Systems and methods for monitoring and controlling warehouse activities

• US 7,792,886 B2
• Filed: 12/30/2005
• Issued: 09/07/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/30/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SAP SE
• Original Assignee: SAP AG (SAP SE)
• Inventors: Kieser, Hanna, Hadari, Malkiel, Harel, Orit, Ernesti, Bernd, Holzman, Ziv, Volkov, Alla
• Primary Examiner(s): Wu; Yicun
• Assistant Examiner(s): Zhao; Yu
• Application Number:
  US11/320,981
• Publication Number:
  US 20070162435A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,712 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: N/A
• 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 computer-implemented method for monitoring warehouse activities, comprising the steps performed by a computer of:

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

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

receiving outbound information reflecting outbound processing of the wares;

organizing the storage of the inbound, internal, and outbound information into a hierarchical tree of nodes, in which a parent node corresponds to one of the inbound information, the internal information, or the outbound information and first and second child nodes associated with the parent node correspond respectively to a document view and a process view,

wherein;

the document view includes information about documents associated with the inbound information, the outbound information, and the internal information, and

the process view includes information about process steps associated with the inbound information, the outbound information, and the internal information;

presenting the hierarchical tree to a user;

receiving at least one instruction from the user selecting at least one of the nodes in the hierarchical tree, the at least one instruction including the selection of a data object in accordance with the document view or the process view; and

displaying each data object corresponding to the selected node,

wherein presenting comprises displaying, for each one node, a context menu containing different options, wherein the different options differ according to a location level of the one node within the hierarchical tree of nodes, and

wherein the hierarchical tree of nodes comprises a profile node, which includes a data object corresponding to at least one of a selection screen, function, view, object class, or operational method; and

a variant node, which includes an existing profile node, wherein a selection criteria or a list view layout of the existing profile node is varied based on a location of the variant node within the hierarchical tree.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein providing inbound information comprises providing 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 providing inbound information comprises providing 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 providing internal information comprises providing 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 providing outbound information comprises providing 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 hierarchical tree to the user further comprises presenting, for a selected time period, at least one workload of the warehouse calculated using at least one of the inbound information, the internal information, and the outbound information.

7. 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.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein the nodes of the document view include data objects corresponding to warehouse requests, warehouse orders, and transfer orders and wherein the nodes of the process view include data objects corresponding to process steps for the processing of wares associated with inbound warehouse activities, outbound warehouse activities, and internal warehouse activities.

18. The method of claim 1, wherein organizing further comprises locating the nodes of the different categories on a higher level within the hierarchical tree of nodes than the profile node and the variant node, and locating the profile node and the variant node on the same level within the hierarchical tree of nodes.

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

a storage unit for storing software programs, the software programs 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 organizes the inbound, internal, and outbound information into a hierarchical tree of nodes, in which a parent node corresponds to one of the inbound information, the internal information, or the outbound information and first and second child nodes associated with the parent node correspond respectively to a document view and a process view,

wherein the document view includes information about documents associated with the inbound information, the outbound information, and the internal information, and

the process view includes information about process steps associated with the inbound information, the outbound information, and the internal information, presents the hierarchical tree to a user, receives at least one instruction from the user selecting at least one of the nodes in the hierarchical tree, the at least one instruction including the selection of a data object in accordance with the document view or the process view, and displays each data object corresponding to the selected node; and

a processor unit for executing the software programs,

wherein presenting comprises displaying, for each one node, a context menu containing different options, wherein the different options differ according to a location level of the one node within the hierarchical tree of nodes, and

wherein the hierarchical tree of nodes comprises a profile node, which includes a data object corresponding to at least one of a selection screen, function, view, object class, or operational method; and

a variant node, which includes an existing profile node, wherein a selection criteria or a list view layout of the existing profile node is varied based on a location of the variant node within the hierarchical tree.

9. The system of claim 8, 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.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein the inbound information includes information reflecting at least one of a wave, a warehouse request, a warehouse order, and a transfer order.

11. The system of claim 8, 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.

12. The system of claim 8, 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.

13. The system of claim 8, 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, the internal information, and the outbound information.

14. The system of claim 8, 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.

15. The system of claim 8, further comprising a data repository storing the inbound information, the internal information, and the outbound information.

21. The system of claim 8, wherein the nodes of the document view include data objects corresponding to warehouse requests, warehouse orders, and transfer orders and wherein the nodes of the process view include data objects corresponding to process steps for the processing of wares associated with inbound warehouse activities, outbound warehouse activities, and internal warehouse activities.

16. 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:

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

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

receiving outbound information reflecting outbound processing of the wares;

organizing the storage of the inbound, internal, and outbound information into a hierarchical tree of nodes, in which a parent node corresponds to one of the inbound information, the internal information, or the outbound information and first and second child nodes associated with the parent node correspond respectively to a document view and a process view;

wherein;

the document view includes information about documents associated with the inbound information, the outbound information, and the internal information; and

the process view includes information about process steps associated with the inbound information, the outbound information, and the internal information;

presenting the hierarchical tree to a user;

receiving at least one instruction from the user selecting one of the nodes in the hierarchical tree, the at least one instruction including the selection of a data object in accordance with the document view or the process view; and

displaying each data object corresponding to the selected node,

wherein presenting comprises displaying, for each one node, a context menu containing different options, wherein the different options differ according to a location level of the one node within the hierarchical tree of nodes, and

wherein the hierarchical tree of nodes comprises a profile node, which includes a data object corresponding to at least one of a selection screen, function, view, object class, or operational method; and

a variant node, which includes an existing profile node, wherein a selection criteria or a list view layout of the existing profile node is varied based on a location of the variant node within the hierarchical tree.

22. The computer-readable medium of claim 16, wherein the nodes of the document view include data objects corresponding to warehouse requests, warehouse orders, and transfer orders and wherein the nodes of the process view include data objects corresponding to process steps for the processing of wares associated with inbound warehouse activities, outbound warehouse activities, and internal warehouse activities.

19. A computer-implemented method for monitoring warehouse activities, comprising the steps performed by a computer of:

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

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

receiving outbound information reflecting outbound processing of the wares;

organizing the storage of the inbound, internal, and outbound information into a hierarchical tree of nodes, in which a parent node corresponds to one of the inbound information, the internal information, or the outbound information and first and second child nodes associated with the parent node correspond respectively to a document view and a process view,

wherein the document view includes information about documents associated with the inbound information, the outbound information, and the internal information, and the process view includes information about process steps associated with the inbound information, the outbound information, and the internal information;

presenting the hierarchical tree to a user;

receiving at least one instruction from the user selecting at least one of the nodes in the hierarchical tree, the at least one instruction including the selection of a data object in accordance with the document view or the process view; and

displaying each data object corresponding to the selected node,

wherein organizing comprises locating the nodes of the different categories on a higher level within the hierarchical tree of nodes than the profile node and the variant node, and locating the profile node and the variant node on the same level within the hierarchical tree of nodes, and

wherein presenting further comprises displaying, for each one node, a context menu containing different options, wherein the different options differ according to a location level of the one node within the hierarchical tree of nodes.

20. A computer-implemented method for monitoring warehouse activities, comprising the steps performed by a computer of:

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

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

receiving outbound information reflecting outbound processing of the wares;

organizing the storage of the inbound, internal, and outbound information into a hierarchical tree of nodes, in which a parent node corresponds to one of the inbound information, the internal information, or the outbound information and first and second child nodes associated with the parent node correspond respectively to a document view and a process view,

wherein the document view includes information about documents associated with the inbound information, the outbound information, and the internal information, and the process view includes information about process steps associated with the inbound information, the outbound information, and the internal information;

presenting the hierarchical tree to a user;

receiving at least one instruction from the user selecting at least one of the nodes in the hierarchical tree, the at least one instruction including the selection of a data object in accordance with the document view or the process view; and

displaying each data object corresponding to the selected node,

wherein organizing comprises locating the nodes of the different categories on a higher level within the hierarchical tree of nodes than the profile node and the variant node, and locating the profile node and the variant node on the same level within the hierarchical tree of nodes, and

wherein the hierarchical tree of nodes comprises;

a profile node, which includes a data object corresponding to at least one of a selection screen, function, view, object class, or operational method; and

a variant node, which includes an existing profile node, wherein a selection criteria or a list view layout of the existing profile node is varied based on a location of the variant node within the hierarchical tree.

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

a storage unit for storing software programs, the software programs 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 organizes the inbound, internal, and outbound information into a hierarchical tree of nodes, in which a parent node corresponds to one of the inbound information, the internal information, or the outbound information and first and second child nodes associated with the parent node correspond respectively to a document view and a process view,

wherein the document view includes information about documents associated with the inbound information, the outbound information, and the internal information, and

the process view includes information about process steps associated with the inbound information, the outbound information, and the internal information, presents the hierarchical tree to a user, receives at least one instruction from the user selecting at least one of the nodes in the hierarchical tree, the at least one instruction including the selection of a data object in accordance with the document view or the process view, and displays each data object corresponding to the selected node; and

a processor unit for executing the software programs,

wherein organizing comprises locating the nodes of the different categories on a higher level within the hierarchical tree of nodes than the profile node and the variant node, and locating the profile node and the variant node on the same level within the hierarchical tree of nodes, and

wherein presenting comprises displaying, for each one node, a context menu containing different options, wherein the different options differ according to a location level of the one node within the hierarchical tree of nodes.

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

a storage unit for storing software programs, the software programs 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 organizes the inbound, internal, and outbound information into a hierarchical tree of nodes, in which a parent node corresponds to one of the inbound information, the internal information, or the outbound information and first and second child nodes associated with the parent node correspond respectively to a document view and a process view,

wherein the document view includes information about documents associated with the inbound information, the outbound information, and the internal information, and

the process view includes information about process steps associated with the inbound information, the outbound information, and the internal information, presents the hierarchical tree to a user, receives at least one instruction from the user selecting at least one of the nodes in the hierarchical tree, the at least one instruction including the selection of a data object in accordance with the document view or the process view, and displays each data object corresponding to the selected node; and

a processor unit for executing the software programs,

wherein organizing comprises locating the nodes of the different categories on a higher level within the hierarchical tree of nodes than the profile node and the variant node, and locating the profile node and the variant node on the same level within the hierarchical tree of nodes, and

wherein the hierarchical tree of nodes comprises, a profile node, which includes a data object corresponding to at least one of a selection screen, function, view, object class, or operational method, and a variant node, which includes an existing profile node, wherein a selection criteria or a list view layout of the existing profile node is varied based on a location of the variant node within the hierarchical tree.

25. 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:

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

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

receiving outbound information reflecting outbound processing of the wares;

organizing the storage of the inbound, internal, and outbound information into a hierarchical tree of nodes, in which a parent node corresponds to one of the inbound information, the internal information, or the outbound information and first and second child nodes associated with the parent node correspond respectively to a document view and a process view;

wherein;

the document view includes information about documents associated with the inbound information, the outbound information, and the internal information; and

the process view includes information about process steps associated with the inbound information, the outbound information, and the internal information;

presenting the hierarchical tree to a user;

receiving at least one instruction from the user selecting one of the nodes in the hierarchical tree, the at least one instruction including the selection of a data object in accordance with the document view or the process view; and

displaying each data object corresponding to the selected node,

wherein organizing comprises locating the nodes of the different categories on a higher level within the hierarchical tree of nodes than the profile node and the variant node, and locating the profile node and the variant node on the same level within the hierarchical tree of nodes, and

wherein presenting comprises displaying, for each one node, a context menu containing different options, wherein the different options differ according to a location level of the one node within the hierarchical tree of nodes.

26. 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:

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

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

receiving outbound information reflecting outbound processing of the wares;

organizing the storage of the inbound, internal, and outbound information into a hierarchical tree of nodes, in which a parent node corresponds to one of the inbound information, the internal information, or the outbound information and first and second child nodes associated with the parent node correspond respectively to a document view and a process view;

wherein;

the document view includes information about documents associated with the inbound information, the outbound information, and the internal information; and

the process view includes information about process steps associated with the inbound information, the outbound information, and the internal information;

presenting the hierarchical tree to a user;

receiving at least one instruction from the user selecting one of the nodes in the hierarchical tree, the at least one instruction including the selection of a data object in accordance with the document view or the process view; and

displaying each data object corresponding to the selected node,

wherein organizing comprises locating the nodes of the different categories on a higher level within the hierarchical tree of nodes than the profile node and the variant node, and locating the profile node and the variant node on the same level within the hierarchical tree of nodes, and

wherein the hierarchical tree of nodes comprises, a profile node, which includes a data object corresponding to at least one of a selection screen, function, view, object class, or operational method, and a variant node, which includes an existing profile node, wherein a selection criteria or a list view layout of the existing profile node is varied based on a location of the variant node within the hierarchical tree.