Before returned items can be received into inventory, the packing slip for the order to which they belong must be updated. Just as the invoice update process is the update to the financial transaction, the packing slip update process is the physical update of the inventory record; that is, it commits the changes to inventory. In the case of returns, the steps that are assigned to the disposition action are implemented during packing slip update.

The packing slip update can be processed in either the item arrival journal or the return order.

As part of the packing slip posting process, the packing slip reference number from the customer's shipping documents can optionally be associated with the order lines. This association is for reference only. It does not result in any transactional updates.

If not all expected return items have arrived, include only the quantity that has been received in the packing slip update. Leave the remaining items on the order until the rest of the return shipment arrives.

Also, if an item is sent back from quarantine to the Shipping and Receiving department, such as when the quarantine inspector does not know where to store the item in inventory, the corresponding packing slip must be updated in order to properly register and act on the disposition code that is specified as a result of the quarantine.