SAP S/4HANA, state-of-the-art technologies such as RFID can be integrated into the logistics chain. Optimize your processes by using radio frequency identification and benefit from the increased automation of your incoming and outgoing goods processes.

Radio frequency identification enables contactless identification, control and tracking of packaged products and handling units (HU) through the use of RFID labels with integrated RFID tags. The advantage of RFID labels is that they can be collected and reused. In addition, larger amounts of data can be stored on them, which is why the RFID method is a useful addition to the use of barcodes.