Handling Units

Handling units are used to define the packing structure of items. A handling unit is a uniquely identifiable physical unit that consists of packaging and contents. Every handling unit has a structure for packing materials and items. A handling unit can contain items registered in Warehousing and can contain other handling units. You can manually create a handling unit structure for a given number of items, or you can define a package definition in which you set up a template that determines the handling unit structure for particular types of items.

You can use a handling unit for warehouse processing if the handling unit is linked to the entity that represents the applicable warehouse movement, such as:

  • Inbound or outbound warehousing order line
  • Receipt header or receipt line
  • Inspection line
  • Inbound or outbound advice line
  • Shipment header or shipment line
  • Handling unit structures

    A handling unit structure shows how items are packaged by means of handling units. A handling unit can have a hierarchical structure that consists of several handling units that are related in a parent - child structure. A handling unit structure includes these elements:

    • Top
      Handling unit that includes the entire structure, such as a pallet.
    • Parent
      Handling unit that is linked to the top and includes one or more children, such as a box on a pallet.
    • Child
      Handling unit that is linked to a parent, such as items that are packed in a box.
  • Multi-company handling units

    You can use handling units in multi-company warehouse transfers. If you transfer a handling unit using a multi-company warehouse transfer and the shipment is confirmed, the handling-unit structure of the shipment is copied to the ship-to company.

  • Generate handling units from ASNs

    You can generate handling units from advance shipment notices (ASNs) in the Shipment Notice (whinh3600m000) and/ or Shipment Notice - Lines (whinh3101m000) sessions. LN allows you to generate handling units if the Handling Units in Use check box is selected in the Master Data Parameters (whwmd0100s000) session.

    When a packing structure with an External Handling Unit (the ID of the container provided by the business partner) is linked to the ASN line, LN generates a handling unit structure based on the parent-child relationship between the External Handling Unit(s) and the Parent External Handling Unit(s).