Optimising order cubing -the process of efficiently arranging items within packages to minimise wasted space -is a pivotal strategy for enhancing warehouse productivity and efficiency. As e-commerce continues to surge, and consumer expectations for rapid delivery grow, effective order cubing ensures better space utilisation and reduces shipping costs, lowers the risk of damage to goods, and streamlines the picking and packing process. By leveraging advanced algorithms and intelligent software solutions, operators can drive optimized cubing.
What are the leading types of order cubing?
- Dynamic cubing – Dynamic cubing uses real-time data and sophisticated algorithms to determine the appropriate size boxes for each order and the optimal way to pack items into containers. This approach considers the actual dimensions and weight of the items in each order, calculating the most efficient packing strategy on the fly. It’s ideal for warehouses with high variability in order content and useful for e-commerce businesses where orders frequently contain a mix of different items.
Dynamic cubing can also involve cartonization, selecting the appropriate carton or box for a given set of items by using algorithms to evaluate their size and weight. It is ideal for e-commerce businesses with orders that vary significantly in size and weight.
Let’s look at an example of cartonization in action, using Lucas Systems’ Jennifer voice-directed software. Orders/picks are downloaded to the Jennifer system. Before these orders are marked as “available” for picking, Jennifer implements a cartonization process to determine the number and types of shipping cartons that will be used to ship the orders in a wave. The primary goal of the cartonization process to minimise the number of cartons required to ship a wave.
- 3D bin packing – 3D bin packing uses algorithms to simulate the three-dimensional packing of items into containers, aiming to maximise space utilisation by efficiently arranging items based on their volume and shape. This method drives highly efficient space optimisation, often achieving better packing density than simpler methods.
3D bin packing is particularly suitable for warehouses dealing with bulky or irregularly shaped items and is highly effective for businesses that ship large, multi-item orders.
- Volume-based cubing – Volume-based cubing focuses on the total volume of items in an order, calculating the cumulative volume and selecting a container that can accommodate it. This straightforward method ensures the chosen container has enough capacity for all items. This approach is appropriate for orders where items are relatively uniform in size and shape and is useful for fulfilment centres that handle high volumes of small to medium-sized items.
Practical implications and integration
These methods are often integrated into a WMS and used in conjunction with each other to achieve optimal results. For example, dynamic cubing might be combined with 3D bin packing for particularly complex orders to ensure both flexibility and space optimisation. Volume-based cubing can be used as an initial filter before applying cartonization to select the most appropriate box size.
Direct benefits of optimising order cubing
Maximising space utilisation by cubing orders allows warehouse staff to use the available space in containers more efficiently, reducing wasted space and the number of containers needed for the same volume of goods. This efficient cubing also reduces shipping costs by lowering the overall volume of shipments, as tightly packed packages reduce unused space and dimensional weight, potentially qualifying for lower shipping rates.
Properly cubed orders minimise damage by preventing items from shifting during transit. Ensuring stability by placing heavier items at the bottom lowers the centre of gravity, reducing the risk of tipping, while proper weight distribution prevents the collapse or deformation of boxes and pallets, maintaining the structural integrity of the package and ensuring handling safety.
Cubing orders speeds up order processing by organising items by size and shape, making it easier for warehouse staff to quickly locate and retrieve necessary items, resulting in faster processing times and shorter order fulfilment cycles.
Comments are closed.