DC Velocity - December 2010

that are 40 to 60 percent too large. Shipping packages that are too large is expensive,” says Hanko Kiessner, CEO of Packsize, a supplier of automated packaging systems.

Good dimensional data opens the door to a number of solutions, including the use of custom cartons. Packsize, That might sound expensive, but Kiessner says custom cartons actually save shippers money. He reports that with Packsize’s automated systems, customers typically save 3 to 8 percent on their shipping charges, in addition to cutting their corrugated costs by 20 percent and reducing their use of fill materials by 80 to 100 percent.

Dimensional data can also help with packaging optimization in operations that use standard-sized cartons. For example, the data can be used in com-puter-aided carton selection as well as for determining the optimal amount of void fill and other packing and cushioning materials to use.

7Pallet building. Dimensional data can be useful when it comes to building stable pallets. Once the information has been entered into the WMS, the system can use it to determine how items should be stacked on the pallet (typically with larger and heavier items on the bottom) to ensure load stability.

8Load building. Not only can dimensional and weight data help with building pallets, it can help with building loads for trailers and other conveyances. Whether an operation is shipping full pallets, cases, irregularly shaped products, or a mix of all of the above, it can feed the data into shipping, warehousing, or load building software, which then determines how to load the truck to make the best use of space while

staying within weight limits.

9Shipping. The advent of “dimensional weight” or “dim weight” billing has
changed the economics of parcel
shipping, but good dimensional
data can help shippers avoid
costly mistakes. Under the
carriers’ dim weight
rules, a shipper ten-
dering a large, low-
density package
must determine
both the package’s
actual weight and
its dimensional
weight (which takes
into account the
package’s length, width,
and height). If the dimen-
sional weight exceeds the actu-
al weight, that becomes the basis for
the freight charge. By gathering pre-
cise dimensional data on their pack-
ages, shippers can ensure they’re
rating their parcels correctly and
avoid chargebacks by carriers.

10Customer service. Good service includes provid- ing customers with good data. By passing along dimensional data on your products, you give customers the opportunity to use that information to streamline their own operations. Plus, if you charge for shipping, you can boost your credibility with customers by including the relevant dimensional and weight data on invoices. That way, they can be assured they’re being charged appropriately for freight. ;