Cargo Grouping: "Indivisible Set", "Anti-theft", "Dangerous cargos"

Grouping feature allows assigning all or part of the cargo to one or more groups with specific characteristics. There are three types of groups:

'Indivisible Set' Cargo Group – a group of items (SKU’s), of which only a complete set should be loaded into any one vehicle.
'Anti-theft' Cargo Group – a group of items (SKU’s), of which a complete set should never be loaded into the same vehicle.
'Dangerous cargo' Cargo Group – a group of items (SKU’s), of which two or more different SKU’s should never be loaded together into the same vehicle.

IMPORTANT: All three group types can be used simultaneously and for the same load, but each SKU can be assigned to only one of the groups.

'Indivisible Set' Cargo Group

Description:

'Indivisible Set' – a group of items, of which only a complete set should be loaded into any one vehicle. A set cannot be split up between vehicles – ether a complete set is loaded, or none of the items, even if only a single item from the set does not fit into a the same vehicle.

IMPORTANT: Individual items of a set will not necessarily be placed adjacent to each other within the cargo space; however, once the entire cargo is unloaded, complete sets can be assembled. If only certain groups of items will be unloaded at the delivery destination, without moving the rest of the cargo (for example, when the same vehicle is successively unloaded at multiple stops), the Loading Order feature should be used when the Loading Plan for the vehicle is prepared.

Examples:

120 sets of dining room furniture must be delivered to a single warehouse. Each set includes one table and six chairs. A General “Dining Set” Group is created; the group consists of six chairs and one table, and 120 of these groups must be delivered. Since the entire shipment will not fit into a single truck, multiple trucks must be used for the delivery.

For each truck, Packer3d will automatically create an optimized Loading Plan for complete furniture sets. Chairs will not go into one truck, and tables - into another. Even if some of the trucks are delayed, the warehouse will still receive complete, usable sets with the trucks that do arrive on time.
Various cargos must be delivered to a number of warehouses by several trucks. Each truck is carrying items from several shipping invoices. A group of items for each shipping invoice is created; this way, the items form the same shipping invoice will not get spit up between different truckloads. This approach, in combination with the Loading Order feature, can improve the efficiency of urban deliveries.

Grouping is not used; the items are mixed between vehicles.

Three groups of items are used; each group consists of same-type boxes. Only a complete group is loaded into a single truck.

Moderately Incompatible Cargo Group (Anti-theft)

Description:

Moderately Incompatible Group – a group of items (SKU’s), of which a complete set should never be loaded into the same vehicle. At least one of the set’s SKU’s should not be loaded with the rest. This group type is mainly used for reducing the risk of theft during the transportation of cargo.

Examples:

500 split air conditioning systems must be delivered. A split air conditioning system consists of a set of components that are assembled during installation, and each component of a set is shipped in a separate box. Even if only one of the components is missing, a complete system cannot be assembled. Thus, in case of large shipment it can be prudent to split the sets between different truckloads. Four components of the split air conditioning system are included into a Moderately Incompatible “Split A/C Systems” Group.

Packer3d will automatically create an optimized Loading Plan for the entire shipment, and not a single complete set of components will be loaded into the same truck. Theft of a single truckload would be pointless, since not even one complete air conditioning system can be assembled from the components, transported by a single truck.

Highly Incompatible Cargo Group (Dangerous cargos)

Description:

Highly Incompatible Group – a group of items (SKU’s), of which two or more different SKU’s should never be loaded together into the same vehicle; only items of the same type (SKU) from the group can be placed in the same truck. If the group consists of five different SKU’s, five separate vehicles will be required to transport the entire cargo group. This group type can be used for shipping dangerous cargos, or for further enhancing the protection from theft during transportation.

Examples:

Same example with split air conditioning systems as in the Moderately Incompatible Group, except that the four components are included into a Highly Incompatible “Split A/C Systems” Group.

Packer3d will automatically create an optimized Loading Plan for the entire shipment, and since none of the four components are compatible with each other, each type of components will be loaded into a separate truck. If the load planning task included other cargo items, the space, left over after loading the air conditioning components, would be used for the additional items.

Managing Groups:

A new, empty group is created by clicking the button, corresponding to the group type, in the Cargo List window.

Previously created items can be added to an existing group by moving them with the Arrows; new items can also be created directly within a group.

To remove an item from a group without deleting the item itself, use the Arrows.

To clear a group by deleting all of the group’s items, use the Clear Group button.

The entire group, or an item within a group, can be deleted by using the Remove Selected Item from the List button.

Grouping feature is activated by selecting the Use Item Grouping for Vehicle Loading checkbox in Algorithm Parameters window.