Importance of Storage Bin/Bin types in SAP WM

This post is basically for the Business Owners and SAP consultants to know the importance of Storage bin/Storage bin type while implementing SAP WM.

This is not a “help.sap” document to tell about definition, use and structure of storage bin. This is to tell about the importance of Storage BIN while structuring the SAP Warehouse. And what questions we need to ask for the business and what information is vital to configure the SAP WM.

There are so many factors to consider when Warehouse configurations in SAP WM..  like layout by process, operation strategies, internal movements, infrastructure using etc..

Importance of Storage Bin/Bin types in SAP WM

My first question to business owner when it comes to structure of warehouse is “What  Bin types that Warehouse using?”. In my view you can not configure storage type, storage section and strategies if you don’t know what are bin types with sizes. The very good reason is the type of capacity check of that BIN type will intern helps us so many things in defining

1) Stock placement strategies

2) Storage bin in connection with the pallet type.


General bin types are

Standard bin type for Std Pallets (example LG Pallet 55.5HX49LX41W)

Full Euro Pallet
Flow through Racks

Hand Stacks (example: HS 28HX45LX49W)

Bulk bin types ( example: 2HX5DP pallet)

Important Configuration related to Storage bin Type:

IMG>LE>WM>Master Data>Storage Bins> Define bintypes

IMG>LE>WM>Strategies>Activate Bin type Search

IMG>LE>WM>Strategies>Putaway Strategies>Define Strategy for bulk Storage

Bins Creation with LS10 or LS01N

Important fields that control the Storage Bin apart from Warehouse, Storage type and Storage section are

Storage Bin type: Used to subdivide storage bins into groups (for example, large bins, small bins, and so on).

Maximum Weight: During stock placements, the system calculates the difference between the maximum weight allowed and the weight already in the bin.  If the weight of the material to be placed into stock is greater than the remaining capacity, the material cannot be placed into this storage bin.

Total Capacity: This value must correspond to the capacity usage values that can be defined in the material master or for the storage unit type).

Standard SUT capacity/Pallet Qty  =  Capacity Usage for SKU/Material for One qty which we need to enter for each SKU in the material master WM view Capacity usage field.

Blocking Indicators: The storage bin will be blocked for stock placements or stock removal

Example:A SKU/Material is having below SUT qty and the usage capacity in the material master.

Standard SUT capacity/Pallet Qty = 55.5HX49LX41W/3024 = 36.872 (Capacity Usage).

And we have bin created with bin type H2(28HX45LX49W) with Max weight 1800 and total capacity is 61740.00

The Capacity check method is 4(usage check based on material) for the Storage type which is assigned to the Storage bin that we created.

So when ever we tried to do the putaway the system checks the Capacity check based on the below fields

The received quantity                                                             = 1674

Capacity usage in WM1 data view is                                       = 36.872

Total capacity usage for that bin with that SKU is 1674X36.872 = 61723.72 which is less than Bin total capacity 61,740.00. So the Material will go into the bin with out any problem.

Storage Bin coordinateThe storage bin represents the exact position in the warehouse where products are and/or can be stored. Since the address of a storage bin is frequently derived from a coordinate system, a storage bin is often referred to as a coordinate. For example, the coordinate 004-057-02 could be a storage bin in aisle 004, bay 057, and level 02.

Picture below illustrates about Aisle, bay and Level.

|    Level 02 (004-057-02)             |         Level 02 (004-059-02)         |

|    Level 01 (004-057-01)             |        Level 01 (004-059-01)           |
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Bay-057                                          Bay-059

Aisle-004

Bay058                                            Bay-060
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

|   Level 01 (004-058-01)               |         Level 01 (004-060-01)           |

|   Level 01 (004-058-02)                |       Level 01 (004-060-02)            |


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