Sequencing

The Sequencing functionality is used in the outbound process to pack handling units in a predefined structure and release the handling units for shipment in ascending order based on loading sequence numbers.

Loading sequence numbers and outbound advice lines or picking list lines are created based on the reference numbers of the originating sales schedule lines.

The handling unit structures are based on the reference numbers and the packaging reference numbers of the originating sales schedule lines.

LN releases the advice lines or picking lines in ascending order based on the reference numbers.

Note

LN does not monitor the actual loading activities carried out on the loading platform. If the handling units must be loaded in descending order, it is the docking personnel's responsibility to load the handling unit with the highest sequence number first.

Process details

The reference number of the originating sales schedule line is specified in the Reference field of the Sales Schedule Lines (tdsls3107m000) session.

The originating packaging reference numbers are specified in the Packaging Reference A and Packaging Reference B fields of the Sales Schedule Lines (tdsls3107m000) session.

From the sales schedule lines, the reference numbers are passed on to the reference and packaging reference fields in the Outbound Order Line Reference Distribution (whinh2529m000) and Shipment Line Reference Distribution (whinh4529m000) sessions.

Because the sequencing functionality uses projected shipments, the load and shipment structure is created when the outbound order lines are created.

In the outbound process, an outbound advice line is generated for each reference number. If picking lists are used in the outbound procedure, a picking list line is generated for each reference number.

During the release of the outbound advice or the confirmation of the picking lists:

The handling unit structures are built based on the reference numbers and the packaging reference A or packaging reference B codes. See the Example.
The advice lines or picking list lines are released in ascending order based on the reference numbers.

If this order is not observed, the process stops and an error message is displayed. For example, if a picking list line is manually picked and confirmed while other not yet picked lines with lower sequence numbers are present, an error message is displayed.

Handling unit building

If the References based Handling Unit Building at Shipments check box in the Package Definitions (whwmd4110m000) and Item - Package Definitions (whwmd4130m000) sessions are selected, handling units are created by reference number.

The handling unit structures are based on the settings of the Single Reference, Single Packaging Reference A, or Single Packaging Reference B check boxes in the handling unit template nodes.

If the bottom-level node is set to virtual, the number of bottom-handling units and the quantity of items contained in them is variable, but the total item quantity of the bottom-level node cannot exceed the quantity of the parent node. See Flexible template - virtual handling units.

Setup

Define a package definition for the shipment procedure.
Select the References based Handling Unit Building at Shipments check box in the Package Definitions (whwmd4110m000) and Item - Package Definitions (whwmd4130m000) sessions.
In the Handling Unit Templates (whwmd4160m000) session, select these check boxes:
- Allow Multi Item for Shipping for the parent nodes.
- Single Packaging Reference A or Single Packaging Reference B for the second-level node.
- For the bottom node:
  - Single Reference
  - Single Packaging Reference A or Single Packaging Reference B
  - Optionally, Virtual Node. See the Example.
In the Generate Handling Units Automatically during section of the Item Data by Warehouse (whwmd2110s000) session, select No in the Creation of Projected Shipments field.
Select these check boxes:
- Projected Shipments in use in the Inventory Handling Parameters (whinh0100m000) session
- Projected Shipments in use and Sequencing for the relevant warehousing order types in the Warehousing Order Types (whinh0110m000) session
- Generate Handling Units Automatically During Confirm Picking in the Item Data by Warehouse (whwmd2110s000) session.

Example

For handling unit template T1, this structure is defined:

Node	Packaging item	Packaging item quantity	Item quantity	Multi-item	Single reference	Single reference A	Virtual node
1	Pallet	1		Selected			Not applicable
2	Crate	2	40	Selected	Cleared	Selected	Not applicable
3	Box		Not applicable	Not applicable	Selected	Selected	Selected

Projected shipment line SHP1000/10 is present with this reference information in the Shipment Line Reference Distribution (whinh4529m000) session:

Line	Reference	Item	Packaging Reference A	Quantity
1	1111	A1	80	20
2	3333	A1	100	15
3	2222	A2	100	5

According to the sequencing rules, line 1 with reference number 1111 is picked first. For line 1, this handling unit structure is generated based on template T1:

Node level	Handling unit	Packaging item	Reference	Packaging Reference A	Item	Item quantity
1	HU001	Pallet	1111	80	A1
2	HU002	Crate	1111	80	A1
3	HU003	Box	1111	80	A1	20

Next, line 3 is picked with reference number 2222. For line 3, another Box and another Crate is generated, because the single reference A restriction applies to the Crate level and the HU003 Box contains the maximum item quantity defined for the Box level. This handling unit structure is generated:

Node level	Handling unit	Packaging item	Reference	Packaging Reference A	Item	Item quantity
1	HU001	Pallet
2	HU002	Crate	1111	80	A1
3	HU003	Box	1111	80	A1	20
2	HU004	Crate	2222	100	A2
3	HU005	Box	2222	100	A2	5

Finally, line 2 is picked with reference number 3333. Line 2 has packaging reference A 100 and quantity 15. HU0006 Box is created and added to Crate HU004:

Node level	Handling unit	Packaging item	Reference	Packaging Reference A	Item	Item quantity
1	HU001	Pallet
2	HU002	Crate	1111	80	A1
3	HU003	Box	1111	80	A1	20
2	HU004	Crate		100
3	HU005	Box	2222	100	A2	5
3	HU006	Box	3333	100	A1	15

The entire quantity of line 1 is contained in one Box. If the item quantity for the Box level in this template would be set to 15, another Box would have been generated, while in actual practice the docking personnel would have put the items in one box anyway. The advantage of using a virtual bottom node in this situation is that an exact number of Boxes for each Crate is not required. This allows for different numbers of boxes containing different item quantities to be generated for the bottom node, as long as the maximum item quantity of 20 items per Crate is not exceeded.

Thus the same template can be used for all structures in which one pallet carries two crates, and each crate contains a maximum of 20 items while a fixed item quantity for each box is not essential.