1. How would you assess an EWM process that causes recurring warehouse delays?
Ans:
Map the current workflow and review task ageing, queue backlogs, resource availability, bin capacity, and exception patterns. Use operational data and interviews with warehouse users to distinguish configuration issues from process or staffing constraints. Prioritise improvements by impact, test the proposed changes, and track performance after implementation.
2. What should be considered when moving from basic warehouse management to EWM?
Ans:
Assess warehouse complexity, required execution functions, physical processes, system landscape, integration needs, and migration scope. Compare the current process with target capabilities and identify master data, open transactions, reporting, and training requirements. Develop a phased plan with testing, cutover controls, and operational support tailored to the business.
3. How would you investigate recurring queue or message failures between systems?
Ans:
Check the message status, application logs, document references, processing sequence, and any relevant technical or business error details. Determine whether the problem originates in data, configuration, connectivity, or an unavailable dependency. Correct the cause, reprocess messages using approved procedures, and reconcile affected documents to prevent duplicate or missing transactions.
4. How can warehouse slotting improve operational efficiency?
Ans:
Analyse product movement frequency, dimensions, weight, handling restrictions, order relationships, and replenishment demand. Identify suitable storage positions that balance travel distance, capacity, safety, and picking access. Validate proposed locations against actual warehouse constraints and monitor travel, replenishment, and picking performance after changes.
5. How would you prepare for a warehouse cutover to EWM?
Ans:
Define cutover ownership, timing, dependencies, data migration, stock reconciliation, open-document handling, and fallback arrangements. Validate master data and physical inventory, rehearse the sequence, and establish go/no-go criteria. After activation, check key inbound and outbound transactions, monitor exceptions closely, and escalate issues through the agreed support plan.
6. What controls help maintain traceability for handling units?
Ans:
Use consistent handling-unit identification, accurate contents, controlled movement confirmation, and reliable links to warehouse documents. Apply label and scanning checks where required and investigate duplicate or missing identifiers. Audit representative movements and ensure corrections preserve the history needed for inventory control and operational review.
7. How would you evaluate whether a warehouse automation integration is reliable?
Ans:
Document the events, messages, status changes, and exception paths exchanged with the automation system. Test normal movement, blocked equipment, unavailable destinations, duplicate messages, and recovery scenarios. Monitor interface health and physical-versus-system status, with clear ownership for resolving failures safely.
8. Which factors should guide the choice between fixed-bin and dynamic storage?
Ans:
Consider product turnover, warehouse capacity, replenishment requirements, traceability, operational familiarity, and the flexibility needed for changing stock levels. Assess how each approach affects search, picking, putaway, and inventory control. Select the method that fits the site's requirements and validate the rules with representative products and volumes.
9. How would you build a business case for an EWM improvement?
Ans:
Establish a baseline for labour effort, throughput, error rates, storage utilisation, and service performance. Estimate the expected benefit, implementation effort, risks, and ongoing support requirements using transparent assumptions. Validate the estimates with operations and finance, then measure actual results against the agreed baseline after rollout.
10. What should be included in an EWM functional design document?
Ans:
Describe the business objective, process flow, configuration decisions, master-data requirements, roles, integration points, exceptions, and reporting needs. Include assumptions, dependencies, acceptance criteria, and test scenarios. Review the design with business and technical stakeholders so implementation and validation teams share the same understanding.