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Shipping unit utilisation can be compromised by requirements elsewhere in the supply chain, for example by case dimensions, merchandising requirements or order quantities.
Click on the icons below to read ideas on improving shipping unit fill in your organisation... |
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Top Tips
A quick reference to maximising shipping unit fill. |
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Complexity Matrix
What is the impact of the constraint and how easy is it to overcome?
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What’s constraining you?
Examples of the ways in which shipping unit utilisation may be constrained |
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What are the solutions?
Examples of possible solutions to improving shipping unit fill and which constraints this would address. |
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Case Studies
Demonstrating how other companies have already improved their shipping unit fill. |
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Top Tips
Want to improve the utilisation of your shipping units? Here’s our top tips:
- Making use of a 3rd party consolidation operation can enable smaller volume movement at regular intervals in a more cost effective manner. It’s not always the cheapest option to do it yourself!
- Commercial negotiations need to consider stock holding requirements and rate of sale. How much are your storage costs and are they totally variable based on volume?
- Look very closely at delivery frequency and don’t be afraid to challenge the customer if there is a viable commercial case.
- Challenge whether a slow moving line could go through a National Distribution centre versus a shipping unit.
- Provide equipment/ automation to be a able to challenge the size of a shipping unit; identify MHE requirements at every stage. Even if this is equipment required at a customer the savings you could generate may be worth a collaborative approach on capital investment.
- Look at warehouse racking heights to ensure transport costs are minimised
- Select the optimum media height and weight to suit the transit vehicle.
- Review packaging quality/ type to ensure a stable stack at optimum size can be achieved.
- Review case design to achieve pallet/ cage etc maximum fill.
- Ensure picking operation optimised to achieve maximum shipping unit fill. It is possible that a lack of training of warehouse operatives is causing a severe loss of vehicle fill?
- Review all the constraints e.g. legal requirements, segregation etc at design phase.
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Complexity Matrix
There are many things which impact on and constrain load utilisation. As part of developing this online resource, the ECR UK Filling the Cube Subgroup has identified some of the most common constraints together with some possible solutions and an assessment of the likely pros and cons of each. This will allow you to assess which constraints apply to you and the most feasible solution for your organisation.
The complexity matrix below has been designed to give a visual illustration of the impact of each constraint and how easy they might be to overcome. You can download a full list below.
Any constraints in the red area are perceived to be the most difficult to overcome but are likely to offer the greatest business benefit, whilst those in the green area may be easier to overcome but have a lesser benefit.
You should consider whether the impact and difficulty rating would be different in your own business in order to establish a list of priorities in your decision making process.
Click on each constraint to find out more, and see possible solutions
What’s constraining you?
To download a PDF containing all the constraints shown above, and the pros and cons of each solution, click on the link below. he list has been compiled based on the understanding and experiences of members of the group in tackling issues with utilisation within their respective organisations.
View the constraints summary here [PDF]
What are the solutions?
There are many solutions to address the factors constraining load utilisation. As part of developing this online resource the ECR UK Filling the Cube Subgroup has identified some of the most common.
This list has been compiled based on the understanding and experiences of members of the group in tackling issues with utilisation within their respective organisations.
In this section we will examine each of the possible solutions, identify which of the utilisation constraints each addressed and provide an assessment of the likely pros and cons of each. This will allow you to better understand each solution and the likely benefit it might bring.
View the solutions summary here [PDF]
Case Studies
The following case studies, compiled and produced by the organisations involved, give an insight into the ways in which other companies have improved their shipping unit fill.
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Other utilisation challenges:
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Optimising Load Fill: A Best Practice Guide - Next steps:
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