Creating a packaging structure

If your shipments without packaging are published by your connected ERP system, then you must manually create the packaging structure in the Shipping functional area. See Configuring Packaging Information for how to configure the required containers.

To create a packaging structure:

  1. Select Shipping > Packagings.
  2. Optionally, search for shipments that are not packed or partly packed. See Searching shipments.
  3. Click Drill down to open a shipment line with the packaging statuses Not Packed or Partly Packed.
  4. Review this information:
    Shipper
    A shipper is a collection of shipments for one customer. This number can be transferred from the ERP system.

    In some ERP systems, the shipper ID corresponds to the shipment ID.

    Customer
    This field contains an arbitrary set of characters that is used to uniquely identify a customer in an accounting entity. The customer is read from the ERP system.
    Shipment
    This number identifies the shipment. A shipment contains several packaged items to be delivered to a customer's Ship To address.
    Item
    This field shows the item number that identifies the item.
    Item Description
    This field shows a short description of the item.
    Net Weight
    This field shows the aggregated total weight of the items in the container.
    Weight UOM
    This field shows the freight management unit of weight measurement.
    Accounting Entity

    For each user, one or more accounting entities must be configured. For a specific user, you must set one of these accounting entities as default accounting entity.

    Each transaction belongs to this default accounting entity of the user. The user can alter the default accounting entity using the Accounting Entity combo box.

    The user can view the data of the default and all other assigned accounting entities.

    Customer Name
    This field shows the name of a customer or a customer group.
    Line
    This field shows the shipment line number. If available, click Lookup and select a shipment line.
    Packaging Status
    This field shows the status of the packaging: A status of Not Packed, Partly Packed, or Partly Unpacked indicates that you must do the packaging manually.

    These statuses are available:

    • Not Packed: Not packed
    • Partly Packed: Partly packed
    • Packed: Completely packed
    • Partly Unpacked: Partly packed in virtual container
    • Unpacked: Intentionally unpacked in virtual container
    Quantity to be packed
    This field shows the part of the shipped quantity that has not yet been packed. This is the shipped quantity minus the quantity that has already been packed.
    Quantity
    This field shows the quantity of the product that is delivered to the customer. The shipped quantity value is the sales order quantity. After a quantity is shipped, you can invoice that quantity.
    UOM
    This field provides the unit of measure of the quantity.
  5. Click Edit.
  6. Click Add Containers.
  7. In the Container Type field, click Search.
    The Packaging Info dialog box is displayed.
    Container Type
    This field shows the identifier of the packaging item. Packaging items are materials that are intended to enclose, or keep together, other packed materials.
    Customer Container Type
    The customer container type is transferred from the ERP system. You can change the type, for example, to adapt for label printing.
    Packaging Type
    This field shows the unit of packaging. This can be a box, a pallet, or an auxiliary means.
    Note: The packaging type Pack is an optional pack level that can be used in the Warehouse Containers process for the trading partner Honda North America based on the PackageLabel BOD. In this scenario, the actual items are stored in packs with the packaging type Pack. The packs are part of virtual containers. These containers are not published in the ASN. Packs with different items must not be part of the same virtual container. Labels for the packaging type Pack are not printed, if the creation of labels is triggered by a shipment.
    Tare Weight
    This field shows the accumulated weight of the container and the containers that are placed on it.
    Virtual Container
    A virtual container is a container or packaging item. Its attributes and description are not considered in label and shipping document printing and in EDI processing.
    Effective from Date
    This field shows the first day on which a record or a setting is valid. The settings are valid until the Effective to Date.
    Effective to Date
    This field shows the last day on which a record or a setting is valid. See Effective from Date.
  8. Select a container type from the list and click OK.
  9. Review and specify this information, as appropriate:
    Container Type
    This field shows the identifier of the packaging item. Packaging items are materials that are intended to enclose, or keep together, other packed materials.
    Quantity
    This field shows the quantity of each item in the transport handling unit that is shipped.
    The shipped quantity depends on the container type. A palette and boxes that are contained, for example, must not have a shipped quantity entry at any given time.
    Number of Containers to Create
    Specify the number of containers to be created on the selected level.
    Note: 1 is preset, but can be overridden.
    Level
    This field shows a code that indicates the level of packaging. The level refers to the packaging hierarchy. Level 1 represents the base level, that is, the container or packaging material on the floor or ground.
    Example: Level 1: pallet, Level 2: box
    Sequence Number
    This number indicates the order in which the lines within a shipment are displayed and the order in which the tasks are processed.
    Parent shipment line

    The shipment line allocates a number to each item. This field shows the shipment line's number of the item that is packed into the container.

    Parent Sequence Number
    This field shows the sequence number of the container that is the parent of the current container. For example, the sequence number of the pallet might be the parent sequence number of the box on the pallet.
    Parent Container
    This field shows the parent container number if the container is a child container.
    Container Tare Weight
    The field shows the tare weight of the container.
    Customer Container Type
    The customer container type is transferred from the ERP system. You can change the type, for example, to adapt for label printing.
    Customer Storage Location

    Specify a location within the plant or warehouse where the goods are stored after receipt. A location indicates an organizational unit that is used to differentiate the item from other items that belong to different organizational units.

    Special Markings
    This information is used by certain manufacturers, for example, Nissan.

    Special markings data consist of 20 characters which are provided as part of a material release EDI transmission or as otherwise agreed. The first 10 characters are printed in the upper portion of the special markings area. The last 10 characters are printed in the lower portion of the special markings area.

    Label Serial Number
    The Label Serial Number is trading partner-specific.
    It consists of a string of numeric or alphanumeric characters that is not, within 365 days, sent to the same customer repeatedly.
    Barcoded Serial Number
    This field contains a trading partner-specific extension of the serial number.
    Length
    This field shows the length of the container.
    Width
    This field shows the width of the container.
    Height
    This field shows the unit of measure for the height.
    Returnable
    This check box indicates whether the packaging is a disposable packaging. If the check box is selected, the packaging is returned to the consignor.
    Homogeneous Pallet
    This field indicates whether the pallet is a homogeneous pallet. A homogeneous pallet contains only one trade item.
  10. Click OK.
  11. Review this information:
    Level
    This field shows a code that indicates the level of packaging. The level refers to the packaging hierarchy. Level 1 represents the base level, that is, the container or packaging material on the floor or ground.
    Example: Level 1: pallet, Level 2: box
    Container Type
    This field shows the identifier of the packaging item. Packaging items are materials that are intended to enclose, or keep together, other packed materials.
    Sequence Number
    This number indicates the order in which the lines within a shipment are displayed and the order in which the tasks are processed.
    Container ID
    The container field shows a numeric value that is a unique number for a package. The packaging manager creates this number in the connected ERP system. The number is printed on labels and transferred in the ASN. If available, click Lookup and select a container ID.
    Parent shipment line

    The shipment line allocates a number to each item. This field shows the shipment line's number of the item that is packed into the container.

    Parent Sequence Number
    This field shows the sequence number of the container that is the parent of the current container. For example, the sequence number of the pallet might be the parent sequence number of the box on the pallet.
    Parent Container
    This field shows the parent container number if the container is a child container.
    Container Usage
    This field specifies how the container is used within the container structure.
    • INNER: Contains goods
    • OUTER: Envelops an INNER container
    • EMPTY: All accessories that are set to not INNER or not OUTER and have no function, for example, container lids or covers
    • MIXED: An OUTER container with at least 2 INNER containers that are filled with various items
    Packaging Type
    This field shows the unit of packaging. This can be a box, a pallet, or an auxiliary means.
    Note: The packaging type Pack is an optional pack level that can be used in the Warehouse Containers process for the trading partner Honda North America based on the PackageLabel BOD. In this scenario, the actual items are stored in packs with the packaging type Pack. The packs are part of virtual containers. These containers are not published in the ASN. Packs with different items must not be part of the same virtual container. Labels for the packaging type Pack are not printed, if the creation of labels is triggered by a shipment.
    Virtual Container
    A virtual container is a container or packaging item. Its attributes and description are not considered in label and shipping document printing and in EDI processing.
    Quantity
    This field shows the quantity of each item in the transport handling unit that is shipped.
    The shipped quantity depends on the container type. A palette and boxes that are contained, for example, must not have a shipped quantity entry at any given time.
    Gross Weight
    This field shows the total weight of the shipment line and the packaging items of the shipment line.
    Net Weight
    This field shows the aggregated total weight of the items in the container.
    Tare Weight
    This field shows the accumulated weight of the container and the containers that are placed on it.
    Container Tare Weight
    The field shows the tare weight of the container.
    Total Volume
    This field shows the total volume of the shipment.
    The total volume is not a calculated value.
  12. To pack in or onto an existing container, select the container. To place another container on the lowest level of packaging, you do not require to select a container. Then, click Add Containers again.
  13. In the Container Type field, click Search .
  14. Select a Container Type.
  15. Specify the Shipped Quantity.
  16. Specify the Number of Containers to Create.
  17. Click OK.
  18. Click Save.
    The packaging status remains Partly packed as long as the Quantity to be packed field contains any items that are not packed. You can add more containers or you can edit single or multiple containers.