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 Warehouse 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).

  • To inspect handling units

    If handling units are present for an inbound or outbound inspection header or inspection lines, you can specify the inspection results for the inspection handling units or in the inspection lines.

  • Handling units in quarantine inventory

    Quarantine items can be contained in handling units. These handling units are sent to quarantine from warehousing inbound or outbound inspections or from production. You can process or specify dispositions for the quarantined handling units.

  • To register lot and serial numbers for handling units

    If you use handling units for lot and serialized items in the high volume scenario, you can register the lot or serial numbers for either of the following:

    • The handling units that contain the lot or serialized items. This allows you to accurately locate your lot and serialized items.

    • The associated lines of the handling units
  • Handling unit masks
    Handling unit ID numbers are generated based on a handling unit mask. Masks allow you to provide the handling unit IDs with specific business partner related features such as supplier numbers.
  • Multiple lots and serials in shipped handling unit

    In the outbound and shipment process, a bottom-level handling unit can contain multiple high level and low level lots, serial numbers, inventory dates, or effectivity units. This does not apply to bottom-level handling units being received or in inventory.

    For this purpose, the Allow Multi Stock Point for Shipping check box in the Handling Unit Templates (whwmd4160m000) session and the Consolidate Stock Points in one Shipment Line check box in the Inventory Handling Parameters (whinh0100m000) session must be selected.