Today I am going to make a comparation of physical inventory process among IM vs WM vs EWM.
Overall process steps are quite the same, but are still different and each process has it own advantages. Let’s check it out through this post.
Customizing isn’t mentioned as this blogs focus on comparing the processes. Customizing topic is referenced to another blogs can be found in the Reference part.
Note: Sample-based inventory isn’t covered in this blogs.
Comparation
| IM | WM | EWM | |
| Type of Inventory |
|
|
|
| Type of counting | Material specific | Bin specific | Bin specific or Material specific |
| Counting | Paper based | RF based or Paper based | RF base or Paper based |
| Movement type for adjustment | 701/ 702 Unrestricted used
703/ 704 Quality inspection 707/ 708 Blocked Stock |
711/ 712 Unrestricted used
713/ 714 Quality inspection 717/ 718 Blocked Stock |
711/ 712 Unrestricted used
713/ 714 Quality inspection 717/ 718 Blocked Stock |
| Useful Tcode | MI01 – Manually create PI doc MICN – Cycle Counting create PI doc MI31 – Create PI doc using Batch input MI02 – Change PI doc MI21 – Print Warehouse Inventory List MI04 – Enter count MI05 – Change Count MI06 – Display Count MI11 – Recount MI07 – Write Off MI08 – Enter Count and Clear difference MI10 – Enter Count Results and Clear Without Document Reference MI20 – Difference List MI24 – Overview |
LI01N – Manually create PI doc LX15 – Annual Inventory LX16 – Continuous Inventory LX26 – Cycle Counting LICC – Cycle Counting per Quant LI02N – Change PI doc LI04 – Print Warehouse Inventory List LM50/ LM51 – RF Count LI11N – Enter Count manually LI14 – Recount LI12N – Change count LI13N – Display count LI20 – Clear difference at Warehouse Management LI21 – Clear difference at Inventory Management LI06 – Block Storage Type LX23 – Stock Comparison LX25 – Inventory status LX22 – Overview |
/SCWM/PI_CREATE – Create PI doc /SCWM/PI_DOC_CREATE – Create PI Doc /N/SCWM/PI_CC_CREATE – Create PI Cycle count /SCWM/PI_PROCESS – Edit PI, Recount, Delete, Print /SCWM/PRPI_DOC – Print PI /SCWM/PI_COUNT or /SCWM/COUNTLIST – Enter Count /SCWM/RFUI – RF Count /SCWM/DIFF_ANALYZER Clear difference /SCWM/MON – Warehouse Monitor /SCWM/PRPI_GCM – Condition Record for PI form /SCWM/PI_USER_DIFF – Assign user to Tolerance Group Difference Analyze /SCWM/PI_USER – Assign User to Tolerance Group Recount/Clearing |
I – IM Physical Inventory
Step 1: Create Physical Inventory Document & Active PI document
Tcode: MI01 Create PI doc
This way is kind of manually and you have to enter single material by material and batches as well.
Tcode: MI31 Create PI doc with Batch input
This way you can select a range of material based on some criteria like plant, storage location, material group… so you don’t have to manually select which material to be counted.
Select materials in the list and active. PI document is created.
Step 2: Print Physical Inventory Document (Optional)
Tcode: MI21 Print PI doc
Enter PI doc that is created in previous step, enter PI doc number and plant to print.
Example of IM Physical Inventory list.
Step 3: Enter count result
Tcode: MI04 Enter count manually
After you have the count result, enter the count manually for each line.
Save the count result and later you can change the count by Tcode MI05 or do the Recount by MI11.
Step 4: Clear Difference
Tcode: MI07 – Post difference
When the count result has the difference, you have to clear off those lines with a reason code.
Post the transaction then a material document is auto created to record the change and adjust the quantity.
Check document posting by MB51.
Movement type 701 for stock increasing and Movement type 702 for stock decreasing (Unrestricted use).
Alternative options
Tcode: MI08 – Post and Count difference
MI08 is a combination of MI04 & MI07, you can enter count then clear difference at the same time.
First steps is still required to create PI document before you can execute MI08.
Tcode MI10 – All steps at once Create Document, Count and Post difference
MI10 is a combination of MI01 & MI04 & MI07, you can create PI doc, enter count then clear difference at the same time.
That’s really a powerful Tcode, so make sure you have all the correct data on hand before executing.
Report
Tcode MI20 – See difference before clear off
This report gives an overview of all differences in the plant at the real time.
You can link to another function from this report. Ex: Post difference (MI07), Change count (MI05),…
Note that if difference is cleared off, it will not be shown here anymore.
Tcode MI24 Inventory list
PI List with status for your overview. Can link to another function from here as well.
II – WM Physical Inventory
Step 1: Create Physical Inventory Document & Active PI document
Tcode LI01N Create PI doc
Enter one or multiple Bins of specific Storage type to count.
You have to manually enter single Bin which need to be counted.
Active document and Save to create PI doc. Bin is blocked.
Tcode LX16 – Create PI for continuous Inventory
This way will auto list all the Bins in specific Storage Type. Then you only need to select Bins in the list and active to create PI doc.
Step 2: Print Physical Inventory Document (Optional)
Tcode LI04 Print PI doc
Select PI doc number and printer.
Example for WM Inventory List
Step 3: Enter count result
Option 1: Manual enter count
Tcode LI11N – Enter count manually
Enter the count, which lines that count result is zero, mark at “Zero count”.
Option 2: RF gun
Prerequisite: Assign user ID to PI doc.
RF gun link as below or Tcode LM50
First scan Bin to start the count > Scan HU the first time to recognize that HU is in the Bin > Scan HU the second time will trigger screen to enter quantity or mark as zero count > After all HU are scanned, F1 Save to end count in this Bin.
Note: At screen number 4 – if you press F9 BnEm – Means that you have finish counting the Bin, any HU is missing will be counted as Zero.
Step 4: Clear Difference WM
Tcode LI20 Clear off at WM level
Once you write off WM quantity will be updated, but not updated yet in IM. Bin is unblocked.
No material document is created at this step.
Step 5: Clear Difference IM
Tcode LI21- Clear off at IM level
All the difference will come to this list, review once again then Write off.
At this point, material document is created and stock quantity is updated at IM level.
Display Material document.
Report
Tcode LX25 Inventory Status at Bin level.
Tcode LX22 Physical Inventory List and status.
III – EWM Physical Inventory
Step 1: Create Physical Inventory Document & Active PI document
Tcode /SCWM/PI_CREATE
Select PI procedure first.
Find by Storage Bin or Material number, a list will be displayed. Active & save to create PI doc.
Note that 1 PI doc will be created for 1 Storage Type.
Step 2: Print Physical Inventory Document (Optional)
Tcode /SCWM/PRPI_DOC – Print PI doc
Enter Whs number and PI document, printer to print.
Note that Condition report for PI print need to be set up in advance before printing.
Can also use /SCWM/PI_PROCESS to print.
Example for EWM Inventory count list.
Step 3: Enter count result
Option 1: Enter Count manually
Tcode /SCWM/COUNTLIST
Enter the count manually or mark as Zero count.
Option 2: RF count
Follow the path as below.
Scan WO number, this info is printed in PI doc or check /SCWM/PI_PROCESS to know WO number.
Firstly scan the Bin to be counted or select Bin in the list > Next verify Material and enter count Qty. F11 to save the count.
Note: Because this example is non HU management to need to scan material number instead of HU.
Step 4: Post Physical Inventory Document
Tcode /SCWM/PI_PROCESS
Select document and Post.
Status of the PI doc is updated as Posted. At this time, EWM quantity is updated, but IM qty is not yet updated.
Step 5: Clear difference
Tcode /SCWM/DIFF_ANALYZER
Review the difference once again before posting.
Choose Post and Save. At this time Material document is created to update quantity at IM level.
Report
Tcode /SCWM/MON
Can review all count result of PI doc with Warehouse Monitor.
Reference of PI Form Condition Record
/SCWM/PRPI_GCM
—END—
Thank for reading, I would love to receive your feedback/comment to improve my blogs.
Reference
EWM Physical Inventory
WM Physical Inventory
IM Physical Inventory
WM Blogs for Physical Inventory
https://blogs.sap.com/2019/04/10/physical-inventory-with-respect-to-wm/
EWM Blogs with customizing
https://blogs.sap.com/2020/06/03/physical-inventory-in-embedded-ewm/
