In formulating a position on declaring bale weight tolerances in the pre-sale auction catalogue it is noted that:
- Bale weights are not certified?
- Most brokers do not collect bale data from AWTA, most record the bale numbers and weights, and transmit this data to AWTA.
- With non-tested sale lots, there is no AWTA involvement. Therefore we need a process soley ‘within the sellers system’.
- The bale weight transmitted is only the ‘declared’ weight – e.g. not the weight at dump. There is evidence that the bale weights may be over 204kg, but recorded as that, with a commitment to bale weight adjust at a later date that never happens=; in these cases EDI data is still transmitted as 204kg
- There will need to be some further calculation by seller to ‘search’ bale data, for each lot to be transmitted, to calculate required data – so there is a ‘cost’ involved.
- Both the ‘heavy’ and ‘light’ bale data needs to be transmitted, as different sectors place different importance on each. For example, the heavy bales for OH&S and container opening, and light for bale stacking.
- Not all buyers require, or place significance, on this data – for example some bales will be rehandled ‘locally’, or shipped un-dumped.
- The weight ‘limits’ vary dependent upon the micron, and may change over time.
- It is only the catalogue transmission that ‘excludes’ this bale weight data.
- What about buyers who do not ‘pick up’ EDI catalogues – is the printed catalogue to be altered?
- The big problem will not be affected! What to do when a seller sells bales outside the bale weight ‘limits’?
Where – does the data go in the EDI file?
At ‘Brand’ level (79A) - no space
At the ‘Lot’ level (20) – 4 & 1 space
At the ‘Lot Extension’ level (21A) – 2 spaces
At the Lot AWEX level (21C – AWEX Data) – 21 spaces – but this is a conditional record so not available to buyers!
A new record – is it worth it?
What – is to be transmitted?
A simple indicator identifying a lot as having bales outside the ‘regulations’ may be sufficient to filter the lot. In this case the basic lot record (20) could be used. The problem with this is that it falls into the usual problem of an empty field means the seller has not adjusted the software, or there are no bale weights outside the regulations? This type of transmission is more frequent than the incidence of bale weight problems.
Transmitting the lightest and heaviest bale at least indicates that the seller is sending such data. However it does not show how many bales under or over.
It is possible to transmit, within available spaces:
- A flag indicating an under/over bale weight lot – using the single space.
- How many bales under/over – in the 4 spaces, with 2 spaces for each.
While this approach has the above problem of spaces in each field - meaning what - at least those sellers who do not have an issue, do not need to make software changes.
But it comes back to the current problem of what happens if a seller sells lots with bale weights outside the ‘regulations’ and does not declare such in the pre-sale catalogue.