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Writer's pictureBrightson J

Material Flow System (Part 1 of 3) - Concept & Configuration

Updated: Feb 4, 2021

This blog post helps to understand the SAP EWM MFS, its components and how it can help to manage an Automated Warehouse in combination with EWM LOSC without 3rd party Warehouse Control Unit.


This blog covers the following aspects:

- Understanding MFS

- SAP EWM LOSC

- SAP MFS Scenario

- SAP MFS Components

- Telegram Interface

- Solution Architecture

- Solution Overview

- Implementation Steps

- Configuration

- MFS Simulator for testing

- SAP MFS Master Data

- Next part


Understanding SAP EWM MFS


“MFS is out-of-the-box feature in SAP EWM to control the movement of fully automated Warehouse without 3rd party WCU or ASRS system”


MFS Requirement: In many warehouses today, goods are moved without any human interaction on longer distances via conveyers or carousels. In high-rack storage, you often have a fully automated storage and retrieval system.


MFS supports automation by the feature mentioned below.

• The material flow system (MFS) enables you to connect an automatic warehouse to SAP Extended Warehouse Management without the need for an additional warehouse control unit.

• SAP EWM communicates directly with the control level.

• You can set up the MFS in such a way that warehouse tasks (from an identification point to a storage bin in an automatic high-rack storage area, for instance) are subdivided into smaller tasks.



SAP EWM LOSC (Layout Oriented Storage Control)


Goods in your warehouse might not travel directly from a source storage bin to a destination storage bin, but rather travel via intermediate storage bins due to the physical layout of the warehouse.

In Extended Warehouse Management, you use the layout-oriented storage control to describe these intermediate storage bins.

• In case of automated storage and retrieval systems, you need identification points and pick points to “connect” these systems to the rest of your warehouse.

• Examples for Warehouse require LOSC – Multi-level warehouse with elevator, warehouse with conveyors or robots.


More details can be found in the below SAP documentation

Reference:



MFS Scenario




- Cranes are used for movement of goods within aisles and no human intervention required for put-away or picking of goods.

- PLC controls the movement of cranes.



SAP MFS Components:


In the MFS, the warehouse to be controlled is mapped via the following components:


• Programmable logic controller (PLC)

PLC is the underlying real-time system controlling the physical transportation of HUs on conveyor systems and their components. It evaluates signals from the connected automatic storage retrieval/conveyor system or other controls and activates or deactivates motors, appliances, sensors, readers, and so on.


• Communication channel

Communication channel is the connection for transmission of messages between MFS and PLC, defined by an IP address and a port. You can use several channels to communicate with the same PLC.


• Communication point

Communication points are stations in the storage retrieval system at which it communicates with the PLC. Here, the PLC registers HUs (on the basis of scanner information or material flow tracking) and awaits new destination specifications. Every communication point is a storage bin in SAP EWM.


• Conveyor segments

Conveyor segments physically transport handling units (HUs) from one communication point to the next. You assign conveyor segments to your start and end points in layout-oriented storage control.


• Resource

MFS resource is a vehicle that transports an HU from one communication point (or storage bin) to another.



Telegram Interface:


Telegram interface is used to send and receive message between SAP EWM MFS & PLC.

To execute warehouse tasks, the EWM system generates telegrams and sends

these to the appropriate PLC.

Telegram type is used to identify the type of message being communicated.


Below are commonly used telegram types:




ABAP Dictionary structure is used to define the telegram message structure.

ABAP Function module is used to process the telegram message which are called as MFS Actions.

When a new WT is created, it is hardcoded that system should first generate telegram message with type ‘WT’.


Telegram Category 'E' is used during new MFS task creation.


Telegram Category 'E' is hardcoded in the type group 'WMEGC'.

Get Telegram Type from the configuration table



Below is the configuration table screenshot.



Below are the reply telegram messages from PLC based on the messages from SAP EWM MFS.


Solution Architecture Overview:




Solution Overview:


· Warehouse task in EWM is relevant for automatic movement if the storage type role is ‘J’ and the WT queue is assigned to PLC and MFS resource.

· Telegram message triggered from SAP MFS to PLC and PLC sends an acknowledgement message to SAP MFS as an handshake upon receiving the telegram message.

· PLC assigns the task to resource for physical movement based on information from WT.

· Resource performs the actual goods movement.

· PLC triggers telegram message to SAP MFS for the WT confirmation.

· SAP EWM MFS sends acknowledgement telegram message as an handshake with PLC.


Implementation Steps:


· Define Storage Type

· Define Warehouse Process Type

· Configure LOSC

· Define PLC Interface Type

· Define PLC

· Define Communication Channel

· Define Communication Points

· Define MFS Queues

· Define Telegram Structure

· Define MFS Actions

· Find MFS Actions

· Error Handling



Configuration:


Storage Type Definition

Configuration Path: SPRO IMG --> SCM Extended Warehouse Management --> Extended Warehouse Management --> Master Data --> Define Storage Type




ID Point Set-up

Storage Type


Storage Section



Identification Point Bin




Warehouse Process Type Definition


Configuration Path: SPRO IMG --> SCM Extended Warehouse Management --> Extended Warehouse Management --> Cross-Process Settings --> Warehouse Task --> Define Warehouse Process Type




LOSC Configuration


Configuration Path: SPRO IMG --> SCM Extended Warehouse Management --> Extended Warehouse Management --> Cross-Process Settings --> Warehouse Task --> Define Layout-Oriented Storage Process Control




Define PLC Interface Type

Configuration Path: SPRO IMG --> SCM Extended Warehouse Management --> Extended Warehouse Management --> Material Flow System (MFS) --> Master Data --> Define PLC Interface Type




Define PLC

Configuration Path: SPRO IMG --> SCM Extended Warehouse Management --> Extended Warehouse Management --> Material Flow System (MFS) --> Master Data --> Communication Channel --> Define Communication Channel




Define Communication Channel

Configuration Path: SPRO IMG --> SCM Extended Warehouse Management --> Extended Warehouse Management --> Material Flow System (MFS) --> Master Data --> Define Programmable Logic Controller (PLC)




Define Communication Point

Configuration Path: SPRO IMG --> SCM Extended Warehouse Management --> Extended Warehouse Management --> Material Flow System (MFS) --> Master Data --> Define Communication Point



Define MFS Queue

Configuration Path: SPRO IMG --> SCM Extended Warehouse Management --> Extended Warehouse Management --> Material Flow System (MFS) à Master Data --> Define MFS Queue




Define Telegram Structure

Configuration Path: SPRO IMG --> SCM Extended Warehouse Management --> Extended Warehouse Management --> Material Flow System (MFS) à Telegram Processing --> Define Telegram Structure --> Define Telegram Structure for PLC Interface Type




Define MFS Actions

Configuration Path: SPRO IMG --> SCM Extended Warehouse Management --> Extended Warehouse Management --> Material Flow System (MFS) --> Telegram Processing --> Define MFS Actions




When WT confirmation (WTCO) telegram is processed by MFS action FM, system performs the following action.

- Post HU to CP resp. storage bin (if not yet there)

- Triggers follow up task (layout oriented)


Find MFS Actions

Configuration Path: SPRO IMG --> SCM Extended Warehouse Management --> Extended Warehouse Management --> Material Flow System (MFS) à Exception Handling --> Assign Telegram Errors to PLC Errors

Maintain the telegram type for warehouse and assign it to MFS action.




Error Handling

Configuration Path: SPRO IMG --> SCM Extended Warehouse Management --> Extended Warehouse Management --> Material Flow System (MFS) --> Telegram Processing --> Find MFS Actions

PLC can send this error code in the handshake telegram message as Communication Error.




MFS Simulator for Testing

SAP system offers a RFC module to test the communication when we do not have the real connection with the PLC.

Simulation is implemented in the function module /SCWM/MFS_SIM_RECEIVE.

Assign the simulation RFC module when maintain the PLC in master data section.

If your wish to test it with PLC without physical movements, PLC emulation can be used.


SAP MFS Master Data

· Maintain PLC

· Maintain Communication Points

· Maintain MFS Resource


Maintain Programmable Logic Controller

SAP Easy Access: SAP Menu --> SCM Extended Warehouse Management --> Master Data --> Material Flow System (MFS) --> Maintain Programmable Logic Controller


Set communication layer as ‘Proprietary Communication Layer’ for simulation.


Set the simulation Remote FM in the Sending FM.




It is recommended to use SAP ABAP Push Channel as Communication Layer in the real time.



Maintain Communication Points

SAP Easy Access: SAP Menu --> SCM Extended Warehouse Management --> Master Data --> Material Flow System (MFS) --> Maintain Communication Points

Assign storage bin to communication point.



Maintain MFS Resource

SAP Easy Access: SAP Menu --> SCM Extended Warehouse Management --> Master Data --> Material Flow System (MFS) --> Maintain MFS Resource

Maintain resource and assign to queue.




Next part of this blog covers:

- Inbound process with MFS (link below)

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5 comentários


dominik.tylczynski
02 de jan. de 2023

https://github.com/dominik-tylczynski/mfs-plc-sim

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Yassine Chihaoui
Yassine Chihaoui
16 de set. de 2021

i'm connecting to PLC but connection is always lost after sending some telegrams how to deal with it?

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bruceeking
25 de abr. de 2021

One more question please, how is CP01-CLAR defined in the define communication point screen? thanks

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Berkan Yaşar
Berkan Yaşar
21 de jun. de 2022
Respondendo a

Hi,


Can you fix that problem? If you fixed that, can you tell me how is CP01-CLAR defined?

Curtir

bruceeking
24 de abr. de 2021

Great info. One question how was PLC consys2 defined?

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