Container packing strategies

A container packing strategy is a strategy that you can use to define item allocations across containers. This article explains the differences between the Pack into all open containers and Pack into current container only strategies.

• Pack into all open containers – The system must check all open containers that have already been created during the containerization cycle, to make sure that the item will fit into one of them. During packing, the system checks each item to determine whether it will fit into any of the previously created containers. If the item won't fit into an existing container, the system creates a new container and continues until it has finished packing the whole order.

  For example, n ordered items require containerization. In the worst case, every time that the system processes an item that doesn't fit into any existing container, it will do a total of ([(n – 1) × (n + 1)] ÷ 2) checks to evaluate whether the item fits into the existing containers.

• Pack into current container only – The system must check only the most recently created container to make sure that the item will fit into it. During packing, the system checks each item to determine whether it will fit into the most recently created container. If the item won't fit into that container, the system creates a new container and continues until it has finished packing the whole order.

  For example, n ordered items require containerization. In the worst case, the system will do a total of (n – 1) checks to evaluate whether the item fits into the containers.

Example of the flow for container packing strategies

You set up the following items for containerization.

Item	Physical dimensions (width × depth × height)	Weight
HDMI Cable 6'	1 × 1 × 1	1
HDMI Cable 12'	2 × 1 × 1	1
HDMI Cable 18'	3 × 1 × 1	2

You also set up the following box that will be used for packaging.

Container	Physical dimensions (length × width × height)	Weight	Volume
Medium Box	6 × 3 × 2	10	100

Finally, you set up an order that has the following products and quantities.

Sales order line	Quantity
HDMI Cable 12'	9
HDMI Cable 18'	8
HDMI Cable 6'	13

The following table summarizes how containerization works when you use the Pack into all open containers strategy and when you use the Pack into current container only strategy.

Pack into all open containers	Pack into current container
HDMI Cable 12': Create a new container, CONT0001. Put 9 ea into container CONT0001.	HDMI Cable 12': Create a new container, CONT0001. Put 9 ea into container CONT0001.
HDMI Cable 18': Check whether the item can fit into container CONT0001. Create a new container, CONT0002. Put 5 ea into container CONT0002. Create a new container, CONT0003. Put 3 ea into container CONT0003.	HDMI Cable 18': Check whether the item can fit into container CONT0001. Create a new container, CONT0002. Put 5 ea into container CONT0002. Create a new container, CONT0003. Put 3 ea into container CONT0003.
HDMI Cable 6': Check whether the item can fit into container CONT0001. Put 1 ea into container CONT0001. Check whether the item can fit into container CONT0002. Check whether the item can fit into container CONT0003. Put 4 ea into container CONT0003. Create a new container, CONT0004. Put 8 ea into container CONT0004.	HDMI Cable 6': Check whether the item can fit into container CONT0003. Put 4 ea into container CONT0003. Create a new container, CONT0004. Put 9 ea into container CONT0004.

Example scenario: Pack single orders per container

This section presents a scenario where the system is set up to consolidate multiple orders into one shipment. Therefore, containerization will be done from the sales order to ensure that every order that contains multiple products is packed into its own container.

This functionality lets you handle scenarios where you must pack only one sales order into each container, so that the distribution center can cross-dock full containers between retail stores. In addition to the retail scenarios (order per retail store and shipping to a distribution center for cross-docking) this technique is also commonly used in lean supply chains (sales order per just-in-time production line).

This scenario shows how you can decrease the number of containers that are evaluated during packing by using the Pack into current container only strategy for containerization.

Prerequisites

Turn on the Consolidate shipments feature in your system

This scenario uses the Consolidate shipments feature. As of Supply Chain Management version 10.0.29, the feature is mandatory and can't be turned off. If you're running a version older than 10.0.29, then admins can turn this functionality on or off by searching for the Consolidate shipments feature in the Feature management workspace.

Make demo data available

This scenario references values and records that are included in the standard demo data that is provided for Microsoft Dynamics 365 Supply Chain Management. If you want to use the values that are provided here as you do the exercises, be sure to work in an environment where the demo data is installed, and set the legal entity to USMF before you begin.

Inspect or create container types

To inspect your container types, or to create new container types if they are required, follow these steps.

1. Go to Warehouse management > Setup > Containers > Container types.

2. Make sure that each of the following container types is available in your demo data. Edit or create container types as required.

   • Container type 1:

     • Container type code: Box-Large
     • Description: Large Box
     • Maximum net weight: 100
     • Volume: 400
     • Length: 4
     • Width: 10
     • Height: 10

   • Container type 2:

     • Container type code: Box-Medium
     • Description: Medium Box
     • Maximum net weight: 50
     • Volume: 200
     • Length: 2
     • Width: 10
     • Height: 10

   • Container type 3:

     • Container type code: Box-Small
     • Description: Small Box
     • Maximum net weight: 20
     • Volume: 100
     • Length: 1
     • Width: 10
     • Height: 10

Inspect or create container groups

To inspect your container groups, or to create new container groups if they are required, follow these steps.

1. Go to Warehouse management > Setup > Containers > Container groups.

2. Make sure that the following container group is available in your demo data. If it isn't available, select New to create it.

   • Container group ID: Boxes
   • Description: Box sizes

3. On the Details FastTab for the Boxes container group, make sure that the following lines exist. If they don't, select New to add them.

   • Line 1:

     • Sequence number: 1
     • Container type: Box-Large
     • Container utilization percentage: 100

   • Line 2:

     • Sequence number: 2
     • Container type: Box-Medium
     • Container utilization percentage: 100

   • Line 3:

     • Sequence number: 3
     • Container type: Box-Small
     • Container utilization percentage: 100

Create a new container build template

To create a new container build template, follow these steps.

1. Go to Warehouse management > Setup > Containers > Container build template.

2. Select New to create a container build template that has the following settings:

   • Sequence number: 1
   • Container template ID: Box
   • Container group ID: Boxes
   • Base query types: Sales allocation line
   • Wave step code: 234
   • Allow split picks: Yes
   • Container packing strategy: Pack into current container only
   • Pack by directive unit: No

3. While the row for the new template is still selected, select Edit query on the Action Pane.

4. A standard query editor dialog box appears. On the Sorting tab, select Add to add a row that has the following settings:

   • Table: Temporary work transactions
   • Derived table: Temporary work transactions
   • Field: Order number
   • Search direction: Ascending

   Important

   To avoid cycling over all the other open containers, and to speed up the process by checking one container at a time, use the Pack into current container only strategy in addition to sorting by order number. This combination will work like a work break on a work template.

5. Select OK to close the query editor dialog box.

6. While the row for the new template is still selected, select Container mixing constraints on the Action Pane.

   You will now add a constraint that puts items from a single order into a single container. Items from any other order will be put into a separate container.

7. Select New to create a mixing constraint that has the following settings:

   • Table: Sales orders
   • Field select: SalesId (The field will appear as Sales order in the grid.)

8. Select OK to add the constraint.

9. Close the page.

Set up a wave template for containerization

To set up a wave template, follow these steps.

1. Go to Warehouse management > Setup > Waves > Wave templates.

2. In the list pane, set the Wave template type field to Shipping.

3. Select the 63 Containerization template in the list.

4. On the Action Pane, select Edit.

5. On the Methods FastTab, in the Selected methods column, find the following line:

   • Method name: containerization
   • Name: Containerization

6. Set the Wave step code field for the line to 234.

Set up a work template

To set up a work template, follow these steps.

1. Go to Warehouse management > Setup > Work > Work templates.

2. Set the Work order type field to Sales orders.

3. In the Overview grid, find and select the work template that should be used for packing single orders per container. For this scenario, select the 63 Pick to container template.

4. On the Action Pane, select Edit query.

5. A standard query editor dialog box appears. On the Sorting tab, add the following lines:

   • Line 1:

     • Table: Temporary work transactions
     • Derived table: Temporary work transactions
     • Field: Shipment ID
     • Search direction: Ascending

   • Line 2:

     • Table: Temporary work transactions
     • Derived table: Temporary work transactions
     • Field: Order number
     • Search direction: Ascending

   • Line 3:

     • Table: Temporary work transactions
     • Derived table: Temporary work transactions
     • Field: Container ID
     • Search direction: Ascending

6. Select OK to close the query editor dialog box.

7. You receive the following message: "Grouping will be reset, continue?" Select Yes to continue.

8. While the 63 Pick to container template is still selected, select Work header breaks on the Action Pane.

   You will now apply settings to break the work so that each container in the order is linked to one work order.

9. Select the Group by this field checkbox for each row on the Work header breaks page (Shipment ID, Order number, and Container ID).

10. Close the page.

Set up shipment consolidation policies

To set up a shipment consolidation policy, follow these steps.

1. Go to Warehouse management > Setup > Release to warehouse > Shipment consolidation policies.
2. In the list pane, set the Policy type field to Sales orders.
3. Select the Default policy in the list.
4. On the Action Pane, select Edit.
5. On the Consolidation fields FastTab, in the Selected fields list, select the row where the Field name field is set to Order number.
6. Select the Remove button to move the field to the Remaining fields list.
7. On the Action Pane, select Save.

Set up physical dimensions for the product

To set up physical dimensions for the products that will be used in this scenario, follow these steps.

1. Go to Product information management > Products > Released products.

2. Select the product where the Item number field is set to A0001.

3. On the Action Pane, on the Manage inventory tab, in the Warehouse group, select Physical dimensions.

4. On the Physical dimensions page, you should see the following line in the grid:

   • Unit: pcs
   • Gross weight: 3.00
   • Width: 2.00
   • Depth: 2.00
   • Height: 4.00
   • Volume: 16.00

5. Close the page.

6. Select the product where the Item number field is set to A0002.

7. On the Action Pane, on the Manage inventory tab, in the Warehouse group, select Physical dimensions.

8. On the Physical dimensions page, you should see the following line in the grid:

   • Unit: pcs
   • Gross weight: 4.00
   • Width: 3.00
   • Depth: 1.00
   • Height: 3.00
   • Volume: 9.00

Create sales order 1

To create a sales order, follow these steps.

1. Go to Sales and marketing > Sales orders > All sales orders.

2. On the Action Pane, select New.

3. A dialog box for creating a new sales order appears. Set the following values:

   • Customer account: US-001
   • Warehouse: 63

4. Select OK to create the sales order and close the dialog box.

5. The new sales order is opened. On the Sales order lines FastTab, add the following sales lines:

   • Line 1:

     • Item number: A0001
     • Quantity: 2

   • Line 2:

     • Item number: A0002
     • Quantity: 2

6. Select the first line, and then select Inventory > Reservation.

7. On the Reservation page, select Reserve lot. Then close the page.

8. Repeat the previous two steps for the second line.

9. Close the page.

Create sales order 2

To create a second sales order, follow these steps.

1. Go to Sales and marketing > Sales orders > All sales orders.

2. On the Action Pane, select New.

3. A dialog box for creating a new sales order appears. Set the following values:

   • Customer account: US-001
   • Warehouse: 63

4. Select OK to create the sales order and close the dialog box.

5. The new sales order is opened. On the Sales order lines FastTab, add the following sales lines:

   • Line 1:

     • Item number: A0001
     • Quantity: 4

   • Line 2:

     • Item number: A0002
     • Quantity: 4

6. Select the first line, and then select Inventory > Reservation.

7. On the Reservation page, select Reserve lot. Then close the page.

8. Repeat the previous two steps for the second line.

9. Close the page.

Create the load

To create a load for each order that you created for this scenario and then release it to the warehouse, follow these steps.

1. Go to Warehouse management > Loads > Outbound load planning workbench.
2. On the Sales lines tab, find and select all the sales order lines from the sales orders that you created for this scenario.
3. On the Action Pane, on the Supply and demand tab, in the Add group, select To new load. The selected order lines are added to a new load.
4. In the Load template assignment dialog box, in the Load template ID field, select a load template, such as 40' Container.
5. Select OK to close the dialog box.
6. In the Loads section, find and select the load that you just created.
7. Select Release > Release to warehouse.
8. In the Release to warehouse dialog box, select OK to release the selected load to the warehouse.

Verify the shipments and containers

The following procedure lets you verify the shipments that have been created. Use it to review the order that you created for this scenario, to make sure that you've obtained the expected results.

1. Go to Warehouse management > Shipments > All shipments.
2. Find and select the shipment that was created for the load that you just released.
3. On the Action Pane, on the Transportation tab, select View containers.
4. Confirm that the items from the sales orders were containerized into two different containers.

Related information

• Containerization