Understanding Shipping Containers and Packing Sessions
After running the Picking Confirmation process (INPBCONF) and before either freighting orders or running the Deplete On Hand Qty (Depletion) process (IN_FUL_DPL), you can use the Packing Session component to pack stock into shipping containers. The PeopleSoft Inventory packing feature enables you to create multiple levels of shipping containers and to keep track of how each container is packed. Because you can include container information on packing lists, advanced shipping notices (ASNs), and shipping labels, the packing feature is particularly helpful when you need to meet international packing and shipping requirements.
You can also create shipping containers earlier in the fulfillment process by using the electronic data collection shipping container transactions to create single-level containers during picking. The electronic data collection transactions enable you to convert storage containers into shipping containers for tracking purposes.
While shipping containers share certain properties with storage containers, they function differently. Storage containers facilitate and track stock movement within a business unit; shipping containers enable you to consolidate stock for shipment to a customer. You can pack any combination of loose stock and other shipping containers into the shipping containers that you create.
You can use shipping containers to build shipping IDs efficiently. In the Shipping/Issues component, when you select a shipping container for inclusion in a shipment, PeopleSoft Inventory analyzes the entire container hierarchy and adds all associated order lines for the hierarchy to the shipping ID. When you save the component, the system performs a series of validations to ensure that all of the demand lines associated with the shipping container are included in the same shipment.
PeopleSoft Inventory enables you to capture detailed information about each shipping container, as well as about the stock in the container. You can streamline the receiving process at the shipping container's destination by including this information on the Packing Slip report and the Advanced Shipping Notices (ASN) EIP transaction. You can also use the Ship Container Hierarchy component to view information about any level in the container hierarchy.
The Packing Session component is designed to easily pack shipping containers. You can create new shipping containers or pack an existing shipping container.