In Warehouse Management (WM), a warehouse number represents an entire warehousing complex, encompassing all its storage areas and organizational aspects. It is the top-most level in the warehouse hierarchy, acting as a unique identifier that integrates physical warehouses and their operations under a single entity.

This tutorial explains the concept, purpose, and use of the warehouse number in WM, with examples and practical guidelines for implementation.

What is Warehouse Number in WM?

A warehouse number is a unique identifier for a physical warehouse complex or a group of connected storage areas. It manages the organizational and physical aspects of warehousing under a single framework in the WM system.

  1. The warehouse is subdivided into storage types (e.g., high-rack storage, bulk storage), storage sections, and storage bins, each reflecting specific physical or functional areas.

Standard Warehouse Number Structure

Warehouse NumberStorage TypePurpose
001001 (Goods Receipt)Receiving incoming goods.
002 (High Rack)Storing palletized goods.
003 (Bulk Storage)Storing large, heavy items.
004 (Picking Area)Fixed bins for order picking.
005 (Goods Issue)Dispatching outgoing goods.

In this example, all storage types are grouped under Warehouse Number 001, ensuring that operations are centralized and well-organized.

Steps to Define a Warehouse Number in SAP?

To define a warehouse number in WM, follow these steps in the Implementation Guide (IMG):

Access the SAP Implementation Guide (IMG):

  1. Enter transaction code SPRO in the command field and press Enter.
  2. Select “SAP Reference IMG” to open the customization interface.

Navigate to Warehouse Number Definition:

  1. Follow the path: Enterprise Structure → Definition → Logistics Execution → Define, copy, delete, check warehouse number.
    Defining Warehouse Number in WM

    Define the Warehouse Number

    Enter the unique warehouse number and enter the Warehouse no description.

    1. Click on “New Entries” to create a new warehouse number.
    2. Enter a unique three-character alphanumeric code in the “t01” field to represent the warehouse number.
    3. Provide a descriptive text in the “Warehouse No. description” field to clearly identify the warehouse.
    Defining warehouse number in SAP PP

    Save the Configuration

    When you click in Save button, you are required to select the Request number as shown below and you can create you own Request.

    Assigning Warehouse number to Plant / Storage Location

    Post-definition, it’s crucial to assign the warehouse number to the relevant plant and storage locations to integrate it into the enterprise structure:

    1. Assign to Plant and Storage Location:
      1. Navigate to: Enterprise Structure → Assignment → Logistics Execution → Assign warehouse number to plant/storage location.
      2. Map the newly created warehouse number to the appropriate plant and its storage locations.

    When working with SAP’s Warehouse Management System (LE-WM), it is essential to correctly assign warehouse numbers to plants and storage locations. This ensures seamless integration with Materials Management processes.

    Key Steps for Configuration

    1. Understand the Connection
      A warehouse number links specific storage locations in a plant to the Warehouse Management system. Multiple storage locations can share the same warehouse number within a plant.
    2. Pre-Requisites
      • The MM-IM (Inventory Management) component must be implemented.
      • Familiarity with storage location control in the WM interface is essential.
    3. Standard SAP Settings
      In the default SAP setup:
      • Warehouse Number: 001
      • Plant: TH YD
      • Storage Location: TLOC
    1. Activities
      Assign storage locations to their respective warehouse numbers using the SAP configuration tools.
    2. Important Transport Notes
      After transporting the table data to the target system, ensure the consistency of all assignments by verifying configurations.
    1. Assign the warehouse number to the relevant plant and storage locations in Inventory Management (IM).

    Conclusion

    A warehouse number in WM is more than just an identifier—it’s the foundation for efficient warehouse operations. By grouping storage areas and integrating with other systems, it streamlines workflows, improves inventory visibility, and supports scalability. Whether managing a single warehouse complex or multiple facilities across locations, defining and optimizing warehouse numbers is critical for success.

    For step-by-step guidance on warehouse setup, explore more tutorials on TutorialKart to take your warehouse management system to the next level!