Configuration for Automatic packing in Outbound Delivery

1.
2.
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Let me introduce you to the basics required to understand the Automatic packing concept in outbound delivery.
Packing Materials are material that can be used to pack or transport goods.
Items from an outbound delivery when packed into a packing material, the whole unit together is called the Handling Unit.
Packing process in SAP is the process of assigning delivery items to packing materials, which will produce Handling
Units, which will then be packed into additional packing materials. Which in turn will create a new handling unit, this process of
packing one handling unit into another packing material is called Multi-level packing.
The packing function is available in:
Orders (as Packing Instructions)
Inbound Deliveries
Outbound Deliveries
Shipment Document
Packing can be done manually as well as automatically in outbound delivery. Manual packing is done in outbound delivery by
choosing PACK button manually while automatic packing uses the Condition Technique to automatically identify the material to be
packed and create handling units.
As most of us would be aware of how manual packing is done, in this document I have explained how automatic packing is
configured for outbound delivery.
I have noted down few steps that would be required to configure Automatic packing, these are listed below:
a)
Activate Delivery Document type with Automatic Packing - OVLK
b)
Define Packaging material type- VHAR
c)
Define Material Group for Packaging - VEGR
d)
Define Allowed Packing Material - VHZU
e)
Define Material Master Data - MM01
f)
Maintain Packing Transaction Profile for Outbound delivery - OVHU2
g)
Set up Condition Technique for Packing Instruction Determination
h)
Create Packing Master Data - POP1
i)
Maintain Packing Instruction Determination Master Data - POF1
Let us see how each of these steps are accomplished in SAP with screenshots
a)

Activate delivery type with Automatic Packing

In this step you can activate the delivery type for automatic packing using the TCode OVLK as shown below.

Before moving further lets understand below mentioned SAP terminologies

Material - A product in outbound delivery that requires packing.
Material Group for packaging This is a material master field used to group products requiring similar packing. For example
say products A and B can be packed using similar pallets, in this case while creating product master data for A & B, we assign
Material Group for Packaging, say 0001-pallets to indicate that both these material are packed using pallets.
Packing Material The material used to pack the finished product in delivery.
Packaging Material Type This is Material Master record field used to set up a Packing Material.(Applies to packing material
master data) This field defines the family of packaging type to which this material belongs, for example Pallets, Truck, Container,
Box, Crates, etc.

b)
Define Packaging material types
You can define Packaging Material Types using TCode VHAR. As discussed earlier this field plays an important role in setting up a
packing material master record.
Lets say we use already defined packing material type 0001- pallets in our case.(If you want to create new please copy an
existing one that matches your requirement and create one) PFB the screenshot for the same.

For packing material type you can set up

How plant determination occurs for the packing material to which it is assigned.
Packaging material category (whether packaging material, transport equipment, means of transport or Auxiliary packaging
material)
Assign a Number Range for the handling units that would be created in delivery.
Define Output procedure and Output type.
Handling Unit type
c) Define Material Group for Packaging Material
In this step you can define a Material Group for packaging material using TCode VEGR.
This is a field entered in the Material Master Sales: General/Plant data for materials that require packing. It is used to group
together materials that require similar packaging materials.
In our case we defined material group 0001-Yard Mgmt using tcode VEGR.

d) Define allowed packaging material

This configuration plays an important role in packing for outbound delivery. In this step we define valid combinations of Packaging
Material Type and Material Group for Packaging as shown below. We have defined a valid combination of "Material
Group for Packaging"- 0001 Yard Mgmt and "Packaging Material type"- 0001 pallet for our scenario. It is maintained using
TCode VHZU.

When packing an item in delivery, the system checks whether an entry for Material Group for Packaging for the delivery item
and the Packaging Material Type for the packing material exists in Tcode VHZU.
By assigning Packaging Material Type to the Material Group for Packaging, you define which packaging materials are
allowed for packing a delivery item.
For materials with no Material Group for Packaging Materials, no check is carried out on the eligibility of the packaging
material. These materials can always be packed.
e) Define Material Master Data (Finished goods and Packing Material)
In this step create Material master record(MM01) for Finished goods and Packing Material based on the configuration done in the
earlier steps.
Firstly define a FERT material code for Sales View having below data related to packaging.

As can be seen in above screen shots we have created a material TATA1 with Material Type FERT and Material Group for
Packaging Material as 0001- Yard Mgmt.
Now, create another Material master record(MM01) with Material Type VERP (packing), so that this material could be used as a
packing material in Deliveries.
Important information required for packing is shown in below:
Item Category Group (Sales: Organisation 2 tab)
Packing Material Data (Sales: General/Plant)
Packaging Material Type
Allowed Weight
Allowed Volume

As seen above we have created a packing material PACK1 with Item category group VERP, Packaging Material Type 0001Pallet and allowed packing weight as 200kg.
f) Maintain Packing Transaction Profile
The configurations done from this step are specifically valid for Automatic packing in outbound delivery.
In this step, you can modify the Packing Transaction Profiles using TCode OVHU2.
For each application, in which the packing transaction can be used, there is a packing transaction profile. The profiles are set as
standard in the system. You can change the descriptions and the settings for each profile. However, you cannot create new profiles,
delete existing ones, or change the assignment of profile to application.
In our case we will use the transaction profile available for outbound delivery i.e. 0002- Outbound Delivery.

In each profile, the following parameters are set:

display mode or change mode for HU proposals in the packing transaction
the procedure used to automatically determine packing instructions
whether the system expands packing instructions automatically when materials and quantities are entered or changed
whether the system displays a selection dialog box in the automatic expansion process, so that the user can select a
packing instruction from those proposed by the system (main packing instruction or alternative packing instruction)
whether the system takes into account rounding and minimum quantities in the automatic expansion process
whether the system also takes into account alternative packing instructions in automatic expansion, if the main packing
instruction cannot pack the required quantity
The expansion strategy. This controls whether
o Everything is to be packed automatically, that is, the system creates HU proposals for the complete quantity to be
packed.
o Packages are to be created one at a time, that is, the system creates an HU proposal for exactly one main handling
unit.
the minimum packing status for packing instruction expansion
the HU status of the handling units created
The minimum packing status of HU proposals required to created HUs.

We have a Packing Instruction Determination Procedure ZSHIP1 assigned to the Packing Transaction Profile of Outbound
delivery. This procedure uses the condition technique to identify Packing Instructions maintained as master data which will be
discussed going ahead.
Also we have activated Start packing automatically, Respect Rounding Quantities and Respect Alternate Packing Instructions. Pack
Strategy is set to pack all delivery items.

g) Set up Condition Technique for Packing Instruction Determination:

In this step you can set up condition technique for the packing instruction determination procedure i.e. ZSHIP1(assigned in the
Outbound delivery Transaction Profile). You can set up Determination procedure, Determination type, Access
Sequence & Condition table.
You can create each of the components of the condition technique using below Tcodes:
Condition table OFP8
Access Sequence OFP2
Determination Type OFP3
Define Procedure OFP4
I am not adding screenshots as this is done similar to any other condition technique setup.
h) Create packing master data - POP1
Once above SPRO configuration are done the only job remaining is to create packing master data.
Go to TCode POP1 and set up master data specifying what Material is to be packed and what is the material that will be used to for
packing.
In our case the master record is maintained as shown below.

TATA1 is the material to be packed while PACK1 is the packing material. In the above master data set up I have specified that
1qty ofPACK1 can be used to pack 4qtys of TATA1.

i) Maintain packing instruction determination record - POF1

The second master data that you need to maintain is how the packing instruction that was created in the previous step would be
determined.
This can be created using TCode POF1.
PFB the screenshot maintained in our case.

In the above screenshot you can see that I have maintained a record for Determination Type SHIP in Procedure ZHSIP1. The
condition table has the combination of Material & Ship-to party while packing instruction number specified
is 231 which we have created in the previous step.
This means that whenever Material TATA1 and Ship-to 4000401 combination occurs in delivery type LF the packing
instruction 231would be identified by using Transaction profile of outbound delivery & Packing instruction
procedure ZHSIP1. This will in turn pack the delivery items using the material specified in packing instruction number
231.
Once you configure all of the above steps Automatic packing would be active in Delivery and Handling Units would
be automatically created based on the master data you have maintained.

Customising settings for automatic packaging in deliveries

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Added by Katalin Csengodi, last edited by Katalin Csengodi on Apr 17, 2012 (view change)
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Purpose
This content was created to introduce the customising settings for automatic packing in deliveries.

Overview
With this article the user may be able to understand the automatic packing concept durng delivery creation and be aware of
the customising settings needed for this functionality.

Handling Unit
The SAP ERP system sees a handling unit as a physical unit that consists of the packaging materials (load carrier /
packaging material) and its goods. A handling unit is a combination of materials and packaging materials. The handling units
can be proposed in a sales order and determined on the delivery creation. The handling units can be also staged using
Warehouse Management in process manufacturing.

Automatic Packing

The automatic packing functionalities are used in delivery transactions. (VL01N), WM (Warehouse Management) and EWM
(Extended Warehouse Management) transactions.

SAP HU Customizing for automatic packing in deliveries

Basically it is necessary to set a packaging material type and a material group for packing and have it assigned to material
of the packing type.
Additional customising setting are needed for the automatic packing during delivery creation:
1.

SPRO -> SAP Reference IMG -> Logistic execution -> Shipping -> Deliveries -> Define Item Categories for
Deliveries
Transaction OVLP
Packing controll for the delivery item category V_TVLP-PCKPF is blank, which means packing is allowed.

2.

SPRO -> SAP Reference IMG -> Logistic execution -> Shipping -> Deliveries -> Define delivery Types
Transaction OVLK
Automatic packing V_TVLK-AVERP set for the delivery type.

3.

SPRO -> SAP Reference IMG -> Logistics - General -> Handling Unit Management ->> Automatic packing ->
Maintain Packing Transaction Profile
Transaction OVHU2
Packing transaction profile: e.g. 0002 Outbound delivery -> Detail
Determination procedure for packing instructions (V_CHUPDPARA1-COND_SCHEME): e.g. 000001 pack in shipping set

4.

SAP Menu -> Logistics -> Sales and Distribution -> Master Data -> Agreements -> Pack -> Packing Instructions ->
POP1 - Create
Transaction POP1

5.

SAP Menu -> Logistics -> Sales and Distribution -> Master Data -> Agreements -> Pack -> Packing Instructions ->
Determination Records -> POF1 - Create
Transaction POF1

Automatic Packing
Use
Automatic packing allows you to use packing proposals to create handling units
automatically in the background.
The proposal includes both the packaging material and the content per handling unit.
For a delivery with 3 items, the packing proposal might propose that the first
item is distributed in equal amounts onto two pallets and the second and third
items are packed together in a container.

Integration
The packing proposal is automatically carried out during the following functions:

Generating handling units automatically in the background

Packing automatically when creating deliveries
The automatic packing function also supports the effects of packing instruction
determination, packing proposals generated by packing instructions, and customer-specific
generation of packing proposals using Business Add-Ins (without using packing instructions).
The automatic packing function also supports multi-level packing.

1.

Filling the User Exit

In the first packing phase, delivery items are packed during automatic packing with

the
New HU if full function in an allowed packaging material (such as a crate).
In the second packing phase, each crate is packed onto a suitable packaging material (such as a
pallet).
The automatic packing function also supports automatic packing using packing instructions.
The system automatically determines the packing instructions for the
materials to be packed and then the material is packed according to the
packing instructions that were found.
The packing instruction that was found may also be multi-level, which is why
packing instruction determination is only carried out once during automatic
packing.
Automatic packing also supports the PACKMODI enhancement.

Prerequisites
Either the user exits are filled in with data or you have set the packing instruction
determination for the material that is to be packed.

Features
During automatic packing, the system determines packing proposals for the material to be
packed, which it uses to create handling units.
The packaging proposal is defined either through several user exits or through packing
instructions and the respective determination records.
Packing using user exits
You can process customer functions by using the Project management transaction in the SAP
enhancements. In this case, you need the PACKMODI SAP enhancement.
Packing with packing instructions
To create packing proposals using the packing instructions, maintain the following data:

Create a

packing instruction.
In the Customizing section for packing instructions, configure the data required for packing-instruction
determination.
Define apacking-instruction determination record for the material to be packed and, if necessary,
further characteristics (ship-to party, shipping point).

Configuration steps for automatic packaging

Automatic packing has some typical configuration and master data settings, see below:
SPRO Logistics

1.

Maintain
number
ranges
for
handling
units,
menu
path
Execution Shipping Packing Define number ranges for Handling Units.

2.

Delivery type should be activated with Automatic Packing, menu path SPRO Logistics
Execution shipping Deliveries define delivery types

3.

Define
packaging
material
Execution Shipping Packing Define

types

Menu
Path
packaging

SPRO Logistics
material

types.
4.

Define
material
groups
for
packaging
materials,
menu
path:
SPRO Logistics
Execution Shipping Packing Define
material
groups
for
packaging
materials.

5.

Define
allowed
packaging
materials,
menu
Execution Shipping Packing Define
allowed

path:
SPRO Logistics
packaging
materials.

Along with these basic settings we also need to configure in handling unit management module
for automatic packing.

6.

Maintain packing transaction profile, menu path: SPRO Logistics General Handling Units
Management Automatic Packing Maintain packing transaction profile. T code: OVHU2
Select the transaction profile 0002 Outbound Delivery and go for details. Check start
automatically in the details screen as shown below.

Also maintain the determination procedure for packing instructions as shown in the above screen.
7.

Determination
procedure
General Handling Units
instructions.

for
Packing
Instructions.
Menu
path
SPRO Logistics
Management Automatic Packing determination of packing

Handling units work based on the condition technique, configure all necessary config settings for
condition technique to work appropriately.
I used the procedure as ZAU001 - Auto Pack Ref Material and determination type as ZSHP Auto Packing Ref Mat

Access sequence that I used is ZSHP with a condition table 499 - Reference material for materials
packed in same way
8.

Maintain the master data for the packing instructions t code: POP1, menu path: SAP Easy
Access Logistics Central functions Handling Unit Management Master data Packing
Instructions Create/change/display.

9.

Further maintain packing instruction determination record. T code: POF1, Menu path: SAP Easy
Access Logistics Central functions Handling Unit Management Master data packing
instruction determination record create/change/display.

10. Final master data settings need to be done in material master data under basic data tab and
plant/general data tab for finished goods and also for packaging materials.
These are the 10 important steps to configure automatic packing during delivery processing.