Handling units and cross-docking
In LN, handling units can be cross-docked if handling units are used in both the inbound and the outbound processes.
An inbound handling unit can be linked to various cross-dock order lines, and various inbound handling units can be used to fulfill an individual cross-dock order line.
If the item quantity to be cross-docked is lower than the handling unit quantity, the cross-dock quantity is taken from the handling unit and cross-docked anonymously (without handling units). If child handling units are present, the required number of child handling units is cross-docked.
If the cross-dock quantity is not equal to the quantities of one or more of the child handling units, the difference is taken from one of the child handling units and cross-docked anonymously. The handling unit is put away in inventory without the cross-docked quantities.
The handling units and anonymous items to be cross-docked are advised from a receipt location to a staging location.
Example
A receipt line contains a handling unit of type Pallet and five child handling units of type Box, each box containing 10 items X. To fulfill an outbound-order line for 47 items X, four of the child handling units (Boxes) are cross-docked, and 7 items X are taken from the fifth child handling unit. These items are cross-docked anonymously. The box now contains 3 items X and is put in inventory. For the receipt line, this inbound advice is created:
| Inbound Advice (whinh3525m000) | From Handling Unit | To Handling Unit | Item quantity | From Location | To Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| INB00001/1 | HU010 Pallet | HU011 Box | 10 item X | Receive A | Staging B |
| INB00001/2 | HU010 Pallet | HU012 Box | 10 item X | Receive A | Staging B |
| INB00001/3 | HU010 Pallet | HU013 Box | 10 item X | Receive A | Staging B |
| INB00001/4 | HU010 Pallet | HU014 Box | 10 item X | Receive A | Staging B |
| INB00001/5 | HU010 Pallet | 7 item X | Receive A | Staging B | |
| INB00001/6 | HU010 Pallet | HU010 Pallet | 3 item X | Receive A | Storage A |
In INB00001/6, the child handling unit HU015 Box that actually contains the three items to be stored is displayed in the Handling Unit Tree.
Cross-docking is performed in warehouses both with and without location control.
The handling units and the anonymous quantity taken from the handling unit are cross-docked when the inbound advice is put away. If locations and inbound advice are not applicable, cross-docking is performed when the receipt of the handling unit is confirmed. If inbound inspections apply, cross-docking is performed when the approved quantity is put away in inventory.
Unsplittable handling units
You can cross-dock unsplittable handling units if the entire handling unit can be cross-docked. Cross-docking part of the contents of such handling units is not allowed. Handling units can be split up if the Splittable check box is selected in the Handling Units (whwmd5130m000) session.
Projected shipments
If projected shipments and projected handling units are used, the application closes the received handling units. The item quantities are cross-docked anonymously. The handling units of the projected shipments are filled up with the cross-docked item quantities.
To use projected shipments, select the Projected Shipments in use check box in the Inventory Handling Parameters (whinh0100m000) session. For the relevant order types, select the Projected Shipments in use check box in the Warehousing Order Types (whinh0110m000) session.
To automatically generate projected shipments, select the Generate Projected Shipments Automatically check box in the Warehousing Order Types (whinh0110m000) session. If this check box is cleared,, projected shipments are generated using the Generate Projected Shipments (whinh4230m200) session.
Using the Creation of Projected Shipments field of the Warehouses (whwmd2500m000) session, you can specify that handling units must be generated for projected shipments. Handling units are generated for projected shipments to enable outbound labels to be printed when the items are received from production.
Reuse of cross-docked handling units
Cross-docked handling units (such as the four Boxes of the previous example) are reused for the shipment lines generated for the cross-dock order lines if the reuse criteria are met. If not, the handling units are removed and new handling units are generated for the shipment lines.