Skip to Content
Author's profile photo Marcus Zahn

Monday Knowledge Snippet (MKS) – 57 TM 9.3 Package Building: From Order to Freight Unit

The last MKS explained the setup of the TM 9.3 Package Builder including the assignment of the to-be-used package type and required master data definitions. Now lets roll!

For the created Forwarding Order Type having the package building activated using the Freight Unit Building rule, we create an order and enter the mandatory fields (I focus today on the items as this is no FWO MKS 😉 ). Having defined the start and destination, entered some times, and maybe business partner, I add the very first product to the order. In my example 70 pieces.

TM93_PackageBuilder_08d_ForwardingOrderItems.jpg

When saving the order, the Freight Unit Builder runs and creates depending on my setting the FUs for planning. I can see this in the order under document flow:

TM93_PackageBuilder_08e_ForwardingOrderDocumentFlow.jpg

Checking the FU, I find under the items now some new information:

TM93_PackageBuilder_09a_FreightUnit.jpg

The Package Builder has created a new package item for my ordered product. I can see that it:

  • used the package material (PB_PAL_01) and unit of measure (PL1) I have defined in the product – package type assignment
  • calculated the quantity (90 pieces make up a full pallet, the package quantity for an incomplete package is calculated actual height (product layer stack plus package material height) / defined maximum height)
  • considered the package material weight (10 kg)
  • filled the package item dimensions (length, width, height)

Remember, the PB can only this when the required definitions are available. Whenever something is missing, the FU item will look like the FWO item.

Next step would be to increase the product quantity in the order item, let us say to 100. Result now is a full package (90 pieces) and an incomplete package (10 pieces). Again increasing the product quantity and having set a limit of packages per FU, you can force the FUB to create more than just 1 FU. For example having set this limit to 2 and ordering 200 pieces of the product, should create an FU containing 2 full packages and another FU with 1 package (20 pieces).

Making it a bit more interesting, I add more products:

TM93_PackageBuilder_11a_ForwardingOrderMultiPRD.jpg

The PB considers now the available definitions and creates an FU looking like this:

TM93_PackageBuilder_12a_FreightUnitMultiPRD.jpg

The FU now contains 2 mixed packages. From here on it gets complicated as you might guess. In my example the PB did split the product PB_MAT_01 and put it on 2 different mixed packages. Of course it is possible to steer this and for example force the function to keep this product together. I did not do this to trigger some discussion here… 🙂

Next MKS will finally focus on the PB logic and the different steps it applies.

Assigned Tags

      11 Comments
      You must be Logged on to comment or reply to a post.
      Author's profile photo Marcus Zahn
      Marcus Zahn
      Blog Post Author
      Author's profile photo Ramesh Sundaram
      Ramesh Sundaram

      Hi Marcus,

      Great series of articles about package builder, thank you!!!

      How can we use these packages/HUs that are created in TM to be included in the Delivery proposals in-order to create the HUs in ERP deliveries? can you please share if that is possible?

      Regards,

      Ramesh Sundaram

      Author's profile photo Marcus Zahn
      Marcus Zahn
      Blog Post Author

      Hello,

      basically the packaging information is part of the item hierarchy of the corresponding business document (let's say a freight order). For the freight order a outbound message exists containing this info. This can be used on (E)WM or ERP side.

      Regards,

      Marcus

      Author's profile photo Ramesh Sundaram
      Ramesh Sundaram

      Thanks Marcus for the prompt reply!

      What I've noticed is that the FU (from the OTR) is created with packages using the package builder and the items are split and packed in multiple packages perfectly -just the way expected, great job on this one!!!

      Then if the delivery proposal is created from this FU, the corresponding Delivery doc in ERP has multiple line items for the same product based on how it is split inside the packages in TM (below image shows this behavior).

      We would rather expect to see the same line items as in the sales order/OTR and have HUs created as per TM packages and the items packed in the ERP Delivery.

      Do you think this is something that we can expect in the future release?

      /wp-content/uploads/2016/04/packages1_924073.png

      Regards,

      Ramesh

      Author's profile photo Marcus Zahn
      Marcus Zahn
      Blog Post Author

      Well, that would require development on ERP side I guess. And this is not in our hands. Also the usage of the packages on EWM side. So I can't say if and when this will come.

      Author's profile photo Ramesh Sundaram
      Ramesh Sundaram

      Thanks Marcus!

      Author's profile photo Vishwanath Gupta
      Vishwanath Gupta

      Hello Marcus,


      Thanks for the nice inter connected MKS series on Package Building.

      I have followed the same configuration and master data, still system is not creating one FU for the Frw.Ord qty of 70.

      In my case PB is not building layers on pallet, instead one FU created for Each layer.

      With Order qty 70 for MAT1 - I could see 2 FU created (one with three Pallets and another with two),  I have setting one FU for per 3 pallet.

      • Why PB not created one pallet with layers (3WX3LX7 Layers) includes 63 PC and another FU with 7 PC.? What is that exactly controls layers building  in PB?,
      • Apart from this, Max.Weight and Max.Height (Package material) are available in package material and also in Product –Package material assignment, how these two are different in PB?
      • Is there any log available for PB?

      Thanks in Advance,

      Regards,

      1. Vishwa.
      Author's profile photo Marcus Zahn
      Marcus Zahn
      Blog Post Author

      With this little info I can't say why it does not work for you. Obviously the PB is using your definitions for the layers as the package target quantity. In the product - package type assignment, it is indicated for any product which target package shall be used. Either using the Unit of Measure, or pointing to a package material. Then the PB will use the base UoM of this material to check the product alternative quantities.

      In the PB of course only a single maximum height / weight will be used per item. If you set the limit in the product - package type assignment, this is used. If not, the global limit of the package material is used.

      No log available. PB runs with every Freight Unit building and would blow up the log.

      Author's profile photo Vishwanath Gupta
      Vishwanath Gupta

      Hello Marcus,

      Thanks for the reply.

      I would like to continue this discussion would you like to continue this discussion here (under MKS comment) or you suggest me to post it in either SDN form/LinkedIn?

      Regards,

      Vishwa.

      Author's profile photo Marcus Zahn
      Marcus Zahn
      Blog Post Author

      I would like oyu to open a ticket. Without system access this is really cumbersome.

      Author's profile photo Former Member
      Former Member

      Hi Marcus,

      Thank you for your informative and helpful posts.

      I need  to maintain a rule while building mixed packages. I have pieces, boxes, layers and pallets in my product unit of dimension. The business scenario is asking me to put maximum 60 boxes of products into a mixed pallet. Is there a method to maintain this kind of capacity in Packaging material level or some other method, such as conditions? I  would appreciate your support.

      Thank You

      Avni Rakicioglu