You can use Handling Unit Management (HUM) to reflect packing-based logistics structures. Using this method, you track the movements of entire handling units (HUs) and the materials they contain rather than tracking each material individually. When you base logistics processes on handling units, goods movements processing is made easier, which in turn optimizes all logistics operations. Business benefits of using handling unit management include the following:
- Reflect packing-based logistic structures
- Use of a unique identifier across all locations
- Track movements of packed goods in logistics more easily
An HU is a physical unit consisting of packaging materials (load carriers/packing material) and the goods contained on/in it. An HU is always a combination of products and packaging materials. All the information contained in the product items, for example, about batches, are retained in the handling units. Handling units can be nested, meaning that you can also create new handling units from several handling units as often as you like. An example for the nested structure would be a material, that you pack in cartons, and these cartons you stack on a pallet. Furthermore, handling units have unique identification numbers that can be formed according to standards such as EAN 128 or SSCC.
If this scope item is set up, a main process creating the delivery is required as a prerequisite.
The following are the key features of handling unit management:
- Manage handling units:
A handling unit is a physical unit consisting of packaging materials and the products contained in it.
- Manage packaging material:
Packaging materials are intended to enclose or hold together the materials that are to be packed. In other words, the material that is to be packed can be packed into or onto the packaging material. The packaging material can be a load carrier. The most important packaging materials include boxes, wire baskets, and pallets.
- Manage handling unit identification:
In a customer system, a handling unit is identified uniquely across all locations. The uniqueness of handling unit numbers is ensured by using one of the following number range objects:
Internal numbering
Serial shipping container codes (SSCC)
Global transport label (GTL)
- Manage packing instructions:
Customers often specify precisely the quantity in which their goods should be packed in a specific combination of packaging materials. These requirements for specific packing procedures often cause considerable costs for the supplier of the products concerned. Packing instructions enable the supplier to automate the packing process. Depending on specific characteristics, the system creates proposals for handling units based on the previously defined packing instructions. Based on this proposal, the supplier can pack the materials according to customer requirements, and then create the HU in the system.
- Monitor handling units:
The Monitor Handling Units app supports a shipping specialist, to monitor the path of a HU through your business transactions. The app displays all handling unit information such as status, referenced documents, handling unit hierarchy ancestors, and other properties. You can get an overview of handling units (HUs) created in your plant, warehouse, and storage location, and directly monitor all HU-relevant information.
- Output processing:
Output management for handling unit management supports you in fulfilling certain printing standard requirements:
HU Shipping Label is a printout to support the shipping process of a delivery (form template HU_SHIPPING_LABEL_WM).
HU Shipping Label based on VDA recommendation is a special printout to support the automotive industry with unique global transport labels (form template HU_SHIPPING_LABEL).
HU Label is a printout which includes the HU number and the packaging material (form template HU_LABEL).
The user responsible for the handling unit management should have the roles SAP_BR_SHIPPING_SPECIALIST, SAP_BR_PRODMASTER_SPECIALIST, and SAP_BR_HU_MASTER_SPECIALIST assigned.
