Shipment Lifecycle

Here’s a detailed explanation of each step in the Shipment Lifecycle to help you understand the complete process:

Export Operations

1. Manufactured

Goods are produced at the source location (factory or production facility). These goods are prepared for shipment as per the order or demand.

1. Packed

Once manufacturing is completed, goods are securely packaged to ensure safety during transit. Packaging is done following international standards for air freight to prevent damage and comply with regulations.

1. Booked

The shipper books the shipment with the airline. A Booking Confirmation is generated, and an Air Waybill (AWB) is executed, serving as a contract of carriage between the shipper and the airline.

1. Accepted at Warehouse

The shipment arrives at the airport's cargo warehouse, where it is physically checked, recorded in the system, and stored temporarily before loading. It is marked as "Ready for Carriage" (RCS) after meeting the airline’s conditions for safe transport.

1. Manifested

Shipment details are added to the Flight Manifest, a document listing all cargo on board for customs and airline purposes. This ensures the cargo complies with international shipping regulations.

1. Loaded into ULD

The cargo is consolidated into Unit Load Devices (ULDs), which are airfreight containers or pallets used to secure goods for transportation. Proper loading is essential to optimize space and maintain cargo safety.

1. Flight Departed

The ULDs are loaded into the aircraft. After all pre-flight checks are completed, the flight carrying the shipment departs from the origin airport.

Import Operations

1. Flight Arrived

The flight lands at the destination airport, and the shipment enters the import phase of the process.

1. ULD Unloaded

ULDs containing the shipment are unloaded from the aircraft and moved to the airport warehouse for processing.

1. Transferred or Stored

Depending on the consignee's readiness or customs clearance, shipments are either:

Transferred directly to the consignee or next transport vehicle.

Temporarily stored in the airport warehouse.

1. Shipment Removed from ULD and Scanned

Cargo is de-consolidated from the ULD, and individual packages are scanned for identification. This is critical for customs clearance and ensuring no package is lost.

1. Consignee Notified

The recipient (consignee) is informed that the shipment has arrived at the destination and is ready for customs clearance or delivery.

1. Delivered

After customs clearance, the shipment is handed over to the consignee or their designated transporter, completing the delivery process.

Lifecycle Abbreviations and Detailed Flow

Here’s how the lifecycle steps connect using the abbreviations:

1. BKD (Booked): Shipment booking is completed with the airline.
2. RCS (Ready for Carriage): Shipment is accepted at the warehouse after meeting airline conditions.
3. PRE (Pre-Manifested): Shipment details are submitted to customs for clearance before departure.
4. MAN (Manifested): Shipment is officially added to the flight manifest.
5. DEP (Departure): Flight carrying the shipment departs from the origin airport.
6. ARR (Arrival): Flight lands at the destination airport.
7. RCF (Received from Flight): Shipment is unloaded and acknowledged at the destination airport.
8. NFD (Notified for Delivery): Consignee is notified about the arrival of the shipment.
9. AWD (Available for Delivery): Shipment is cleared and ready for pickup or delivery.
10. DLV (Delivered): Shipment is delivered to the consignee, completing the lifecycle.

Practical Use Cases for PL/SQL Developers in This Process:

Data Validation: Ensure AWB, ULD, and manifest data are accurate in the database.

Tracking Systems: Develop and maintain procedures for tracking shipment statuses (e.g., BKD → RCS → DEP → ARR).

Customs Integration: Automate the submission of pre-manifested data to customs systems.

Audit Logs: Implement triggers to record lifecycle events for regulatory compliance.

Reporting: Generate reports on delays, successful deliveries, and exceptions (e.g., damaged cargo).

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