Top WM Interview Questions and Answers for 2023

Landing a job as a warehouse management (WM) professional requires thorough preparation and knowledge of key concepts. With the right understanding of WM modules, processes, and best practices, you can confidently answer interview questions and stand out from other candidates.

In this comprehensive article, we will explore some of the most common and critical WM interview questions that hiring managers use to assess applicants’ skills. Whether you are preparing for an upcoming interview or just want to expand your WM knowledge, read on for detailed explanations and sample answers.

What is WM in SAP?

The Warehouse Management (WM) module in SAP allows you to manage key warehouse and inventory activities. It supports the planning, organizing, directing, and optimization of all processes in your warehouse – from goods receipt to goods issue and stock transfers.

Key capabilities include:

• Warehouse structure definition – organizing storage types, storage sections, storage bins
• Goods movements – goods receipt, putaway, picking, packing, loading
• Inventory management – physical inventory, stock transfers, stock coverage
• Reporting and analytics for warehouse performance

Mastering WM procedures and configurations is crucial for supply chain professionals looking to advance their SAP careers During interviews, expect WM basics like definitions, organizational elements, and popular WM transactions

Explain what is a transfer requirement in SAP WM?

A transfer requirement is a suggested (or planned) stock transfer between two storage locations in WM. It is created automatically by the system based on certain conditions like:

• Minimum/maximum stock levels defined for a material at different locations
• Prioritization of storage types (e.g. preferring bulk storage over rack storage for large quantities)
• Expiry dates and lot numbers of batches

When the system detects a need to replenish stock at one location by transferring from another it creates a transfer requirement document. This is then converted into a transfer order for actual execution of the stock transport.

Being able to configure transfer requirements, understand how they are generated, and convert them into transfer orders is an important skill for WM consultants. During interviews, be ready to explain the meaning and purpose of transfer requirements.

What are the different movement types in SAP WM?

The movement type in SAP WM specifies the type of stock movement while posting a material document. The important movement types are:

• 101 – Goods Receipt: Indicates putaway of material to a storage location following goods receipt from an external source like a vendor.

• 102 – Goods Issue: Denotes picking or removal of material from storage for issuing to a cost center/production order or for outbound delivery.

• 103 – Stock Transfer: Material movement between two storage locations within the warehouse complex. No change of stock ownership.

• 104 – Transfer Posting: System-generated movement for interim transfer between quarantine, blocked stock, returned stock to unrestricted stock.

• 105 – Consignment Removal: Taking consignment material out of warehouse stock.

• 106 – Consignment Return: Putting back consignment material into warehouse stock.

• 107 – Blocked Stock Removal: Removing material from blocked stock category.

Thorough understanding of movement types allow you to properly configure and post inventory transactions in WM. Interviewers often test this by asking candidates to explain few frequently used movement types.

What are the different interim storage types in SAP WM?

Inventory that is unavailable for regular use can be kept in interim storage locations in the warehouse with appropriate interim storage types. The main interim storage types include:

• Blocked Stock (BL): Material blocked for quality inspection or due to shortage.

• Inbound in Inspection (QI): Goods that have arrived but pending quality inspection.

• Return (RE): Customer returns pending inspection before putaway to unrestricted stock.

• Consignment (CO): Material stored on behalf of consignment vendor.

Proper configuration of interim storage types like mapping storage sections, two-step picking, and transfer postings allows optimal handling of goods that require intermediate holding. Interviewers often evaluate your understanding of common interim storage types seen in WM implementations.

Why do you create a second transfer order in SAP WM?

Creating a second (or subsequent) transfer order in WM is required in certain scenarios like:

• Partial quantitiy transfer: When the entire transfer requirement quantity cannot be moved in one transfer order due to insufficient target bin capacity, more than one transfer order is created for the requirement.

• Storage type priority: If the first transfer order is created for a lower priority storage type, subsequent TOs may get generated for higher priority storage types like bulk or rack storage.

• Stock coverage: If there is insufficient quantity at the source storage location to fully cover the first transfer order, succeeding TOs are created after issuing the available stock.

• Batch splitting: To move different batches of a material to separate locations based on expiry date or material status, multiple transfer orders can be created from a single requirement.

The ability to explain situations where more than one transfer order is needed to fully satisfy a single transfer requirement demonstrates your expertise in configuring and managing stock transports in WM.

What is a quant in SAP WM?

A quant refers to the quantity of a material that can be stored together in a storage unit like pallet or bin. It is the smallest unit (batch) for putaway, storage, and picking activities.

Key points about quants:

• Quants allow flexible storage schemes compared to fixed bins. Material can be stored anywhere as long as it is in defined quant sizes.

• One storage unit like a bin or pallet can contain multiple quants of a material. This allows mixing of materials while optimizing space.

• Quants enable batch management by allowing split valuated batches into smaller sub-batches for putaway and picking.

• The quant determines if only partial quantities of a material can be picked, based on the picking quantity.

Understanding quant management is critical in warehouse operations like goods receipt and stock removal. Interviewers often test your knowledge by asking you to explain what quants are and their significance.

What are the different stock types and storage types in SAP WM?

SAP WM allows classification of materials and storage areas into different categories using stock types and storage types.

The major stock types include:

• Unrestricted (F): Regular stock that is available for consumption.

• Quality Inspection (S): Stock pending quality confirmation after good receipt.

• Blocked (B): Materials blocked for issue due to various reasons.

• Returnable (N): Returned items from customers pending inspection.

The key storage types are:

• 001 – Fixed Bins: Materials are stored and picked directly from fixed warehouse bins.

• 002 – Bulk Storage: Floor storage of loose bulk materials like grains or liquids.

• 003 – Floor Storage: Direct pallet storage of packed materials on warehouse floors.

• 004 – Rack Storage: Storage of pallets or crates on warehouse racks or shelves.

• 005 – Special Storage: Materials requiring special environmental or security conditions.

Proper configuration of stock and storage types allows organized storage and streamlined movements of varied materials. Interviewers test you on the commonly used categories to assess your hands-on experience.

What are the steps in putaway in SAP WM?

The key steps involved in putaway process in WM are:

• Goods receipt posting – Generator for putaway upon material arrival and booking receipt in the system.

• Storing in interim storage – Optional interim storage in a predefined location like inbound inspection area.

• Determining putaway bin – System determines optimal open storage bin based on material, quantity, stock category etc.

• Generating putaway task – Task document generated by system for warehouse personnel.

• Printing putaway label – Label printing for material barcode, target bin, quantity etc.

• Executing putaway – Moving the material physically from staging area to storage bin.

• Confirming putaway – Putaway completion confirmation in the system by warehouse staff.

• Updating stock – System updates material batch stock and bin status.

Understanding the putaway procedures demonstrates your hands-on WM experience. Interviewers may test you by asking to walk through the steps involved in completing putaway.

What are the different picking types in SAP WM?

SAP WM supports multiple picking techniques to optimize warehouse operations:

• Single picking – Material is picked directly in the full quantity required by a single demand document like delivery order.

• Batch picking – Multiple orders are grouped and picked together in batches before sorting and packing individual orders. Improves efficiency.

• Wave picking – Dynamic batching of orders based on criteria like route, priority etc. Orders can be added/removed from wave as required.

• Shelf life picking – Picking oldest batches first to reduce expiry based wastage. Supported for materials with shelf life.

• Partial picking – Ability to partially pick available quantity less than the required amount and create backorder requests for remainder.

Discussing the different picking techniques demonstrates your understanding of configuring WM strategies to meet diverse business needs. Interviewers