Review Expert-Talk from 10.10.2023 "End-to-end warehouse automation with SAP EWM at DAW SE"

The DAW SE is a leading international company in the building paints and building materials industry. The DAW group of companies is home to world-famous brands such as Alpina and Caparol. In 2019, the company was faced with the challenge of replacing its existing IT infrastructure, expanding its inventory warehouses and optimising and automating warehouse processes. The aim of the project was to implement end-to-end warehouse automation with SAP EWM by LogiPlus Consulting.

Together with the DAW logistics team, LogiPlus developed an automation strategy that was primarily intended to increase efficiency and flexibility in warehouse operations. The wide range of topics shows just how complex this project was. Among other things, it involved the migration from SAP WM to a decentralised SAP EWM, the integration of automation solutions such as AutoStore and an innovative forklift control system, the optimisation of the material flow with SAP MFSthe introduction of UI5 for order picking and a fully automated “goods-to-person” picking strategy.

The design and implementation had to take into account various objectives and conflicting situations. Among other things, there was a need to meet the increasing demands of the market and customers while at the same time increasing operational efficiency. To this end, it was also necessary to return all external, locally distributed warehouse activities to the Ober-Ramstadt site in order to bundle activities in one warehouse and minimise costs.

LogiPlus founder Thilo Matheis explained: “Our collaboration with DAW SE was a prime example of a holistic approach to intralogistics. We analysed the entire process and tailored it to DAW SE’s specific requirements. The implementation of a decentralised SAP EWM and the integration of automation solutions such as AutoStore mean that the full potential of automation can be leveraged.”

The expert talk was moderated by Helge Sanden, CEO of IT-Onlinemagazin, and Maike Rose, Managing Director of IT-Onlinemagazin. The event provided participants with first-hand insights, tips from SAP EWM experts and concrete recommendations for the automation of intralogistics. The discussion also included the role of AutoStore and how the integration with SAP EWM was successfully implemented. The automation solutions and the switch to a decentralised SAP EWM have already created measurable added business value at DAW SE. The fully automated high-bay warehouse with 30,000 pallet spaces enables optimised warehousing and increases picking efficiency.

“Our partnership with DAW SE demonstrates that automating intralogistics with SAP EWM offers significant benefits. The project is a guide on how to approach warehouse automation and provides a clear path for other companies looking for ways to increase their efficiency and competitiveness,” said Thilo Matheis.

The switch to SAP EWM and the implementation of automation solutions are part of DAW SE’s long-term strategy to increase operational efficiency and provide customers with outstanding service. Together with LogiPlus, the company is already planning the next steps to further expand its leading position in the industry.

If you missed the Expert Talk, you can request the recording here: