Packing Rules

Why Packing Rules Matter

Packing rules are settings that aim bridge the gap between how customers order products and how those products are actually packaged when shipped. Here's why they're crucial:

The Challenge

Imagine a customer orders five t-shirts from your online store. Without packing rules:

  • The system might calculate shipping based on five separate satchels
  • This could lead to overcharging the customer for shipping
  • You might lose sales due to inflated shipping costs

The Solution

Packing rules simulate real warehouse packing decisions by:

  • Grouping items logically into packages
  • Considering weight and dimensional constraints
  • Matching how your team would actually pack items

Key Benefits

  1. Accurate Quotes: Since carriers charge based on package characteristics (not individual items), proper packing rules ensure accurate shipping quotes.
  2. Cost Efficiency: Prevents overcharging customers while ensuring you don't lose money on shipping.
  3. Streamlined Operations: Auto-applies "estimated" packages when creating consignments, speeding up warehouse processes.

Remember: The goal isn't perfect simulation of warehouse packing, but rather getting close enough for reasonable freight quotes and efficient operations.

Available Packing Methods

Before diving into rules configuration, it's crucial to understand the three available packing methods. Each method serves different business needs and product types.

1. Pack Each Item Individually

This method treats each item as a separate package, ideal for:

  • Heavy items where weight drives shipping cost
  • 3PLs that don't repackage items
  • Low-quantity orders (1-2 items typically)

Example Order Items

Item SKU Length Width Height Weight Item Type Qty
RED-SHIRT 20 20 3 0.2kg Satchel 1
BARBELL-5KG 20 15 15 5kg Carton 1
ROTARY-PHONE 30 30 30 10kg Carton 1

Resulting Packages

Item SKU Length Width Height Weight Item Type Qty
RED-SHIRT 20 20 3 0.2kg Satchel 1
BARBELL-5KG 20 15 15 5kg Carton 1
ROTARY-PHONE 30 30 30 10kg Carton 1

Requirements

If you wish to use this method, you must provide:

  • Product weights and dimensions for each SKU
  • Package type for each SKU (carton, satchel, pallet, etc.)

This data must either be:

  • Available in your platform system, OR
  • Manually uploaded to MachShip for each SKU

2. Weight-Based Packing

This method combines items into the smallest possible container based on total weight. Perfect for:

  • Clothing and soft goods
  • Items with consistent weights
  • When dimensional constraints are less important

Example

For this example, we'll use the following available package types:

Item SKU Length Width Height Weight Limit Item Type
SATCH 20 30 10 1kg Satchel
CARTON-SM 30 30 30 5kg Carton
CARTON-LG 50 50 50 20kg Carton
SKID-A 75 75 75 150kg Skid
PALLET-A 100 100 120 375kg Pallet

Given an order containing:

  • 2 x RED-SHIRT (0.2kg each)
  • 1 x BARBELL-5KG (5kg)
  • 1 x ROTARY-PHONE (10kg)

Total weight: 15.4kg

Resulting Package

Item SKU Length Width Height Weight Item Type Qty
CARTON-LG 50 50 50 15.4kg Carton 1

Requirements

For this method, you must provide:

  1. Package Definitions:
    • Dimensions for each package
    • Weight limits for each package
    • Package type (carton, satchel, pallet, etc.)

3. Dimensional Item Packing

The most complex method, considering both dimensions and volume. Ideal for:

  • Mixed product types
  • When space efficiency matters
  • Complex multi-item orders

Box Selection Method

You can choose how the initial box is selected:

  1. Smallest Package for Largest Item

    • Allocates the smallest suitable package to the largest item
    • Tends to reduce dead space, but result in more packages

  2. Smallest Package for Total Volume

    • Allocates smallest package that fits as many items as possible based on total cubic volume
    • Tends to reduce final quantity of packages

Available Boxes

Box Name Length Width Height Weight Limit Type Volume
Small Box 30 20 10 5 kg Carton 6,000cm³
Medium Box 40 30 20 10 kg Carton 24,000cm³
Large Box 50 35 15 20 kg Carton 26,250cm³
X-Large Box 50 35 30 40 kg Carton 52,500cm³

Example Order

Item Length Width Height Weight Volume
Laptop 35 25 10 2 kg 8,750 cm³
Monitor 45 35 10 3 kg 15,750 cm³
Mouse 12 7 4 0.1 kg 336 cm³
Keyboard 40 15 5 0.5 kg 3,000 cm³

Packing Process (Using "Smallest Package for Largest Item")

  1. Start with Monitor (45x35x10cm, largest item by volume: 15,750 cm³)

    • Requires Large Box (50x35x15) minimum
    • Selected as first package
    • Large Box has 10,500cm³ remaining

  2. Try Laptop (8,750 cm³)

    • Dimensions: 35x25x10
    • Fits in Large Box with Monitor
    • Added to Package 1
    • Large Box has 1,750cm³ remaining

  3. Try Keyboard (3,000 cm³)

    • Dimensions: 40x15x5
    • Too large for remaining space in Large Box
    • Start new Medium Box (doesn't fit dimensionally in small box)

  4. Try Mouse (336 cm³)

    • Dimensions: 12x7x4
    • Fits in Medium Box with Keyboard
    • Added to Package 2

Final Result

Package Box Used Items Total Weight Space Used
1 Large Box Monitor, Laptop 5 kg 24,500 cm³ of 26,250 cm³
2 Medium Box Keyboard, Mouse 0.6 kg 3,336 cm³ of 24,000 cm³

If using "Smallest Package for Total Volume":

  • Total volume needed: 27,836 cm³
  • Would select X-Large Box (52,500 cm³)
  • All items in one package, but more dead space

Requirements

For this method, you must provide:

  1. Standard Package Definitions:

    • Dimensions for each package type
    • Package type (carton, satchel, pallet, etc.)
    • Weight limits (optional) for each package

  2. For Items to be Packed Individually:

    • Product weights and dimensions
    • Package type
    • This data must be in your platform or added to MachShip

Configuring Packing Rules

Multiple Rule Configuration

Rather than applying one method to all products, you can create multiple rules that:

  • Target specific products through filters
  • Apply different packing methods to those products
  • Work together in a specified order

Rule Priority and Filtering

Rules are processed in order, with each rule only handling matching products. Products that don't match continue to the next rule.

Available Filters:

  • Product Dimensions (e.g., length > 1.2m)
  • Product Weight thresholds
  • Product categories
  • Specific SKUs
  • Custom attributes
  • Total Order Weight
  • Total Order Cubic

Real-World Example: Sports Equipment Store

Rule Configuration:

  1. Rule: Long Equipment (Processed First)

    • Filter: Length > 1.2m
    • Method: Pack Items Individually
    • Applies to: Surfboards, skis, etc.

  2. Rule: Heavy Equipment (Processed Second)

    • Filter: Weight > 20kg
    • Method: Pack Items Individually
    • Applies to: Weight sets, exercise machines

  3. Rule: Apparel (Processed Third)

    • Filter: Category = "Clothing"
    • Method: Weight-Based Packing
    • Applies to: T-shirts, shorts, etc.
    • Packages: Standard Satchels, up to 3kg.

  4. Rule: Standard Items (Processed Last)

    • Filter: None (catches all remaining, unpacked items)
    • Method: Dimensional Item Packing
    • Applies to: Any items not caught by previous rules
    • Packages: Standard cartons

Example Order Processing

Order Contents:

1 x Surfboard (Length: 2m, Weight: 3kg)
2 x Dumbbells (Length: 0.3m, Weight: 25kg each)
3 x T-shirts (Length: 0.3m, Weight: 0.2kg each)
2 x Tennis Balls (Length: 0.1m, Weight: 0.1kg each)

Processing Steps:

  1. Rule: Long Equipment

    • Catches: Surfboard (length > 1.2m)
    • Result: Surfboard packed individually
    • Remaining items continue to next rule

  2. Rule: Heavy Equipment

    • Catches: Both dumbbells (weight > 20kg)
    • Result: Each dumbbell packed individually
    • Remaining items continue to next rule

  3. Rule: Apparel

    • Catches: All t-shirts
    • Result: T-shirts grouped into one package using weight-based packing
    • Remaining items continue to next rule

  4. Rule: Standard Items

    • Catches: Tennis balls
    • Result: Tennis balls packed using dimensional packing

Final Output:

Package 1: Surfboard (individual)
Package 2: Dumbbell 1 (individual)
Package 3: Dumbbell 2 (individual)
Package 4: 3 x T-shirts (weight-based)
Package 5: 2 x Tennis Balls (dimensional)

Additional Options

Heavy Or Oversize Product Handling

  • Items exceeding the largest box's weight limit or dimensional constraint can be automatically packed individually, or put in the largest box
  • Useful for exceptional cases without creating specific rules for every sku

Custom Box Sets

  • Each rule can use different box sets