Pack and Repack Functions

Use the Pack and Repack functions to manage parent-child aggregation relationships and changes while packing and repacking product.

Typically pack and repack functions, along with certain exception management functions, require numerous scans to complete an event. The functions below minimize scanning and input to efficiently handle packing and repacking product.

An aggregation event is a pack function. For example, adding serial numbers 1, 2, and 3 to a container is considered an aggregation event. Adding serial numbers 4, 5, and 6 to the same container at a later time is also an aggregation event, as the event may cover continual packs/adds. In this example, after the last pack of serial number 6, the container now contains 6 items (serial numbers 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6). In TraceLink, the 6 serial numbers/child items are now associated to the parent container/parent serial number.

A disaggregation event is an unpack function. For example, removing 2 cases from a pallet of 50 cases typically requires 3 scans (a scan for each of the 2 cases being removed and one for the pallet). With Serialized Operations Manager, only the child items' serial numbers (in this scenario, the 2 removed cases) are needed. TraceLink determines the parent container of the child items and disaggregates the items accordingly (Serialized Operations Manager leverages the information it its repository to determine parent-child relationships). Even if there are 2 separate pallets from which items are removed, only the child serial numbers are required for the disaggregation event as TraceLink determines both parent container serial numbers and disaggregates the items accordingly.

Aggregate Items to a Container adds child serial numbers to parent containers while maintaining all other preexisting parent-child relationships.

Disaggregate Items removes child serial numbers from their parent serial numbers without having to specify the parent container.

Disaggregate Items from Container disaggregates child items & serial numbers from a common parent container. A disaggregation event is an unpack function.

Disaggregate Container disaggregates all child items & serial numbers from a container while maintaining any sub-aggregations to child sub-containers. Typically, to disaggregate 50 cases from a pallet, scanning both the pallet and all 50 cases are required. With Serialized Operations Manager, it is possible to disaggregate all 50 cases from the pallet with just the container (in this example, the pallet) serial number (Serialized Operations Manager leverages the information in its repository to determine parent-child relationships). In this scenario, 51 scans reduce to 1 scan, simply by leveraging Serialized Operations Manager.

Relabel Container assigns a new serial number to a container, while preserving existing aggregations. This function is primarily for exception management.

For example, if a container's label (which includes the serial number/barcode) requires replacement due to damage or because the label may not adhere to the container, a new label is necessary. In this scenario, a new serial number is requested, commissioned, a new label is printed and applied to the container. Use the Re-label Container function to report the container's new serial number to TraceLink and update the existing aggregations/serial number statuses to the new serial number within TraceLink.

Replace Item in Container (Swap Item) removes an item/serial number from a container and adds a new item/serial number to the container in its place. This function is primarily for exception management.

For example, a case with a damaged bottle requiring replacement typically requires anywhere from 3-6 scans (depending on the aggregation hierarchy). With TraceLink, only the damaged serial number and replacement serial number are needed to swap the item. Tracelink automatically handles all parent-child relationships and serial number status updates (by leveraging the information in Serialized Operations Manager's repository).

Reset Container Aggregation disaggregates all existing items from a container and then aggregates a new set of items to that container. This function is primarily for exception management.

For example, in the event there are numerous discrepancies with the aggregation hierarchy, discrepancies in item information between the physical container and TraceLink's record, or determining the discrepancies proves too difficult, Serialized Operations Manager addresses these differences by leveraging the information in its repository.

Upon entering the container serial number and the child serial numbers on hand (physically), TraceLink compares this information to the information in the Serialized Operations Manager repository. TraceLink determines any discrepancies, disaggregates all existing items from the container within TraceLink that are not physically present, and aggregates any new items to that container that are physically present but were not yet entered into the Network.