RE: [ubl-tsc] Re: Shipment and Consignment for Danish Requirement

["Andrew Schoka" <AMSchoka@comcast.net>]

Tim, etal,

Thanks for adding additional insight into a continuing struggle that I have
understanding the distinction between Shipment and Consignment. I personally
believe that the UNTDED established definitions need to be embellished so
that there can be a broader community understanding and acceptance. I guess
those who work with the terms on a day to day basis already have context in
place and so don't have a problem.

I think the problem is further complicated by the constraints of the
information modeling tools and conventions and possible limitations when
trying to characterize the relationship between the two terms. In my opinion
an extended characterization of the "one-to-many" and the "many-to-one"
relationships is needed along with additional verbiage that gets to the real
intent. If the relationship between shipment and consignment is many-to-many
then perhaps there is a better way of presenting it; maybe through the
inclusion of explanatory modifiers to the terms shipment and consignment. By
this I mean can we use terms something like single_consignment_shipment,
multiple_consignments_shipment, split_consignment_shipment? Conversely could
we use singly_shipped_consignment, multiply_shipped_consignment? 

Hope this doesn't seem too unconventional.......

Regards,
Andy 

-----Original Message-----
From: Tim McGrath [mailto:tmcgrath@portcomm.com.au] 
Sent: Sunday, July 08, 2007 9:09 PM
To: Flemming Møller Hansen
Cc: Dominique Vankemmel; fmh@progrator.dk; heikki.laaksamo@tieke.fi; Henk
Van MAAREN; ihu@ds.dk; kvp@itsts.dk; Michael.Onder@dot.gov;
ralph.ho@tradelink.com.hk; roberto@javest.com; ubl-tsc@lists.oasis-open.org
Subject: [ubl-tsc] Re: Shipment and Consignment for Danish Requirement

Thanks for your comments.  I will review them over the next few days.

In the meantime I appreciate your comments about defining what we mean 
by shipment and consignment.  This has been almost impossible to 
clarify, so we have adopted a simplifed but consistent set of 
definition  I personally believe that the distinction between these two 
is grey and ambiguous in the industry.  The correct term depends on the 
context in which it is used.

Back in 2005 we adopted the (then) draft definitions from TBG3. We took 
Consignment to mean "A separately identifiable collection of goods items 
(available to be) transported from one consignor to one consignee via 
one or more modes of transport. One consignment = One transport contract 
document".  And Shipment to mean "An identifiable collection of one or 
more line items (available to be) transported together from the seller 
i.e. original shipper, to the buyer i.e. ultimate consignee. Note: A 
shipment can be transported in different consignments"

However we had a problem with the idea of Consignment as a contractual 
arrangement and Consignment as the physical units that are moved in one 
collection of goods items.  So we have viewed the Shipment as the 
logistical collection of goods items.  Just as there are cases where a 
Shipment can be transport different Consignments, there are cases where 
a Consignment (contractual) can be split for transportation into 
different Shipments  (for economics or ease of logistics).  The TBG3 
high level model diagram showed this but the definitions did not.

Perhaps in the definitions for Shipment it should read "A Shipment can 
transport different Consigments" and Consignment should say "A 
Consigment can be transported in different Shipments".

In UBL 2.0 we have a 1:1 relationship between the two so the separation 
is academic.

However, i can see a requiremnt to have the relationship extended to One 
Shipment - Many Consignments.  In which case it does matter that we get 
the separation correct.  This is a further argument for adopting the 
simpliifed Consignment= contract and Shipment = event, distinctions. 

Following the above idea allows us to identify Shipments (the logistical 
details) with the contractual Consignment and trade-view Invoice (and 
Orders).  It means any properties that may affect or vary with the 
actual movements of the goods (what happens) should be covered under the 
Shipment.  Consignment details cover the contractual arrangements only 
(what is required).

Does that help?




Flemming Møller Hansen wrote:
> Hi Tim!
>
> I enclose my comments to your draft for Shipment and Consignment.
>
> The major part of my comments are dealing with information, which from the
> danish requirements/proposals point of view
> belong to a Consignment not to a Shipment.
> There is also a few items I have to investigate further before you can get
> my answer:
>
> Notice:
> We have decided only to deal with a single shipment with multiple
> consignments.
> The TBG2/3 model operates with multiple shipments and multiple
> consignments.
>
> May be we need to clarify the definitions (Shipment/Consigment) before we
> continue?
>
> Who have the correct definitions available?
>
> (See attached file: Comments to TIM.xls)
>
> Best regards/
> Med venlig hilsen
> PROGRATOR
>
> Flemming Møller Hansen
> eBusiness Consultant
> ====================================================
> EDI & Business Integration
>
> MACH Aps, Blokken 9, 3460 Birkerød
> Tlf: 4582 1600, Direkte: 4590 2037
> Fax: 4582 1644, Mobil: 2120 1965
>
> http://www.progrator.dk
> ====================================================
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-- 
regards
tim mcgrath
phone: +618 93352228  
postal: po box 1289   fremantle    western australia 6160
web: http://www.portcomm.com.au/tmcgrath

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