Polski (PL) 
English (United Kingdom) 
Advanced Automation for Warehouse Logistics
TL;DR: The Essentials
What is the Packing Proposal? An intelligent logic engine in IFS Cloud that calculates the most space-efficient way to pack multiple shipment lines into various Handling Units (HUs) like boxes or pallets.
- Core Logic: Balances part volume, weight, and dimensions against HU capacity.
- Strategy: Allows prioritizing either maximum box utilization or minimum travel distance for pickers.
- Key Benefit: Reduces "shipping air" and consolidates orders into the fewest possible containers automatically.
What Problem Does This Article Solve?
In traditional warehouse environments, manual decisions lead to high costs and inefficiencies. This deep dive into IFS Cloud Packing Proposal solves:
- Inconsistent Packing: Standardization of groups.
- Freight Inefficiency: Automatic HU selection.
- Manual Bottlenecks: Faster dock operations.
- Warehouse Traffic: Optimized pick-to-box routes.
1. Understanding the Packing Proposal Concept
Unlike standard "Pack according to Instruction", the Packing Proposal is a dynamic multi-line optimization tool. It evaluates the entire "bucket" of reserved shipment lines and plays a mathematical version of Tetris to fit them into predefined Handling Unit Types.
2. How the Algorithm Decides: The Logic Steps
- Initial Fit Attempt: Starts from the smallest possible HU and scales up.
- Handling Large Quantities: Recursive loops for volume exceeding large boxes.
- Dynamic Sorting: Prioritizing Descending Volume (utilization) or Ascending Route Order (labor efficiency).
"The Packing Proposal algorithm acts as a digital bridge between order management and physical logistics, ensuring that what you plan in the ERP is physically possible in the truck."
3. Strategic Configuration & Basic Data
Max Volume Utilization (%)
A setting of 80-85% is recommended. Real-world packing involves dunnage and irregular shapes; 100% utilization is rarely physically achievable.
Handling Mix Source Objects
| Setting | Result |
|---|---|
| Never | One box per order number. High security, low space efficiency. |
| Always | Maximized consolidation across orders for the same shipment. |
| Small Source Objects | Best of both worlds: mixes only items smaller than the largest box. |
5. Limitations and Constraints
- Serial and Catch UoM: Currently not supported in automated proposals.
- Master Data Integrity: Missing volume/weight skips the line.
- Single Level Only: Does not natively propose "Boxes inside Pallets" in one step.
