Packaging assignment process catalog

Goal

This process catalog shows how packaging structures are transferred from master data into operational document processes, adjusted when needed, and then registered. The focus is on standard packaging assignments, alternatives, manual changes, and the handling of lots and weights.

Context

• The packaging assignment is maintained in the document that controls the relevant shipping, purchasing, or transfer process.
• Standard packaging comes from the packaging structures assigned in master data or the respective document context.
• Weights, tracking information, and additional document lines are carried forward during registration and posting.

Prerequisites

• Setup and master data for packaging materials, packaging structures, and alternatives are maintained.
• The relevant documents contain the required quantities and, where applicable, lot or expiration date information.
• Users have access to the required sales, purchase, shipping, or transfer processes.

Process map

flowchart LR
  A[Open source document] --> B[Propose standard structure]
  B --> C{Standard suitable?}
  C -->|Yes| D[Review assignment]
  C -->|No| E[Apply alternative or manual adjustment]
  D --> F[Check tracking and weights]
  E --> F
  F --> G[Register package assignment]
  G --> H[Post document process]
  H --> I[Verify result and packing list]

Required depth per process page

The linked detail pages should always include at least:

• Step-by-step flow with user actions, checkpoints, and expected intermediate outcomes.
• Complete field-level documentation per relevant page/FastTab (mandatory, example value, business effect).
• Calculation logic for net/gross/tare and quantity splits with sample calculations.
• Required master data including priorities, dependencies, and release status.
• Variants for standard, alternative, manual correction, and tracking-specific scenarios.
• Error patterns with concrete resolution guidance (including typical registration aborts).

Supported document processes

In the standard scope, Handling Unit Management supports these operational sources:

• Sales order
• Purchase order
• Transfer order
• Warehouse shipment
• Warehouse pick
• Warehouse receipt

For posted documents, the related package assignment remains available for review. In posted shipment scenarios, a packing list can also be printed based on the posted assignment.

Process catalog

Standard packaging assignment in the document

The appropriate packaging structure is proposed automatically from the document context.

• The packaging assignment is maintained in the document where the relevant shipping, purchasing, or transfer step is processed.
• The quantity that can be packaged is based on the quantity to ship or otherwise process on the document line.
• By default, the system uses the most specific released packaging structure from document, item variant, item, item category, document header, customer or vendor, and setup.
• If the proposed standard structure is not released, it must be released before use or replaced by an alternative.

Alternatives and manual adjustments

Alternative structures and manual actions help handle deviations from the default packaging situation.

• Selecting an alternative allows you to replace the automatically determined standard structure for a document line deliberately.
• Within the packaging assignment, you can add packaging or content lines, remove assignments, or delete lines.
• The quantity of manually packaged lines must match the target quantity on the document so that the structure remains consistent.
• Packaging and content lines can be moved by drag and drop to reflect the real packaging hierarchy.
• Additional actions are available for free correction, such as New Line, New Line with Content, Delete Line, and Remove Assignment.

Manual packaging wizard

The wizard guides users step by step through manual package creation.

• The wizard is a dedicated function inside package assignment and supports fast manual package creation without drag-and-drop editing.
• The wizard is available for Sales Order and Warehouse Shipment and is started directly from the package assignment.
• Step 1 (Define package): Set package material type and package material number.
• Step 2 (Fill package): Assign quantities per source line (Qty To Assign) and split into detail lines for lot/serial allocation where required.
• Step 3 (Review result): Check remaining quantities and optionally create the next package immediately.
• For tracked items, users can decide per source line whether quantities stay in one line or are split into multiple tracked detail lines.
• Serial-number-required quantities are processed as individual tracked units; lot-tracked quantities can be split into multiple partial allocations.
• Validation ensures assigned quantity does not exceed remaining quantity in each step.
• After each wizard run, remaining quantities, weights, and the document-specific packaging structure are recalculated automatically.

Item tracking in sales

Lot and serial assignments are completed and validated inside package assignment.

• For sales orders, item tracking is maintained on both line level and detail-line level in package assignment.
• For lot-tracked items, one sales line can be split into multiple lots; each partial quantity is maintained as a separate detail assignment.
• For serial-number-tracked items, each serial number is maintained as its own tracked detail quantity.
• The sum of all assigned detail quantities must always match the quantity to be packed.
• Automatic lot allocation can be used as a starting point and then refined manually.
• During registration, assigned lot and serial information is transferred to item tracking lines in the sales process.
• Warnings can be confirmed; invalid or incomplete tracking assignments block registration.

Registration and weight logic

Before posting, the packaging assignment is registered and completed for operational processing.

• Registration transfers the packaging assignment to the unposted document and can create additional document lines for packaging materials.
• Net, gross, and tare weights are based on item master data and are rolled up across the packaging hierarchy.
• After structural changes, weights are propagated incrementally through the hierarchy; registration performs the final business validation.
• During posting, handling units, packaging materials, and contents are received, shipped, or transferred according to the process.
• Warnings can be accepted during registration after confirmation; errors block registration.

Lots and expiration dates

Standard item tracking is reused inside the packaging assignment.

• Handling Unit Management uses the standard Business Central logic for lots and expiration dates and does not require a separate base setup for it.
• In shipping, automatic lot allocation can be used; without a preceding pick, it follows FEFO or FIFO logic.
• If a pick exists beforehand, the packaging assignment uses the already picked lots.
• Lots can also be assigned manually to content lines and are transferred to item tracking lines during registration.

Shipping and warehouse specifics

Packaging material stock and location setup influence operational posting.

• After registration, packaging materials are added automatically as relevant document lines and must be available on the correct bins in warehouse-controlled scenarios.
• For locations with warehouse shipment and pick, packaging materials should be available on the designated shipment bin.
• If put-away is required, fixed or default bins and put-away templates should be maintained consistently for the packaging materials.
• For warehouse shipment, the system additionally checks quantity consistency between document quantities and package quantities per item/variant before final reservation; mismatches stop registration.
• Because there is currently no mandatory packaging-assignment setup, documents can still be posted even if no packaging assignment has been created and registered.

Result

• Standard and alternative packaging structures are used in the correct document context.
• Manual changes, weights, and tracking data remain traceable through posting.
• Packaging assignments can be registered and processed consistently for shipping, purchasing, and transfer scenarios.
• Detail pages serve as operational work instructions for end users with standard BC knowledge.