Task & Resource Management (TRM)

SAP went further down in Warehouse Management

Former System View Former System View (source VDI 3962) (source VDI 3962) Today Today (integrated view) (integrated view) Administrative Layer

ERP Warehouse

mySAP SCM LES TRM

Planning, Inventory, MM, Master Data

Warehouse Management
Storage, Bins, Pallets Strategies, Pick, Pack

Material Flow PLC

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Task & Resource Management

Transfer Opt. /Control Resource Control

PLC

Automation
ASRS, Conveyors...

Example for the need of TRM

Physical Process
Warehouse 1 Warehouse 2

1 2 3
Elevator

System Visibility

Black Box
TO source bin confirmation via RF
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TO destination bin confirmation via RF

Architecture TRM is part of LES

Warehouse Management System (WM)

Inbound / Outbound Delivery Transfer Order Inventory Document Controls storage bins Controls goods

SAP LES

Task & Resource Management (TRM)

Task Creation Task Selection and Submission Task Confirmation Exception Handling Guided from LES Controls Resources Communicates Instructions

Worker & Equipment Interface

RF Terminal
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RF Terminal

RF Terminal

Relationship between Transfer Orders and Tasks

Source Destination Transfer Order

Update

Update Task 2
Dest.

Task 1
Source

Task n
Source Dest.

Tasks

Dest. Source

1. A Transfer Order can lead to 1...n tasks 2. The first task update starts the first step of the Transfer Order 3. The confirmation of the last task completes the second step of the TO
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Task Description

Task Examples:
Putaway Picking Replenishment Move Bundle (pick and pack)
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Task Status:
Available Hold Force Confirm Accepted Started Finished Cancelled

Packing Labelling Repacking User defined activity

Task Priority
Selection Priority
LES priority TRM base priority (static) TRM dynamic priority Neighbourhood aspects Current Position (Interleaving)

Changes to Priority Manually System driven (eg. Task gets closer to the due date/time) Mode Selection

Selection Constraints

Execution constraints Resource constraints EGO

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Resources
Two physical entities can define a resource Equipment Equipment (vehicle/machine) Worker
Resource + Worker

Resources perform Tasks Resource Allocation Preferences Resources are allowed to

Reach certain levels Move certain Pallet types Handle a certain combination of Pallets Work only in special areas Do only certain operations

Resources are acting Real Time

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Example: Resource Definition and its capabilities

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Example for Resource Logoff

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A more detailed view on the Warehouse structure

TRM introduces new Warehouse structures:
Intermediate areas: Pick-up / Drop-Off zones Work centers

TRM knows more

Geo Coordinates for each Bin Logical and physical bin groupings (e.g. aisles as zones, Zone groups, nodes) Routes with associated information automatic routing (e.g. length, duration, priority etc.)

TRM supports several bin types:

Storage bins that are LES controlled Intermediate bins that serve as a handshaking area Work center bins Bin identification of various resources
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Route Management Warehouse

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Assignment of Tasks to Ressources

User Guided
Eg. Select Task by Handling Unit number

System Guided
System assigns after last confirmation automatically the next task Choice of semi-system guide mode

Manual
The task is assigned manually to a resource using the TRM (Task and Resource Management) Monitor

Internal
The task was assigned internally by the system, eg, new task after splitting

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Determination of next Task (system driven)

Available tasks
Tasks waiting for execution

Allowed tasks
Possible tasks for a dedicated resource Certain tasks are excluded (not processable from this resource type, ...)

Available tasks

Allowed tasks

Task sorting strategy

Determine selection/sorting algorithm Prioritize each task Task sorting strategy

Task selection process

Optimum work processes Selection by sorting rules Task interleaving
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Tasks selection

Monitoring Tasks & Resources

TRM Monitor
Overview on Tasks and Resources Show Alert Situations

TRM Operating Control

Dynamic status update Dynamic update of resource attributes Dynamic update of base and dynamic priorities

Specials
Send Messages to Resources Resource Handling Wizard Explanation Tool Mode Setting User defined View Settings Fix Navigation Variant Setting Object Class Methods Application Log Display Unassign Tasks
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Change Priorities

TRM Monitor
Example: Send Messages to Ressources:
Fixed Messages Send to many Resources Free Messages Priority Messaging Highly Customizable User defined icons and properties

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TRM Monitor
TRM Monitor The TRM monitor is a tool that keeps warehouse managers constantly up-to-date as to the current situation in the warehouse and enables managers to initiate appropriate responses in light of this situation.

Structure and Use

O bject H ierarchy Tree H TM L Display Area

ALV Table

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Resource Elements
Create/Create Resource Element/Copy/Modify/Delete Opens the Resource Element Maintenance Wizard, enabling you to create, copy, modify or delete resource elements.

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Messaging
Sending Messages to Resources Enables you to send messages to the presentation devices of selected resources. The below figures show how you send a message, and how it is received on the resources presentation device.

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Mode Maintenance
Enables you to affect task prioritization at the task creation and selection stages by: Creating, modifying
and deleting modes (operating states that represent a set of warehouse circumstances such as a shift or season) For each mode, entering or modifying weighting factors for each of the priority entities.

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Priority Explain
Opens the priority explanation tool which displays the priority model for a selected task, (including the normalized weights and priorities for the various priority entities, at both task creation and task selection stages) and enables you to view priority calculations.

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The Alert Monitor

The alert monitor is a tool for highlighting actual and emerging problematic situations in the warehouse, and enabling responses to be initiated (exception handling).

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Configuring Alerts
You can configure alerts by right-clicking an object class or clicking the Configure icon above the hierarchy tree. You can set the upper and lower levels for triggering alerts and decide which alerts to exclude from the alerts monitor.

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Exception Handling
Exception Handling Methods The different alerts/object classes have their own methods. You invoke the methods by selecting a specific object in the ALV table, clicking the methods icon located above the ALV table, and selecting a method from the pop-up menu.

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How is TRM activated ?

Customizing:
Assign Site to Warehouse Number Define for each Warehouse TRM active for each combination of:
From Storage Type To Storage Type Movement type

Customize the Transfer Order for 2-step confirmation

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TRM - Last but not least

TRM is a part of LES SAP LES continues to be responsible for

placement and removal strategies inventory management logistic decisions

LES (WM) works either with or without TRM SAP recommends to use decentral WMS with TRM But TRM will not be restricted to decentralized WMS TRM is planned to be delivered as part of R/3 Enterprise

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Copyright
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