Package definitions
A package definition specifies how items must be packed.
For example, according to package definition ABC item Can Opener 001 is packed in boxes of box type B. Box type B is stacked on pallets of pallet type P. Each box of box type B contains 100 items X, and 50 boxes of box type B are stacked on one pallet of pallet type P.
In LN, these types of package definitions are available:
- Variable package definitions
- Mixed package definitions
- Fixed package definitions
The variable and mixed package definitions use handling units to determine the packaging structure of an item.
Fixed package definitions are used with or without handling units.
The packaging elements of fixed package definitions are defined both as packaging items and storage units, and, optionally, handling units.
Storage units are displayed in the stock point inventory and therefore the packaging structures of fixed package definitions are displayed in the Item - Inventory Structure (whinr1550m000) session and in the Item - Package Definition - Packaging Levels (whwmd4540m000) session. If handling units are used, the packaging structure of fixed package definitions are also displayed in the Handling Units (whwmd5130m000) session.
The packaging structures of variable package definitions are displayed in the Handling Units (whwmd5130m000) session.
Package definitions exist on two levels, a general level and an item level. The general level includes general information on how items are packed and how the packing is structured.
Mixed package definitions are only used at the general level.
A general-level package definition can be used as a basic template for item-level package definitions.
To be deployed, the package definition must be defined at the item level. This is done by linking the package definition to an item and, if required, adjusting the packaging information and packaging structure for the item.
The item-level package definition is used to determine the packaging structure of items for inbound, outbound, or inspection processes. In these processes, the handling units that make up the packaging structure are generated unless fixed package definitions without handling units are used.
Variable package definitions
A variable package definition is used to define handling unit structures for these types of items:
- Product
- List items
- BOM items
A handling unit structure of a variable package definition can include multiple packaging items, but only one type of tradeable item. To use the previous example, a pallet cannot include (packing materials for) Can Opener 002 in addition to Can Opener 001. List items and BOM items can include various component items, but you cannot specify how component items are packed.
The relations between the nodes of the handling unit structure are user-definable. You can define various nodes with various packaging items for each node except the top node.
Example
In this picture, box A and box B represent nodes 2 and 3, which are both on the second node level just below the top level. The pallet includes 10 boxes of type A and 25 boxes of type B. Box A contains 50 items X and box B contains 30 items X.
You can use the same variable package definition to define handling unit structures for different items. For each item to which the package definition is linked, you can specify the nodes, the packaging items for the nodes, and the quantities of packaging items for the nodes.
Therefore, this method is a more flexible way of defining package structures than the fixed package definition.
Variable package definitions are useful, for example, for items that are sold to various business partners with various packing requirements.
Example
General- level package definition Z consists of one pallet X, 15 boxes type A and 40 boxes type B. At the item level, package definition Z is linked to item 0001, item 0002, and item 0003 and adjusted for each item in this way:
- 150 items 0001 are packed in 3 boxes type A.
- 100 items 0002 are packed in 2 boxes type A.
- 300 items 0003 are packed in 10 boxes type A
- 400 items 0003 are packed in 40 boxes type B.
Fixed package definitions
The fixed package definition is the only type of package definition that you can use with or without handling units.
The packaging information is defined in the packaging levels of a fixed package definition.
If you use handling units, the packaging level is used to generate the handling unit structure of the handling units used to pack the items.
A fixed package definition is used for these types of items:
- Product
- List items
- BOM items
Fixed package definitions are not used on receipt lines if either of the following applies:
- The receipt is by component
- The item is a low volume serialized item
A packing structure for a fixed package definition can include multiple packaging items, but only one type of tradeable item. A pallet cannot include (packing materials for) sour cream and yoghurt in addition to milk cartons, as shown in the following picture.
Fixed package definitions are useful if items are always packed in the same way.
Relationship of packaging to inventory
Fixed package definitions have a relationship to inventory. If a location has an item stored in a base inventory unit called, for example, pieces, an inventory record and an inventory structure record is included for the pieces. This enables you to search the inventory for the various types of packaging.
For example, if inventory is required by pallet, you can find the inventory. If inventory is required by pieces and the item is stored at a higher level of packaging, the inventory unit quantity is converted to the higher levels of packaging.
For example, if you use the package definition from the following table, a quantity of 45,505 pieces is converted into two full PLB pallets (400 pieces), 110 full BXB boxes (of 50 pieces), and five separate pieces.
| Level | Contents |
|---|---|
| 1 | pieces |
| 2 | BXB (a box of 50 pieces) |
| 3 | PLB (pallet of 400 BXB = 20,000 pieces) |
Mixed package definitions
Mixed package definitions are used to define handling unit structures that include more than one type of item.
You can only link items to a mixed package definition on the general package definition level.
Mixed package definitions are used to validate manually created free-style handling units. If you manually define handling units for multiple items listed on an order, you can validate the manually created handling unit setup against a mixed package definition that includes a handling unit template for those items and handling units.
The validation is used to prevent mistakes from being made when you manually create handling units.