Carling Technologies is a Connecticut-based manufacturer of products including circuit breakers, switches, and controls. They needed help processing their Advanced Ship Notices, or ASNs for short, due to industry changes to the format. Carling turned to Data Communication Solutions (DCS) to get the job done. .
About the ASN
Companies use the Advance Ship Notice, or X12 856, to electronically communicate the load contents before the shipment arrives at the trading partner’s facility. It is used in most industries. The main details provided to the trading partner are as follows:
- Shipment Level (HL-S): Consists of the tracking and carrier information, including the total cartons and weights.
- Order Level (HL-O): Consists of purchase order numbers and other order level information.
- Pack Level (HL-P): Consists of the barcodes from the cartons and any other pack information.
- Item Level (HL-I): Consists of item information including UPC codes, item numbers and their quantities and pack counts.
This document can be very complex and varies between trading partners. Typically, the pack information is put in the MAN (Marks and Number) segment within the HL-P level and separated from the item information in the HL-I. This means the item information for that pack will be a child of that pack.
The Challenge
Certain industries are making additions to the format of their ASNs. These industries only use the Shipment and Item levels. Now, they are adding the Load Detail Loop (CLD) in the Item Level. This segment is required if serial numbers are sent. The segment consists of the pack count for the cartons of the items and the number of cartons per pack. In that loop, there will be the pallet number and the serial numbers. If there are partial packages, there must be another CLD loop under the one item (LIN).
In this instance, the pack/pallet number and serials of the packages are placed under the HL-I level in a reference segment along with the CLD loop. This can cause issues with the creation of these EDI files if the backend (ERP) system data doesn’t follow this structure. For Carling, JDE was one backend that needed additional programming to function correctly for EDI.
The DCS Solution
Working closely with the JDE analysts, DCS was able to help provide the mapping layouts (looping structures) that were needed to translate this format of EDI correctly for Carling. These tables are utilized in both EDIFACT and X12 documents. DCS was then able to map the ASN correctly and pass on this structure to other clients that were struggling with these processes.
Since 1991, DCS has been providing customers with solid EDI solutions to a wide-range of industries throughout United States and Canada. DCS works with the leading EDI systems to help you overcome your EDI challenges. DCS consultants have successfully installed, mapped, and operated nearly all EDI systems. Our services include EDI development, EDI Managed Services, support, and training. Contact us today to start a conversation.
Contact Us
Got questions? Need EDI support or development? Facing a challenge or decision and want honest advice from experts? Looking for tailored training? You are in the right place. We take the time to understand what you need and give clear, helpful guidance to get you on the right track. Complete the form and we will be in touch soon to see how we can help. Let’s make EDI work for you!