5.1.8 How to realize placing the same goods adjacent to each other

When using LoadMaster to design loading plan, different types of goods are generally mixed loaded in order to improve the space utilization of the container. However, it is often used to put the same items together so as to facilitate the loading and tally process during the on-site loading. How is it defined in LoadMaster?

Let's use an example to explain.

Cargo data:

Cargo NO.	quantity	Carton size (cm)
length	width	height
A	220	48.0	36.0	36.0
B	110	48.0	36.0	36.0
C	180	52.0	42.0	36.0
D	110	62.0	42.0	30.0
E	260	39.5	37.5	37.0

Loading requirements:

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

2) Put the same kind of goods together as much as possible to facilitate the tally process.

To calculate using how many 40GPs to install.

According to the loading requirements, the task type [Loading Container /Multiple Cargoes] should be selected and click to enter.

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. In this case, we need calculate using how many 40GPs to install. Click [Import from Database], check the 40GP 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".

Step 3: Set the loading rules on the [Loading Rules] page. Since the same kind of goods are required to be placed together as much as possible, it is necessary to select the [Place the same cargoes next to each other] under the [Stacking Method], and pay attention to the setting of the cross depth.

So what is the cross depth? It will be more intuitive through the following example diagram.

The different colors in the picture represent different products. As you can see in the picture on the left, after installing a product, even if there is idle space above and on the right, the next product will not be loaded here. The reason is that the cross depth is set to "0", and the corresponding loading rate is 88%. In the picture on the right, there is a partial mix and match between the two adjacent products. The reason is that cross depth is set to 1 meter, and at this time the loading rate is increased to 92.46%. That is the importance of setting the crossing depth.

The default value of the cross depth in the system is 2 meters. In this case, you can first generate plan at the default value. Click [Optimize] above to get the loading plan. In the container list on the left, you can see that this batch of goods can be loaded by using one 40GP.

Through the 3D scheme diagram, it can be seen that the same cargoes are placed together. Different cargoes are crossed partially because the [cross depth] is set to 2 meters.

If the crossover depth is set to 0, see what changes in the scheme.

Click [Optimize] to regenerate the plan. This batch of goods is not loaded over by one 40GP. Therefore one 40GP can't be enough to install and one more is needed. So when setting the [Place the same cargoes next to each other] parameter, you must pay attention to the setting of the [cross depth].

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.