5.1.19 How to realize the requirement of choosing the container with the highest loading rate

When goods are loaded into containers (vehicles, packing boxes), the loading requirement may be not to choose the container with the least quantity, but the container with the highest volume utilization rate for loading. How is it defined in LoadMaster?

Let's explain through a simple example:

Cargo data:

name	quantity	Length（cm）	width（cm）	height（cm）
A	61	26	32	24
B	28	31	26	57
C	24	27	25	22
D	40	34	25	36
E	35	41	36	21

Loading requirements:

1)All goods can only be placed as the height is vertical to the ground.

2)Calculate how the goods are packed into cartons. There are two types of cartons, the size of which is: 180*80*100cm, 228*134*100cm.

3)Choose the type of cartons with a higher loading rate.

According to the current loading requirements, the task type [Loading Box/Multi Cargoes] should be selected.

Enter the [Basic Information] interface. The items in this page is optional, and users can fill in the PO number, order number or destination information according to actual work requirements for later check. Next, start to designing the plan:

Step 1: Click [Cargo] on the left to enter the cargo interface. For there are lots of cargo types, you should add them in batches by [Add Cargo>Import From Excel]. Firstly, click [Add Cargo>Get Excel Template] to download the Excel template and save it to a certain location in your computer.

Secondly, fill in the template with the cargo information.

①Copy the name, quantity, length, width, height, and weight (gross weight of a single box) of the goods into the template, which are required items. Pay attention to the matching of the units. “Weight” refers to the gross weight of a single carton or box of goods. If the cargo is too light, the “Weight” can be ignored and not filled in, and the system will default to "1".

②Then define the load orientations of the goods. For it is required that cargoes can be placed as the height is vertical to the ground, that is only “stand” and “stand & rotate” are allowed, you should fill in “0” under the “allowed” Column of other orientations. “0” means not allowed such load orientation, leave it blank or “1” means allowed.

For there are no other requirements, you do not need to set other parameters, leaving them as the default value. The specific details of each parameter can be found in this guidance documentation. Save and close the template when finishing.

Thirdly, return the [Cargo] page, click [Add Cargo>Import From Excel], choose the template in the dialog box, and open it. Then the cargo information will be imported to the task.

Step 2: Click [Container] on the left to enter the [Container] interface. Common container information has been stored in the database, but the carton size in this case has not maintained in the database. You should click [Carton] under [Add Container] , then edit the name of the carton, such as "carton 228*134*100". For the outer diameter of the carton will not affect the loading result, you can leave it out or fill in the same size as the inner diameter. If the cartons will be loaded into container after the goods are packed in cartons in the later period, the outer diameter must be filled in truthfully. And the second type of carton should be added in the same way.

Note: If these two types of cartons are used frequently, you can maintain them into the database in order to avoid repeated input in the future. Details please refer to "Container Management".

Step 3: Click [Loading Rules] on the left to enter the [Loading Rules] page. Due to the requirement of using containers with a higher loading rate, the [Container Selection Method] needs to be selected as [Select containers with the highest volume usage rate].

Finally, click [Optimize] above or click [Loading Plan] on the left to calculate. According to the container list on the left, it can be seen that this batch of goods used one “carton 228*134*100”, and two “carton 180*80*100”. In the middle is the 3D loading diagram. On the right side of the figure, there are cargo statistics, loading steps and balance analysis of the current container. The volume utilization of the container can be seen below the graph.

If select [Container selection method] as [Automatically select containers to minimize the quantity of containers used for loading], recalculate and get the plan, LoadMaster will select only two “carton 228*134*100” to load. The number of containers is the least, but the volume utilization rate is low.

After the scheme audit is completed, you can use your mobile phone to guide the on-site loading and download the loading report to make the packing list and customs declaration. Details please refer to this guidance book.