Managing Containers

This document explains how you manage containers on which deliveries and receipts are loaded.

Along with an item number, container could be a number that makes a unique balance identity. An example of container is a pallet on which items have been loaded from stock. The purpose of this is, for instance, to enable handling of automatic stock to give pallets going in and out of the stock-specific balance identities.

There are the types of container management:

  • The container ID is a free field in the balance identity, any value may be specified.
  • The container ID is registered in the container master.
  • The container ID is registered in the container master and controlled with a serial number from the lot/serial master.

Outcome

  • Container ID is added to a balance identity
  • Defined where in the warehouse containers are used
  • Moving stock by containers
  • Goods receiving containers.

The process can be used for these purposes:

  • Simplify warehouse activities by allowing items to be grouped in containers and moved around as a group
  • Support the use of containers that must be individually tracked
  • Allow grouping subsets of products in large locations.

These tables are updated:

  • The container master table (MCONMA)
  • The lot master table (MILOMA)
  • The serial number table (MILOIN).

Before you start

  • Basic data must be defined for items and warehouse, locations, etc.

Follow these steps

  1. To specify the settings for container management, start 'Item. Connect Warehouse' (MMS002). Open the G panel.
  2. The 'Container management' field has these alternatives:
    • 0 = Container not used
    • 1 = Containers used. Check is not done to determine the existence of the container in the container master.
    • 2 = Containers used. Check is done to determine the existence of the container in the container master (MMS230).
    • 3 = Containers used. This method is designed to be used in situations where the container is a packaging item (MMS050) that is serial number controlled (MMS240).
    • 4 = Same as method 1, but the container may only be stored in one location at a time. This method is designed to be used in situations where the container is a packaging item (MMS050) that is serial number controlled (MMS240).
    • 5 = Same as method 2, but the container may only be stored in one location at a time. This method is designed to be used in situations where the container is a packaging item (MMS050) that is serial number controlled (MMS240).
    • 6 = Same as method 3, but the container may only be stored in one location at a time This method is designed to be used in situations where the container is a packaging item (MMS050) that is serial number controlled (MMS240).
      Note: Container methods 3–6 require that the 'Lot control method' field on the (MMS001/E) panel is set to 2 = Lot control used. All lots must be specified in the lot master and each lot number is considered a serial number.
  3. Start 'Stock Location. Open' (MMS010), and go to the E panel to activate the 'Container management' field.
  4. For container management methods 2–6, follow these steps:
    1. Start 'Container. Open' (MMS230), on the B-panel, specify a container ID in the Container field.
    2. On the E-panel, select status in the Status field.

      The Packaging field indicates the packaging ID which is defined in 'Packaging. Open' (MMS050). The only reason for connecting a packaging ID to the container is if you want to have the container's Weight and 'Volume capacity' fields updated. These fields are specified in (MMS050) and also updated in (MMS230).

      The Supplier field indicates the supplier of the container.

      The 'Lot number' field indicates the unique serial number for this container. This is defined in 'Serialized Item. Open' (MMS240). A serial number for the container must be defined if Container management method 3 – 6 is specified on the (MMS002/G) panel.

  5. In working with container management, the distribution order goods receiving can be reported for the container in 'Goods receipt DO/RO. Report Details' (MWS445). Option 11=Report DO/RO in (MWS440) and (MWS442).
  6. Select the location for the container in 'Location. Select' (MMS160/K).
  7. Purchase order goods receiving can be reported by container in 'Purchase Order. Receive Goods' (PPS300).
  8. Stock movements inside a warehouse by container are done in 'Movement. Change Loc - Container' (MMS105).

The API MMS230MI is also available to add, update, get, list, copy and delete containers.

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