Cartonising process

Cartonising is the process that uses the information about the products on a sales order to decide what cartons to use to send them.

Information used on the Article:

1. Length, Width, Depth, Weight
2. Packing factor - the packing factor relates to odd shaped items.  For example a cube has a packing factor of 1 because it fills 100% of the length, width, height space.  A soft bag that bulges at the bottom may have a packing factor of 0.5 so two can fit into it's width, height, depth measurements. 

The logic is as follows:

1. Calculate the total volume required using physical measurements and packing factors
2. Calculate the total mass of the order
3. For items with shipping unit of "Pallet" or "Own Carton" or weight greater than 25 kg
1. becomes a list of things not to go in cartons (in first cut)
2. everything else is listed to go into cartons
   1. Cartonise these items
      1. First is largest volume, then by descending volume
3. Checks if pallet is needed
   1. Number of cartons + number of items not to go in cartons is 5 or greater then put on a pallet
   2. If weight of cartons + weight of loose pallet items is 100kg or greater then put on to pallet or skid (chosen based on size)
4. If pallet is needed (skids and pallets are equivalent just different capacities).
   1. Put items that have own carton or Pallet or weight greater than 25 kg onto pallet first until full 
5. If pallet is not needed
   1. Everything will be placed into cartons including items of own carton or Pallet. 
      1. First is largest volume, then by descending volume
6. If there is more than one pallet the process repeats
1. So may end up with some loose cartons after pallets are full
4. The Pack Sales Order screen is then used to put the products into the correct containers
   1. containers can be changed during packing if required
5. The Perishable Goods Sales Order shows the packing cartons and each line on the order will show the boxes they were put into - right click into