June 2008

More Unique Features of the Cube-IQ Load Planning Software (Part Two)

Product Configurations

Cube-IQ allows the user to define multiple ‘configurations’ for a given product, so that the system can select automatically between, for example, loading loose units, boxes of ten units, or pallets of two hundred. Each configuration can even be given a priority/preference.

Rolls, Cylinders and Tubes

One of the most challenging loading scenarios is that of loading cylinders, rolls or tubes on their side. They settle, roll away, or just don’t ever seem to want to fit!

Detail: Cube-IQ's sophisticated roll / cylinder / tube handling.

Balance, interleaving and stability all play a key role in the success and above all safety of this type of load. The loading algorithm can be tuned for paper rolls, drums, and many other cylindrical products. And of course rolls can be loaded with true interleaving to maximise volume utilization.

L Shapes, T Shapes, U Shapes

Originally developed specifically for the furniture industry, this module understands how to pack challenging shapes such as sofas and chairs to minimize dead space.

Figure 9. Mixed furniture load showing grouping, load balancing and interlocking sofa shapes.

This concept has been extended to allow for definition of complex shapes by utilizing our unique “object configuration” interface, covering requirements such as nesting, interlocking and grouped items.

Trapezoidal Shapes

The latest implementation of the shape-hanling algorithm now also loads trapezoidal or pyramid shaped objects. A good example of this is the packing used for shipping guitars and other stringed instruments. Watch this space for a screenshot. It's quite something!

Yet More Unique Features of the Cube-IQ Load Planning Software (Part Three)

Difficult Items, Grouping and Complex Loading Rules

Take those glass table tops. Put them in the truck… wait, they can’t go at the bottom of the truck, they’ll break. Wait, they have to be stacked on their sides, unless they’re the topmost item in the load, then they can go flat. Wait, you can only stack three of them together. Wait, they need a margin around them for padding… wait… wait…

Does this sound familiar? Chances are, the developers at MagicLogic have heard it before too, and made sure that Cube-IQ understands how your products need to be handled. The interface allows you to define complex rules for each of your products. In fact going several steps beyond that – allowing you to specify how single products, groups of products and pallets of products should be prioritized, picked, padded, loaded, braced and unloaded.

Products can also be grouped with partner items (for example as a table and set of six chairs) to ensure that orders are not split across containers.

ULD’s and COG’s

Unit Load Devices (ULD’s) are a particular challenge to Load Optimizers. As can be seen from their unique shape, stacking items into such a container is no longer an exercise in aligning to vertical or horizontal edges.

This is yet another unique part of Cube-IQ’s capabilities. Handling of these and other irregular-shaped containers is automatic and usually results in a significant improvement over manual attempts. Any shape of container can be defined within the system for maximum fit to your physical containers.

ULD with refrigeration unit showing Cube-IQ's effectiveness at building a truly efficient load within difficult spaces.

No matter what type of container you load, Cube-IQ maintains an impressive list of additional abilities. A well-balanced load is vital. While several systems on the market are able to report the Center of Gravity (COG) for the load, Cube-IQ goes the extra mile and is able to build the load around user-definable tolerances that ensure the COG is where you need it to be. This can be extended to ensure that axle weight limits and weight ratios – as many axles as you need – are honored.

Carrying on with those Unique Features (Part Four)

Prioritization and Sequencing

Prioritization lets you build a load which is guaranteed to contain all the essential products that you require. This can be followed by non-essentials that nevertheless make good sense to load – utilizing the maximum space and minimizing costs whenever practicable.

Sequenced loading showing how products are grouped so that they can be unloaded in the correct sequence at each stop during a multi-drop trip. In this case a six drop trip is shown, demonstrating how the load is built so that all items are accessible at the right moment. Color indicates the drop location.

Do you pack by picking sequence? Pick by packing sequence? Load by drop sequence? Cube-IQ can be driven by your requirements, or can help you define them.

Products can be arranged to ensure the load is put together – or taken apart – in the sequence that you need.

Cube-IQ: True 3D Drag & Drop Load Editing

Edit your loads in real time, in true 3D, with Cube-IQ’s fully interactive load editing module. Spin the load around, grab boxes and drag them to a new location, add and delete products… Cube-IQ will update the load plan as you work.

Here we are going to reorganize the doorway of a loaded truck. First we click & drag the brown boxes out of the way to give us some space and select the single green box that we would like to work with:

The Load Edit toolbox contains intuitive functions to select, turn, tip, align and swap products around, all with the click of your mouse button.

Movement and alignment is a snap – literally. Simply click & drag the box to the approximate position that you require and let Cube-IQ do the hard work of precise alignment, snapping boxes into the correct place as you work.

Here we see how, with three clicks of the mouse, the green box is turned and lined up with its buddies – turned, aligned-left and aligned-back.

Finally we decide to un-stack the two last boxes. Turn, lift, align… the job is done! This whole process took just a few moments.

Of course, true 3D editing means being able to work with any view that you require. A simple mouse gesture repositions the container to the viewing angle you require for the clearest possible view of the load as you work. This is all accomplished in real-time thanks to Cube-IQ's powerful graphics engine.

Localization for Cube-IQ

Translation and local terminology

The Cube-IQ software suite can already be run in many languages. Additional languages can be added without new software releases. In fact, the entire system can be translated on-the-fly. Reports can be created in a secondary language via a simple language selection menu.

Every term can also be localized to work with your internal terminology and jargon. For example, you can switch Cube-IQ’s default term “container” for “pallet” or “skid” automatically.

Languages currently available: English, French, German, Dutch, Italian, Spanish, Portuguese, Polish, Chinese, and Japanese. Other languages are being added as quickly as possible.

Units

The Cube-IQ software suite can work in multiple units that can be switched on the fly, or even mixed. It is perfectly feasible to maintain your database in inches / cubic feet and pounds, yet plan a load into a metric container dimensioned in centimeters, cubic meters and kilograms. 100% accurate conversions are maintained between units, and can be switched back and forth in the system for easy visualization.

Reports can be switched into units appropriate to the locale where the load is to be physically built.