Systems and methods for monitoring and controlling warehouse activities

• US 20070162435A1
• Filed: 12/30/2005
• Published: 07/12/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 12/30/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SAP SE
• Original Assignee: SAP AG (SAP SE)
• Inventors: Hadari, Malkiel, Harel, Orit, Ernesti, Bernd, Holzman, Ziv, Volkov, Alla, Kieser, Hanna
• Granted Patent: US 7,792,886 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders

Abstract

Methods, systems, and computer-readable media are provided for monitoring and controlling warehouse activities. Inbound information reflecting the status of wares destined for storage in a warehouse is monitored. Internal information reflecting movement of the wares within the warehouse is also monitored. Additionally, outbound information reflecting outbound processing of the wares is monitored. The status of the warehouse is presented based on at least one of the inbound information, internal information, and outbound information.

Claims

1. A method for monitoring warehouse activities, comprising:

monitoring inbound information reflecting the status of wares destined for storage in a warehouse;

monitoring internal information reflecting movement of the wares within the warehouse;

monitoring outbound information reflecting outbound processing of the wares; and

presenting the status of the warehouse based on at least one of the inbound information, internal information, and outbound information.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein monitoring inbound information comprises monitoring at least one data object associated with at least one of an unloading process, a spreading process, a packaging process, a putaway process, an inspection process, a counting process, a testing process, and an order processing.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein monitoring inbound information comprises monitoring information reflecting at least one of a wave, a warehouse request, a warehouse order, and a transfer order.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein monitoring internal information comprises monitoring at least one data object associated with at least one of a replenishment process, a scrapping process, and a re-arrangement process.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein monitoring outbound information comprises monitoring at least one data object associated with at least one of a picking process, a packing process, a staging process, and a loading process.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein presenting the status of the warehouse comprises presenting, for a selected time period, at least one workload of the warehouse calculated using at least one of the inbound information, internal information, and outbound information.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising arranging the inbound information, internal information, and outbound information in at least one hierarchical tree of nodes;

and

wherein presenting the status of the warehouse comprises presenting at least one of the nodes.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

monitoring alert information reflecting problematic processes in the warehouse; and

generating an alert when at least a portion of the alert information exceeds a predetermined threshold.

9. A system for monitoring warehouse activities, the system comprising:

an inbound monitor that monitors inbound information reflecting the status of wares destined for storage in a warehouse;

an internal monitor that monitors internal information reflecting movement of the wares within the warehouse;

an outbound monitor that monitors outbound information reflecting outbound processing of the wares; and

a presentation module that presents the status of the warehouse based on at least one of the inbound information, internal information, and outbound information.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the inbound information includes at least one data object associated with at least one of an unloading process, a spreading process, a packaging process, a putaway process, an inspection process, a counting process, a testing process, and an order processing.

11. The system of claim 9, wherein the inbound information includes information reflecting at least one of a wave, a warehouse request, a warehouse order, and a transfer order.

12. The system of claim 9, wherein the internal information includes at least one data object associated with at least one of a replenishment process, a scrapping process, and a re-arrangement process.

13. The system of claim 9, wherein the outbound information includes at least one data object associated with at least one of a picking process, a packing process, a staging process, and a loading process.

14. The system of claim 9, wherein presentation module presents the status of the warehouse by presenting, for a selected time period, at least one workload of the warehouse calculated using at least one of the inbound information, internal information, and outbound information.

15. The system of claim 9, wherein the presentation module further comprises:

a tree builder for arranging the inbound information, internal information, and outbound information in at least one hierarchical tree of nodes;

a selection module for allowing a user to view and modify the at least one tree and for allowing the user to select the nodes to view the status of the warehouse; and

a control module that manages methods associated with the nodes.

16. The system of claim 9, further comprising an alert monitor that monitors alert information reflecting problematic processes in the warehouse and generates an alert when at least a portion of the alert information exceeds a predetermined threshold.

17. The system of claim 9, further comprising a data repository storing the inbound information, the internal information, and the outbound information.

18. A method of monitoring a warehouse, comprising:

obtaining information reflecting data objects associated with warehouse activities from a warehouse management application;

organizing the obtained information into a hierarchical tree of nodes, each of the nodes representing an class and including data objects corresponding to the class;

presenting the tree to a user;

receiving at least one instruction from a user selecting one of the nodes; and

displaying the data objects corresponding to the selected node.

19. A data structure maintained in a data repository comprising:

a first node representing a category;

a set of child nodes associated with the category, the set of child nodes including an inbound warehouse activity node, an outbound warehouse activity node and an internal warehouse activity node;

a set of document nodes associated with the set of child nodes, the document nodes including information reflecting documents associated with inbound warehouse activities, outbound warehouse activities, and internal warehouse activities; and

a set of process nodes associated with the set of child nodes, the process nodes including information reflecting process steps associated with the inbound warehouse activities, the outbound warehouse activities, and the internal warehouse activities.

20. A computer-readable medium containing instructions for controlling a computer system to perform a method, the computer system having a processor for executing the instructions, the method comprising:

monitoring inbound information reflecting the status of wares destined for storage in a warehouse;

monitoring internal information reflecting movement of the wares within the warehouse;

monitoring outbound information reflecting outbound processing of the wares; and

presenting the status of the warehouse based on at least one of the inbound information, internal information, and outbound information.