Supply Chain Unit - TX: Difference between revisions
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'''Definition:''' | '''Definition:''' | ||
A Supply Chain Unit (SCU) is any unit that flows through supply chain operations (stored, moved, packed, shipped). SCUs include both persistent Stock Keeping Units ('''SKUs''') and | A Supply Chain Unit (SCU) is any unit that flows through supply chain operations (stored, moved, packed, shipped). SCUs include both persistent Stock Keeping Units ('''SKUs''') and Transaction Level Units ('''TLUs'''). | ||
== Stock Keeping Units (SKU) == | |||
A standardized, persistent unit with a catalog identity and an inventory position. Identified by '''GTIN'''. Types of SKUs: | A standardized, persistent unit with a catalog identity and an inventory position. Identified by '''GTIN'''. Types of SKUs: | ||
== SKUS in the Portfolio Domain == | |||
* '''Definition''': SKUs that are part of the company's commercial portfolio, intended to be sold to external customers. These are the finished goods. | |||
* Key Characteristic: These SKUs have a Trade Life Cycle (TLC) and are what your [[Customer_-_TX|customers]] order. | |||
==== Individual Sales Unit (ISU) ==== | ==== Individual Sales Unit (ISU) ==== | ||
The smallest unit sold to end users or consumers, consisting of the product (consumable, disposable, or durable) with its '''additional''' [[Packaging_Roles_-_TX| | The smallest unit sold to end users or [[Consumer_-_TX|consumers]], consisting of the [[Product_-_TX|product]] (consumable, disposable, or durable) with its '''additional''' Sales Packaging [[Packaging_Roles_-_TX|(SP)]]. | ||
'''Examples:''' | '''Examples:''' | ||
* Coca-Cola Original Taste – 330ml Can | * Coca-Cola Original Taste – 330ml Can | GTIN 901234123457 | ||
* Fairy Platinum Plus Deep Clean – 90 Capsules | * Fairy Platinum Plus Deep Clean – 90 Capsules | GTIN 7612345678903 | ||
* Sensodyne Repair & Protect – 75ml Toothpaste | * Sensodyne Repair & Protect – 75ml Toothpaste | GTIN 5012345678900 | ||
* Samsung Galaxy S24 – Smartphone with USB-C Cable | * Samsung Galaxy S24 – Smartphone with USB-C Cable | GTIN 4006381333931 | ||
==== Grouped Sales Unit (GSU) ==== | ==== Grouped Sales Unit (GSU) ==== | ||
A commercial multi-pack grouping multiple ISUs together with '''additional''' [[Packaging_Roles_-_TX| | A commercial multi-pack grouping multiple ISUs together with '''additional''' Grouped Packaging [[Packaging_Roles_-_TX|(GP)]]. | ||
'''Examples:''' | '''Examples:''' | ||
* Coca-Cola Original Taste – 6 × 330ml Cans (multipack) | * Coca-Cola Original Taste – 6 × 330ml Cans (multipack) | 8712345678904 | ||
* Fairy Platinum Plus Deep Clean – Year Pack 4 × 90 Capsules (carton box) | * Fairy Platinum Plus Deep Clean – Year Pack 4 × 90 Capsules (carton box) | 0301234567891 | ||
* Philips Hue Smart Lighting Starter Kit – 3 Bulbs + Hub (retail carton bundle) | * Philips Hue Smart Lighting Starter Kit – 3 Bulbs + Hub (retail carton bundle) | 8881234567896 | ||
==== Transport Stock Unit (TSU) ==== | ==== Transport Stock Unit (TSU) ==== | ||
A stock-keeping unit designed for transport and logistics, containing multiple ISUs and/or GSUs with '''additional''' [[Packaging_Roles_-_TX|| | A stock-keeping unit designed for transport and logistics, containing multiple ISUs and/or GSUs with '''additional''' Transport Packaging [[Packaging_Roles_-_TX||(TP)]]. | ||
'''Examples:''' | '''Examples:''' | ||
* Sensodyne Repair & Protect Toothpaste outer carton 12 × 75ml | * Sensodyne Repair & Protect Toothpaste outer carton 12 × 75ml | GTIN 6931234567897 | ||
* Pattex All Purpose Crack Filler Euro Pallet – 48 × 12 × 290g | * Pattex All Purpose Crack Filler Euro Pallet – 48 × 12 × 290g | GTIN 4791234567898 | ||
* San Benedetto 1.5L Pallet with layer pads – 6 × 20 × 5 | * San Benedetto 1.5L Pallet with layer pads – 6 × 20 × 5 | GTIN 3801234567890 | ||
==SKUS in the Production & Packaging Domain== | |||
* Definition: SKUs that are consumed or used internally within the production and packaging process. These are the building blocks. | |||
* Key Characteristic: These SKUs are typically not sold externally in their current form | |||
==== Product Component Unit (PCU) ==== | |||
An inventoried stock-keeping unit (SKU) that is an ingredient or a constituent part of the final [[Product - TX|Product]]. These are typically consumed during the production process. | |||
'''Examples:''' | |||
* Vitamin Premix Blend A-45 for pet food | Internal SKU: 89345-A45 | |||
* Proprietary Flour Blend for baked goods | Internal SKU: PFB-WHEAT-002 | |||
* Industrial Adhesive for assembly | Internal SKU: 2352345 | |||
* M5x10mm Assembly Screw for a durable good | Internal SKU: P43534-B | |||
==== Packaging Assembly Unit (PAU) ==== | |||
An inventoried stock-keeping unit (SKU) that is a constituent part of the final [[Packaging Roles - TX|Packaging]]. This represents a physical, stock-kept item used in the packaging process. | |||
'''Examples:''' | |||
* 500ml PET Bottle - Transparent colorless | Internal SKU: 5466245 | |||
* Roll of 10,000 pre-printed labels for Sensodyne | Internal SKU: LBL-SENSO-EU-10K | |||
* Batch of 5,000 28mm branded screw caps | Internal SKU: CAP-28-RED-5K | |||
* Flat-packed corrugated cardboard blanks for outer cartons | Internal SKU: 346346 | |||
== SKU Sourcing Type == | |||
=== Definition === | |||
A classification field that identifies how each Stock Keeping Unit (SKU) enters the company’s product portfolio—whether it is manufactured internally, only packaged, or fully purchased as a finished good. This field supports portfolio management, supply-chain reporting, and packaging/material compliance. | |||
=== Purpose === | |||
To distinguish SKUs by the company’s sourcing involvement, independent of supplier, production site, or geographic origin. | |||
=== Allowed Values / Codes === | |||
{| class="wikitable" | |||
! Code !! Label !! Description | |||
|- | |||
| MFG || Manufactured || SKU is produced and packaged by the company. | |||
|- | |||
| PKG || Packaged || SKU’s product content is sourced externally, but the company performs the packaging activity. | |||
|- | |||
| BIN || Bought-In || SKU is purchased as a finished good and resold with no manufacturing or packaging. | |||
|} | |||
=== Applicability === | |||
Applies to all persistent SKUs within the Supply Chain Unit (SCU) framework, including Individual Sales Units (ISU), Grouped Sales Units (GSU), and Transport Stock Units (TSU). | |||
==== The Data Supply Chain Context ==== | |||
A SKU's role is not absolute; it is contextual and depends on an organization's position in the value chain. What is a '''Portfolio SKU''' for a supplier becomes a '''Production & Packaging Domain SKU''' for their customer. | |||
This is the principle of the "digital unpacking" process: | |||
'''Example:''' | |||
A bottle manufacturer's finished [[Product - TX|Product]] is the empty PET bottle itself. Their sellable [[Transport Stock Unit - TX|TSU]] is a pallet containing thousands of these bottles, identified with a GTIN. They sell this TSU to a beverage company. | |||
The beverage company receives this pallet. In their system, the received TSU is "digitally unpacked." The empty bottle is now re-classified as a '''PEU'''—a foundational component for their production process, managed with an internal SKU. | |||
Therefore, '''PCUs''' and '''PEUs''' represent the foundational, inventoried building blocks within an organization's internal Data Supply Chain. These are the components used to create the Portfolio SKUs ([[Individual Sales Unit - TX|ISU]], [[Grouped Sales Unit - TX|GSU]], and [[Transport Stock Unit - TX|TSU]]) that are then sold downstream to their customers. | |||
---- | ---- | ||
=== Delivery Units ( | === Transaction Level Unit (TLU) === | ||
TLU represents the packaging that is added at the moment of shipping an individual customer order. Unlike SKUs, which are produced to stock | |||
====Order Delivery Units (ODU) ==== | |||
'''Definition:''' | '''Definition:''' | ||
A Delivery Unit is a shipment-specific SCU composed of one or more ISUs, GSUs, or TSUs, optionally with '''additional''' [[Packaging_Roles_-_TX|Delivery Packaging (DP)]]. Delivery Units are not predefined SKUs but are formed during fulfillment or distribution. Identified by '''SSCC''' in GS1 standards. | A Order Delivery Unit is a shipment-specific SCU composed of one or more ISUs, GSUs, or TSUs, optionally with '''additional''' [[Packaging_Roles_-_TX|Delivery Packaging (DP)]]. Order Delivery Units are not predefined SKUs but are formed during fulfillment or distribution. Identified by '''SSCC''' in GS1 standards. | ||
'''Examples:''' | '''Examples:''' | ||
* '''E-commerce:''' An online order containing 1 smartphone (ISU) and 1 phone case (ISU), packed in a shipping carton with '''additional''' Delivery Packaging. | * '''E-commerce:''' An online order containing 1 smartphone (ISU) and 1 phone case (ISU), packed in a shipping carton with '''additional''' Delivery Packaging. | ||
* '''Cross-docking:''' A mixed pallet assembled in back-of-store operations, combining cases of beverages (TSU) and snack multipacks (GSU) for onward delivery to a retail outlet. | * '''Cross-docking:''' A mixed pallet assembled in back-of-store operations, combining cases of beverages (TSU) and snack multipacks (GSU) for onward delivery to a retail outlet. | ||
==Sales Unit Portfolio Type== | |||
Indicates how a sales unit fits within the company’s product portfolio, based on the company’s involvement in creating or packaging the item. | |||
Allowed values: | |||
Manufactured – you produce and pack the item. | |||
Packaged – you only package the product; content is sourced externally. | |||
Bought-In – fully purchased finished goods for resale. | |||
Optional short codes if needed: MFG, PKG, BIN. | |||
---- | ---- | ||
Latest revision as of 08:46, 10 October 2025
Definition: A Supply Chain Unit (SCU) is any unit that flows through supply chain operations (stored, moved, packed, shipped). SCUs include both persistent Stock Keeping Units (SKUs) and Transaction Level Units (TLUs).
Stock Keeping Units (SKU)
A standardized, persistent unit with a catalog identity and an inventory position. Identified by GTIN. Types of SKUs:
SKUS in the Portfolio Domain
- Definition: SKUs that are part of the company's commercial portfolio, intended to be sold to external customers. These are the finished goods.
- Key Characteristic: These SKUs have a Trade Life Cycle (TLC) and are what your customers order.
Individual Sales Unit (ISU)
The smallest unit sold to end users or consumers, consisting of the product (consumable, disposable, or durable) with its additional Sales Packaging (SP).
Examples:
- Coca-Cola Original Taste – 330ml Can | GTIN 901234123457
- Fairy Platinum Plus Deep Clean – 90 Capsules | GTIN 7612345678903
- Sensodyne Repair & Protect – 75ml Toothpaste | GTIN 5012345678900
- Samsung Galaxy S24 – Smartphone with USB-C Cable | GTIN 4006381333931
Grouped Sales Unit (GSU)
A commercial multi-pack grouping multiple ISUs together with additional Grouped Packaging (GP).
Examples:
- Coca-Cola Original Taste – 6 × 330ml Cans (multipack) | 8712345678904
- Fairy Platinum Plus Deep Clean – Year Pack 4 × 90 Capsules (carton box) | 0301234567891
- Philips Hue Smart Lighting Starter Kit – 3 Bulbs + Hub (retail carton bundle) | 8881234567896
Transport Stock Unit (TSU)
A stock-keeping unit designed for transport and logistics, containing multiple ISUs and/or GSUs with additional Transport Packaging |(TP).
Examples:
- Sensodyne Repair & Protect Toothpaste outer carton 12 × 75ml | GTIN 6931234567897
- Pattex All Purpose Crack Filler Euro Pallet – 48 × 12 × 290g | GTIN 4791234567898
- San Benedetto 1.5L Pallet with layer pads – 6 × 20 × 5 | GTIN 3801234567890
SKUS in the Production & Packaging Domain
- Definition: SKUs that are consumed or used internally within the production and packaging process. These are the building blocks.
- Key Characteristic: These SKUs are typically not sold externally in their current form
Product Component Unit (PCU)
An inventoried stock-keeping unit (SKU) that is an ingredient or a constituent part of the final Product. These are typically consumed during the production process.
Examples:
- Vitamin Premix Blend A-45 for pet food | Internal SKU: 89345-A45
- Proprietary Flour Blend for baked goods | Internal SKU: PFB-WHEAT-002
- Industrial Adhesive for assembly | Internal SKU: 2352345
- M5x10mm Assembly Screw for a durable good | Internal SKU: P43534-B
Packaging Assembly Unit (PAU)
An inventoried stock-keeping unit (SKU) that is a constituent part of the final Packaging. This represents a physical, stock-kept item used in the packaging process.
Examples:
- 500ml PET Bottle - Transparent colorless | Internal SKU: 5466245
- Roll of 10,000 pre-printed labels for Sensodyne | Internal SKU: LBL-SENSO-EU-10K
- Batch of 5,000 28mm branded screw caps | Internal SKU: CAP-28-RED-5K
- Flat-packed corrugated cardboard blanks for outer cartons | Internal SKU: 346346
SKU Sourcing Type
Definition
A classification field that identifies how each Stock Keeping Unit (SKU) enters the company’s product portfolio—whether it is manufactured internally, only packaged, or fully purchased as a finished good. This field supports portfolio management, supply-chain reporting, and packaging/material compliance.
Purpose
To distinguish SKUs by the company’s sourcing involvement, independent of supplier, production site, or geographic origin.
Allowed Values / Codes
| Code | Label | Description |
|---|---|---|
| MFG | Manufactured | SKU is produced and packaged by the company. |
| PKG | Packaged | SKU’s product content is sourced externally, but the company performs the packaging activity. |
| BIN | Bought-In | SKU is purchased as a finished good and resold with no manufacturing or packaging. |
Applicability
Applies to all persistent SKUs within the Supply Chain Unit (SCU) framework, including Individual Sales Units (ISU), Grouped Sales Units (GSU), and Transport Stock Units (TSU).
The Data Supply Chain Context
A SKU's role is not absolute; it is contextual and depends on an organization's position in the value chain. What is a Portfolio SKU for a supplier becomes a Production & Packaging Domain SKU for their customer.
This is the principle of the "digital unpacking" process:
Example:
A bottle manufacturer's finished Product is the empty PET bottle itself. Their sellable TSU is a pallet containing thousands of these bottles, identified with a GTIN. They sell this TSU to a beverage company. The beverage company receives this pallet. In their system, the received TSU is "digitally unpacked." The empty bottle is now re-classified as a PEU—a foundational component for their production process, managed with an internal SKU. Therefore, PCUs and PEUs represent the foundational, inventoried building blocks within an organization's internal Data Supply Chain. These are the components used to create the Portfolio SKUs (ISU, GSU, and TSU) that are then sold downstream to their customers.
Transaction Level Unit (TLU)
TLU represents the packaging that is added at the moment of shipping an individual customer order. Unlike SKUs, which are produced to stock
Order Delivery Units (ODU)
Definition: A Order Delivery Unit is a shipment-specific SCU composed of one or more ISUs, GSUs, or TSUs, optionally with additional Delivery Packaging (DP). Order Delivery Units are not predefined SKUs but are formed during fulfillment or distribution. Identified by SSCC in GS1 standards.
Examples:
- E-commerce: An online order containing 1 smartphone (ISU) and 1 phone case (ISU), packed in a shipping carton with additional Delivery Packaging.
- Cross-docking: A mixed pallet assembled in back-of-store operations, combining cases of beverages (TSU) and snack multipacks (GSU) for onward delivery to a retail outlet.
Sales Unit Portfolio Type
Indicates how a sales unit fits within the company’s product portfolio, based on the company’s involvement in creating or packaging the item.
Allowed values:
Manufactured – you produce and pack the item.
Packaged – you only package the product; content is sourced externally.
Bought-In – fully purchased finished goods for resale.
Optional short codes if needed: MFG, PKG, BIN.
GS1 Mapping
- ISU / GSU / TSU (SKUs): Identified with GTIN
- DU (Delivery Unit): Identified with SSCC
- Locations: Identified with GLN
- Assets/Consignments: Identified with GRAI/GINC (when relevant)
