Master carton - should I setup in product hierarchy?

[Kapil]

We have a product hierarchy where the Master carton = 4 inner cases (6 packs) = 24 eaches. Each has its own GTIN, but as I understand it the master cartons are only ordered by the distributor (UNFI or KeHe). They break down the masters and retailers place orders for the inners (6-packs). I will set up the inner cases in the product hierarchy, but should I set up the master carton as well, and if so, should I specify the Ordering unit, dispatch unit and invoice unit as False for the Master carton? Thanks.

[JustinW]

Hello @Kapil, and welcome to the Community. As best practice, we would recommend building any level that has a GTIN associated with it in the hierarchy. For the Ordering, Dispatch, and Invoice indicators we would recommend answering those as what you are directly sending to the distribution center. For example, if you are shipping and accepting orders just at the master case level the indicators would be true for the master case.

[Kapil]

Thanks, @JustinW! One more follow up question: if we are not shipping and accepting orders at the inner pack level, should we specify the Ordering, dispatch and invoice indicators for those as False? Retailers use those for ordering and dispatch from the distributor, and I don't know if we need to set them up as true for that reason.

[CommunityJedi22]

Hello please take a look at this as it should help with the Unit Indicators.  https://community.1worldsync.com/t5/IM-Knowledge/Unit-Indicators-in-IM/ta-p/7820 

[Kapil]

Many thanks @CommunityJedi22. My takeaway from that discussion is that you must have the indicators being True at least at one level of the hierarchy. What wasn't clear was whether you can have an indicator as True at more than one level e.g., inner pack and case levels. Thoughts?

[CommunityJedi22]

Hello @Kapil and thanks for your response and feedback.  There is some grey area where you could indicate more than one level as invoice unit but can have only one instance of base unit, etc.  The system will guide you if you have more than one in the same hierarchy inappropriately.  Keep in mind, that if indicators vary based on your trading partner, i.e. invoice unit level you can also add a version for each recipient.  Be careful here though as that can become a lot to manage and keep track of.