Walkthrough: Packaging with Advanced Warehouse Management
Our company sells item 1000, Bicycle, to customer 20000, Selangorian Ltd. The bicycles leave warehouse WMS on a block pallet. Eight pieces fit on one block pallet. Aptean Packaging calculates that pallet, and Advanced Warehouse Management tracks the same pallet as a license plate of type BLOCK.
Here is what the full process looks like:
We prepare three shipping-container packaging types, BLOCK, CHEP, and EURO, and link each one to the license plate type with the same code. We put the pallet items themselves on inventory, then turn on Integration with Packaging. From that moment the packaging type is the master record. A new packaging type creates the license plate type, and length, width, height, weight, and volume stay aligned between the two tables.
We then tell customer 20000 and items 1000 and 1110 which pallet to use, point location WMS at packaging location BLUE, and put the bicycles and the rims on license plates. Packaging is calculated when a sales order is released. For this walkthrough we sell 8 pieces of item 1000. That is one BLOCK pallet, item 70062. We create the warehouse shipment, pick the license plate, and post the shipment. The license plate is shipped with the bicycles, and the sales invoice contains both the bicycle and the block pallet.
Turn on Integration with Packaging only when every license plate type has a Packaging Type Code, and every packaging type with shipping type Shipping Container has a matching license plate type. After the integration is on, maintain the pallet data on Packaging Types. The License Plate Types page is locked.
Check Setup
Before you sell the bicycles, verify the packaging items, the packaging types, the license plate types, the customer, the items, the location, and the packaging setup.
Check the packaging items
The pallet is a real item. Packaging posts that item on the sales order, so each packaging type needs an item, and that item has no item tracking code.
1. Select the Search icon 
, enter Items, and then choose the related link.
2. Verify these items. Create an item that is missing. Leave Item Tracking Code empty.
| No. | Description | Base Unit of Measure |
|---|---|---|
| 70062 | Block Pallet | PCS |
| 70063 | Chep Pallet | PCS |
| 70064 | Euro Pallet | PCS |
Check the Packaging Types
Each pallet in this walkthrough is a shipping container with handling Deposit. The license plate type uses the same code as the packaging type.
3. Select the Search icon , enter Packaging Types, and then choose the related link.
4. Verify these lines. Choose New for a line that is missing, and fill in the fields.
| Code | Description | Item No. | Shipping Type | Handling | License Plate Type | LP Type UoM | Length | Width | Height | Weight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BLOCK | Block Pallet | 70062 | Shipping Container | Deposit | BLOCK | PALLET | 1.20 | 1.00 | 0.28 | 28.00 |
| CHEP | Chep Pallet | 70063 | Shipping Container | Deposit | CHEP | PALLET | 1.20 | 0.80 | 0.26 | 22.00 |
| EURO | Euro Pallet | 70064 | Shipping Container | Deposit | EURO | PALLET | 1.20 | 0.80 | 0.24 | 24.00 |
For more information, see Set up packaging types.
Link the License Plate Types
Link the license plate type to the packaging type while Integration with Packaging is still off. The Packaging Type Code field is editable at this point.
5. Select the Search icon , enter License Plate Types, and then choose the related link.
6. Verify these lines. Fill in Packaging Type Code where it is empty.
| Code | Description | Unit of Measure | Length | Width | Height | Weight | Item No. | Packaging Type Code |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BLOCK | Block Pallet | PALLET | 1.20 | 1.00 | 0.28 | 28.00 | 70062 | BLOCK |
| CHEP | Chep Pallet | PALLET | 1.20 | 0.80 | 0.26 | 22.00 | 70063 | CHEP |
| EURO | Euro Pallet | PALLET | 1.20 | 0.80 | 0.24 | 24.00 | 70064 | EURO |
Post the pallet items
The packaging types keep an inventory balance for the pallet items. Post one piece of each pallet into location WMS.
7. Select the Search icon , enter Item Journals, and then choose the related link.
8. In the Batch Name field, select DEFAULT.
9. Enter these lines. Use a posting date inside your allowed posting dates. Item Tracking stays Not Required.
| Entry Type | Item No. | Location Code | Bin Code | Quantity | Unit of Measure Code |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Positive Adjmt. | 70062 | WMS | WM-B-10-20 | 1 | PCS |
| Positive Adjmt. | 70063 | WMS | WM-B-10-20 | 1 | PCS |
| Positive Adjmt. | 70064 | WMS | WM-B-10-20 | 1 | PCS |
10. Choose Post, and confirm the posting. 11. Open Packaging Types again. Inventory is 1 for BLOCK, CHEP, and EURO.
Turn on Integration with Packaging
12. Select the Search icon , enter Adv. Warehouse Setup, and then choose the related link.
13. On the Integrations FastTab, turn on Integration with Packaging.
Business Central accepts the change when the two tables are in sync: every license plate type has a packaging type, and every shipping-container packaging type has a license plate type.
- After the integration is on, the packaging type leads.
- A new shipping-container packaging type creates the license plate type. Create the pallet on Packaging Types.
- Length, width, height, weight, and volume on the packaging type are copied to the license plate type. A later change on the packaging type is copied again.
- The License Plate Types page rejects changes with this error: "License Plate Types cannot be changed while the Packaging integration is active. Manage License Plate Types through Packaging Types."
- Deleting a packaging type also deletes the linked license plate type. Business Central asks: "If you delete Packaging Type ONEWAY, the linked License Plate Type ONEWAY will also be deleted. Do you want to continue?" Choose Yes to delete both. Choose No to keep both.
Check the customer
Customer 20000 is responsible for the shipping units and the shipping container. The euro pallet is the order-bound container for this customer.
14. Select the Search icon , enter Customers, and then choose the related link.
15. Open customer 20000.
16. Choose Related > Customer > Packaging Setup.
17. On the Packaging page, fill in the fields, and then choose Close.
| FastTab | Field | Value |
|---|---|---|
| Setup | Round order Bound Shipping Containers Per | Order |
| Responsibility for | Shipping Units | Customer |
| Responsibility for | Shipping Container | Customer |
Check the items
Item 1000, Bicycle, ships on a block pallet, eight pieces per pallet, for this customer. Item 1110, Rim, ships on a euro pallet, forty pieces per pallet. This walkthrough sells item 1000. Item 1110 is prepared so the warehouse also holds euro pallets.
Assign Plate Numbers uses the default pallet quantity of the item. That quantity matches Quantity Per Packaging: 8 pieces for item 1000, and 40 pieces for item 1110.
18. Select the Search icon , enter Items, and then choose the related link.
19. Open item 1000.
20. Verify that the item uses license plate tracking, and that the default pallet quantity is 8.
21. Choose Item > Default Packaging.
22. Verify this line. Choose New when the line is missing.
| Type | Packaging Code | Quantity Per Packaging | Unit of Measure | Source Type | Source No. | Shipping Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Item Bound | BLOCK | 8 | PCS | Customer | 20000 | Shipping Container |
23. Open item 1110. 24. Verify that the item uses license plate tracking, and that the default pallet quantity is 40. 25. Choose Item > Default Packaging. 26. Verify this line. Choose New when the line is missing.
| Type | Packaging Code | Quantity Per Packaging | Unit of Measure | Source Type | Source No. | Shipping Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Order Bound | EURO | 40 | PCS | Customer | 20000 | Shipping Container |
27. On customer 20000, choose Related > Customer > Default Packaging. 28. Verify the same EURO line. This is the item 1110 line, shown from the customer.
For more information, see Default and mandatory packaging.
Check the location
Location WMS requires a warehouse shipment and a warehouse pick. Packaging for this location is posted through packaging location BLUE. BLUE is a direct posting location.
29. Select the Search icon , enter Locations, and then choose the related link.
30. Open location WMS.
31. On the Warehouse FastTab, verify the warehouse requirements, and set Packaging Location to BLUE.
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Require Receive | On |
| Require Shipment | On |
| Require Put-away | On |
| Require Pick | On |
| Bin Mandatory | On |
| Packaging Location | BLUE |
Post the bicycles and the rims
Put item 1000 on BLOCK plates in bin WM-A-01-10, and item 1110 on EURO plates in bin WM-A-01-20. These items have no item tracking in this walkthrough, so the lot number stays empty. Assign the license plate on the journal line.
32. Select the Search icon , enter Item Journals, and then choose the related link.
33. In the Batch Name field, select DEFAULT.
34. Enter these lines. Use a posting date inside your allowed posting dates.
| Entry Type | Item No. | Location Code | Bin Code | Quantity | Unit of Measure Code |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Positive Adjmt. | 1000 | WMS | WM-A-01-10 | 40 | PCS |
| Positive Adjmt. | 1110 | WMS | WM-A-01-20 | 200 | PCS |
35. Select the line for item 1000.
36. Choose License Plate Tracking. The License Plate Reservation Entries page opens.
37. Choose Assign Plate Numbers. The Assign License Plate Numbers page opens.
38. Select license plate type BLOCK, and then choose OK. Business Central creates five plates of 8 pieces. Qty. (Base) and Assigned Qty. (Base) are both 40.
39. Close the reservation page.
40. Select the line for item 1110.
41. Choose License Plate Tracking.
42. Choose Assign Plate Numbers.
43. Select license plate type EURO, and then choose OK. Business Central creates five plates of 40 pieces. Qty. (Base) and Assigned Qty. (Base) are both 200.
44. Close the reservation page.
45. Choose Post, and confirm the posting.
46. Select the Search icon , enter License Plate List, and then choose the related link.
47. Verify the new plates. Status is OPEN, Location Code is WMS, and Warehouse Status is Inventory. Five plates have type BLOCK. Five plates have type EURO.
Check Packaging Setup
Packaging lines are added when the order is released. Several items that share a pallet are combined on the order, and the order-bound quantity is rounded for the whole order.
48. Select the Search icon , enter Packaging Setup, and then choose the related link.
49. On the General FastTab, fill in the fields.
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Packaging Location by | Document Header |
| Packaging Calculation Method | On Release |
| Calculate Packaging Per | Order |
| Allow Recalculate Packaging | Off |
| Round Order Bound Shipping Containers Per | Order |
| Prepayment Confirmation | Off |
For more information, see Set up packaging.
Register the location for packaging
Location WMS participates in automatic packaging for inbound and outbound documents, for both item-bound and order-bound packaging.
50. Select the Search icon , enter Register Packaging Setup, and then choose the related link.
51. On the line for location WMS, select these checkboxes. Inbound Item Bound and Outbound Item Bound are selected for you when the transaction checkboxes are selected.
| Location Code | Inbound Transactions | Inbound Order Bound | Outbound Transactions | Outbound Order Bound |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| WMS | Selected | Selected | Selected | Selected |
Sales Order
Sell 8 bicycles to customer 20000. Eight pieces are one block pallet, so release adds item 70062 with quantity 1.
52. Select the Search icon , enter Sales Orders, and then choose the related link.
53. Choose New.
54. In the Customer No. field, enter 20000.
55. On the Lines FastTab, enter the bicycle.
| Type | No. | Location Code | Quantity |
|---|---|---|---|
| Item | 1000 | WMS | 8 |
56. Choose Release. 57. Verify the packaging line that Business Central adds.
| Type | No. | Description | Quantity |
|---|---|---|---|
| Item | 70062 | Block Pallet | 1 |
Warehouse Shipment
Create the warehouse shipment from the sales order. The shipment bin on location WMS is WM-SHIP.
58. On the sales order, choose Create Warehouse Shipment. The Warehouse Shipment page opens. 59. Verify the shipment header and the bicycle line.
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Location Code | WMS |
| Bin Code | WM-SHIP |
| Source Document | Sales Order |
| Item No. | 1000 |
| Quantity | 8 |
60. Choose Autofill Qty. to Ship. Qty. to Ship on the bicycle line becomes 8.
The Total Packaging FactBox can still show packaging code BLOCK with Quantity To Post 0. The quantity to post is filled from the license plate when the pick is registered.
For more information, see Ship items.
Warehouse Pick
Pick the eight bicycles from the block pallet in bin WM-A-01-10, and place that same license plate in bin WM-SHIP.
61. On the warehouse shipment, choose Create Pick, and confirm the request page. 62. Open the warehouse pick. 63. Verify the lines. License Plate Type is BLOCK, and Qty. to Handle is 8 on both lines.
| Action Type | Item No. | License Plate Type | Bin Code | Quantity | Qty. to Handle |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Take | 1000 | BLOCK | WM-A-01-10 | 8 | 8 |
| Place | 1000 | BLOCK | WM-SHIP | 8 | 8 |
64. Choose Register Pick.
For more information, see Pick items for a warehouse shipment.
Packaging on the shipment
The registered license plate now drives the packaging quantity. One BLOCK plate was picked, so one block pallet is ready to post.
65. On the warehouse shipment, choose Packaging. 66. On the Source Documents FastTab, verify the sales order. 67. On the Order Bound Packaging FastTab, verify the pallet line.
| Packaging Code | Location | Quantity To Post | No. of License Plates | Quantity Posted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BLOCK | BLUE | 1 | 1 | 0 |
68. Close the Packaging page. The Total Packaging FactBox shows BLOCK with Quantity To Post 1.
Post the shipment
69. On the warehouse shipment, choose Post Shipment, and confirm the posting. 70. Open the sales order. Both the bicycle and the pallet are shipped.
| No. | Description | Quantity Shipped | Qty. to Invoice |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1000 | Bicycle | 8 | 8 |
| 70062 | Block Pallet | 1 | 1 |
71. Open the license plate from the place line of the registered pick. 72. On the General FastTab, verify the plate.
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Type | BLOCK |
| Location Code | WMS |
| Status | SHIPPED |
| Pallet No. | 1 |
| Whse. Document Type | Shipment |
| Warehouse Status | Order |
| Whse. Activity Type | Pick |
73. On the Shipment FastTab, verify the customer and the content.
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Ship-to Type | Customer |
| Ship-to No. | 20000 |
| Ship-to Name | Selangorian Ltd. |
| Shipment Type | Sales Shipment |
| Item No. | Unit of Measure Code | Qty. (Base) | Bin Code |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1000 | PCS | 8 | WM-SHIP |
The result: the eight bicycles and their block pallet have left location WMS on one license plate. The plate status is SHIPPED, and the sales order is ready to invoice.
Post the invoice
74. On the sales order, choose Post, and then choose Invoice. 75. Open the posted sales invoice. 76. Verify the lines. The invoice contains the bicycle and the block pallet.
| Type | No. | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Item | 1000 | Bicycle |
| Item | 70062 | Block Pallet |