Optimization of packaging

Posted by hendrik demol on 30-Oct-2019 12:45

has anybody succesfully managed to write an algorithm to minimize the packing used? In this case a set of items has to be put in the least number of boxes and the smallest boxes possible. So far I have found only 'brute force' options that simply try out the six possible orientations for each and every item, resulting in thousands of calculations for just a handfull of items. 

Posted by hendrik demol on 07-Nov-2019 11:47

in the end I went for the service of https://www.3dbinpacking.com. It looks like the results are correct and the service returns the results quickly enough

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Posted by gus bjorklund on 30-Oct-2019 14:26

this is a variation of a mathematical problem known as the “knapsack problem”. the knapsack problem is thought to be “NP-hard”. all known solutions at the moment are some type of brute force with restrictions.

see en.wikipedia.org/.../Knapsack_problem

and en.wikipedia.org/.../Packing_problems

Posted by Neil Treeby on 30-Oct-2019 14:41

There are many commercial packages out there, as an alternative to building your own solution.

We have just started using Magic Logic (I have no other affiliation with Magic Logic, current or prior).

magiclogic.com/.../

Posted by hendrik demol on 30-Oct-2019 15:19

I  am familiar with the name

And a rest service could be an option...

Still, with the myriad of OE business applications, I imagined somebody has solved it...

Posted by Matt Baker on 30-Oct-2019 16:44

Just do what Amazon does.  Use the largest box possible and put the smallest item in it so it is guaranteed to fit.

www.forbes.com/.../what-a-waste-online-retails-big-packaging-problem

Posted by hendrik demol on 07-Nov-2019 11:47

in the end I went for the service of https://www.3dbinpacking.com. It looks like the results are correct and the service returns the results quickly enough

This thread is closed