When you set up a collection process you need to understand whatan item hierarchy is. The data for all levels of that hierarchy arerequired in order to successfully register trade item informationinto the GDSN and to synchronize data with your Trading Partners.

The following units of measurement are examples of a four tierhierarchy for an item:

• (EA) Each
• (PK) Inner-Pack/Pack
• (CA) Case
• (PL) Pallet
  

Not all items will necessarily have a hierarchy associated withthem. Large items such as a refrigerator or washing machine arenot typically packed more than one to a pallet. If the consumer unitis shipped to a Trading Partner in a box or carton containing morethan one of the consumer unit items there will be a hierarchy toreport.

This is an example of what your hierarchy would look like the intoolkit:

The header rows in the Toolkit are color coded so that it is easilydetermined where data is required conditional or optional accordingto the GDSN. The color codes are explained below:

Although some fields are in green indicating that they are optionalwith the GDSN some Trading Partners might require those fields tobe populated in order for the item data to be accepted . Your dedicatedBusiness Analyst will work with you to determine the attribute fieldsyou will need to supply for the Trading Partner that you are targeting.

When you have gathered and entered all of the item data you cansubmit the data file or Toolkit for validation.

For more information see Submit a Toolkit.