5.1.3 How to make LoadMaster intelligently choose the most suitable container

When there are multiple specifications of goods and a variety of optional containers, how to calculate which specifications of containers (vehicles, packing boxes) are more suitable for these goods to be loaded, and how many containers need to be used?

Let's explain more through an example

Cargo data:

Name	Quantity	Length（mm）	Width（mm）	Height（mm）	Weight（kg）
A	15	860	950	2020	10
B	15	860	980	2020	8
C	24	980	980	1120	7
D	42	680	600	640	5
E	40	610	600	600	3
F	20	820	710	790	8
G	25	590	520	560	2
H	40	670	550	610	5
I	54	870	855	270	17.7
K	65	890	690	450	21.5
L	60	1500	690	470	24.6
M	40	820	560	340	18.9

Loading requirements:

1) The goods can only be placed as the flaps of the carton faces upwards.

2) Calculate which size of container is more suitable for these goods, and how many are required to be loaded?

According to the current loading requirements, the task type [Loading Container/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".

② Then define the load orientations of the goods. For it is required that cargoes can be placed as the flaps of the carton faces upwards, 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. For the user does not know the type and quantity of container that should be used, it is necessary to add all the commonly used container types so that the system can select the most appropriate container from such containers.

For the commonly used container information is already maintained in the database, click [Import from Database], check the 20GP, 40GP and 40HC in the pop-up box, and then click [Add]. Edit the corner castings size and reserved size of the container, the size of the corner castings is 10*10*10cm. Precautions for defining the reserved size, please refer to "How to simulate carton expansion and manual interval".

When there is no required container in the container database, you can add the container directly. Then click [+] to edit the length, width, height, and maximum weight of the container. You can also maintain the container you have edited just now to the database for further work and avoid repeated input; if There are too many container types, you can do the [Container Management] first. For details, please refer to "Container Management".

Step 3: Click [Loading Rules] on the left to enter the [Loading Rules] page. For there is no special loading demands, you needn't change the default rules in this page.

Finally, click [Optimize] above or click [Loading Plan] on the left to calculate. In the list on the left, you can see that the system has automatically selected two 40HC and one 40GP to load; click the container name respectively to see the 3D loading diagram of each container. On the right side of the figure, there are cargo statistics, loading steps and balance analysis of the current container. For details, please refer to the "Loading Plan".

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.