SAP EWM und Plant Connectivity: Performance?

[Former Member]

Dear experts,

we are currently preparing for an internal project to implement SCM-EWM with EWM-MFS. We need to interface conveyor as well as high-rack shelf systems. I've already analyzed the current TCP/IP (socket-based) traffic between the control systems and the legacy system. Once again I'm afraid SAP will be too slow.

I've searched many pages but haven't found any indication yet what the standard response time of the material flow control component in combination with PCo is. Scenario: SAP SCM-EWM Server 10 meters away from the conveyor (meaning "no" network delay), Release 7.02, PCo 2.2 connecting to one conveyor controller. No other system load. Telegram of controller saying "I've read SSCC barcode <xyz>". SAP responding: "Send SSCC <xyz> to conveyor area <ABC>". I'm interested in the typical time in ms between these two telegrams.

Any practical experience in that area?

Franz

[Former Member]

Performence is satisfactory if you use conveyour for pallets. Whole proces described by you takes 0,2-0,5 sec (including logical check of HU in EWM)

Below some real data from live system;

PLC

Comm.chan.

Time

MS

Sender

Recip.

CP

Handshake

SeqN

TeleTyp

Handling Unit

Source

Dest.

AAA_PLC1

2

11:05:57

265

AAA_PLC1

EWM_AAA

1_19

R

00000000000000001988

SCAN

140973609154583382

AAA_PLC1

2

11:05:57

270

EWM_AAA

AAA_PLC1

1_19

C

00000000000000001988

SCAN

140973609154583382

AAA_PLC1

2

11:05:57

553

EWM_AAA

AAA_PLC1

1_19

R

00000000000000005817

LCCO

140973609154583382

12_23

AAA_PLC1

2

11:05:57

785

AAA_PLC1

EWM_AAA

1_19

C

00000000000000005817

LCCO

140973609154583382

12_23

AAA_PLC1

2

11:06:24

855

AAA_PLC1

EWM_AAA

1_19

R

00000000000000001990

SCAN

140973609154584655

AAA_PLC1

2

11:06:24

860

EWM_AAA

AAA_PLC1

1_19

C

00000000000000001990

SCAN

140973609154584655

AAA_PLC1

2

11:06:25

144

EWM_AAA

AAA_PLC1

1_19

R

00000000000000005818

LCCO

140973609154584655

12_23

AAA_PLC1

2

11:06:25

381

AAA_PLC1

EWM_AAA

1_19

C

00000000000000005818

LCCO

140973609154584655

12_23

AAA_PLC1

2

11:10:49

312

AAA_PLC1

EWM_AAA

1_19

R

00000000000000001992

SCAN

140973609154584686

AAA_PLC1

2

11:10:49

318

EWM_AAA

AAA_PLC1

1_19

C

00000000000000001992

SCAN

140973609154584686

AAA_PLC1

2

11:10:49

593

EWM_AAA

AAA_PLC1

1_19

R

00000000000000005821

LCCO

140973609154584686

12_23

AAA_PLC1

2

11:10:49

838

AAA_PLC1

EWM_AAA

1_19

C

00000000000000005821

LCCO

140973609154584686

12_23

AAA_PLC1

2

11:11:17

122

AAA_PLC1

EWM_AAA

1_19

R

00000000000000001994

SCAN

140973609154581029

AAA_PLC1

2

11:11:17

128

EWM_AAA

AAA_PLC1

1_19

C

00000000000000001994

SCAN

140973609154581029

AAA_PLC1

2

11:11:17

412

EWM_AAA

AAA_PLC1

1_19

R

00000000000000005822

LCCO

140973609154581029

12_23

AAA_PLC1

2

11:11:17

574

AAA_PLC1

EWM_AAA

1_19

C

00000000000000005822

LCCO

140973609154581029

12_23

AAA_PLC1

2

11:11:44

424

AAA_PLC1

EWM_AAA

1_19

R

00000000000000001996

SCAN

140973609154584648

AAA_PLC1

2

11:11:44

437

EWM_AAA

AAA_PLC1

1_19

C

00000000000000001996

SCAN

140973609154584648

AAA_PLC1

2

11:11:44

797

EWM_AAA

AAA_PLC1

1_19

R

00000000000000005823

LCCO

140973609154584648

12_23

AAA_PLC1

2

11:11:45

111

AAA_PLC1

EWM_AAA

1_19

C

00000000000000005823

LCCO

140973609154584648

12_23

[Former Member]

Hi Franz/Laszek,

Is your project live with EWM MFS? If yes, was there any specific risk/challenge you faced doing so?

Also, is it possible to have multiple resources to manage MFS or it needs a development?

please advice.

[TobiasAdler]

Hello Ashu,

I cannot comment on the project progress of Franz or Leszek.

Nevertheless, I would like to point to the following information, which might be helpful:

• SAP EWM 9.1 on SAP HANA DB: High-Performance Warehouse Management; in particular chapter 5.2.8
• SAP Note 1914127 dealing with recommendations regarding MFS performance
• SAP Note 2120484 dealing with recommendations for SAP Plant Connectivity

Unfortunately, I did not understand your questions regarding multiple resources and MFS. Could you please explain a bit more in detail?

Best regards,

Tobias

[Former Member]

Hi Tobias,

Thx for your reply.

If your site gone live with SAP MFS, can you elaborate the challenges you faced and how you managed that? WHat kind of enhancements were performed altogether?

Also, How was  multi depth bin picking is enabled  in your solution?

About multiple resources: Its written that one resource can manage complete MFS part but is it constraint or can we have multiple resources manage MFS.

Appreciate your reply.

[TobiasAdler]

Hi Ashu,

I work for SAP. So, I cannot elaborate on our go live .

Regarding multi-depth storage please check what is offered as part of SAP EWM 9.2 (and later) based on case conveyor logic. Information can be found in SAP help, e.g. here and there.

What exactly do you mean with "resource"? SAP EWM MFS can talk to multiple PLCs in parallel. For sure it can also control multiple MFS resources such as rack feeders or stacker cranes.

Let's make an example:

You have an automated high rack with 5 aisles. Per aisle there is a MFS resource to move HUs in and out of this aisle. SAP EWM MFS can control those MFS resources. Usually, these resources would have individual queues in EWM. There could be one PLC controlling all resources or one PLC per resource (meaning 5 in sum).

For the conveyors to and from the high rack there would be one or many PLCs to control them.

Regards, Tobias

[Former Member]

Hi Tobias,

appreciate your response. Do you know any third party PLC available which we can use to connect in sandbox system?

Thanks

Ashu

[TobiasAdler]

Hi Ashu,

You can get in contact with SAP Consulting. They offer a PLC emulation that can be used to test with SAP EWM MFS.

Besides that there are also other vendors of PLC emulations.

Regards, Tobias