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.

  • 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.

  • Package definitions

    A configuration of items and their packaging. A package definition for an item can be, for example, a pallet that contains 12 boxes and each box contains 4 pieces. The package definition specifies how the items must be packed. If you use handling units, the package definition determines the handling unit structure and the packaging details for the handling units that are used to pack the items.

  • Flexible template - virtual handling units

    The advantage of using virtual handling units is that fewer handling unit templates are needed to create efficient handling unit structures for different ordered quantities, provided that the generated bottom-level handling units need not exactly reflect the handling units actually used.

  • Alternative handling unit structures

    At times there can be shortage of packaging materials. In most cases the shipment of goods cannot wait until the correct packaging materials are available. In practice, alternative packaging materials are used, for example, another type or size of box or another pallet can be used.

    This means that an alternative package definition or handling unit template must be used.

  • Shipment line specific handling unit template

    You can compose a specific packaging structure for a shipment line. This structure is only applied to the shipment line concerned and cannot be reused for other shipment lines. For example, you normally put boxes on a pallet but you now want to put boxes in a container.

  • Package definition binding

    To ensure that picked items match the packing requirements of the order and to reduce relabeling, you can determine whether the picked handling unit structure or the package definition of the outbound order line is used to pack the goods for shipping.

  • Package definition - binding or alternative allowed

    You can use these options to determine the handling unit structure used to ship items in the outbound flow.

  • Auxiliary packaging

    You can define a flexible setup to specify the auxiliary packaging quantity, based on the content, packaging item, and child packaging item, in the handling unit template node. You can implement this functionality in the Handling Unit Template Node - Auxiliary Packaging (whwmd4162m000) session.

  • 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.

  • 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 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.

  • Part change tags and reasons

    For each handling unit, a supplier can specify two pairs of:

    • Part change tags
    • Part change reasons