Key figures for loading units

Planners and project managers use the key figures of individual load units to determine the financial cost of storage in distribution centers or the cost of transporting goods. This key data is now also used in computer simulations, for example to plan a warehouse more cost-effectively in advance.

Generally speaking, key performance indicators are summarized and expressed information that enables companies to plan more cost-effectively in every respect. A load unit (SU) is divided into so-called master data. These include space requirements, storage, transportation, capacity, degree of packing and its own load capacity, for example in kg/UU.
If, for example, the space requirement is to be determined or the storage or transport is to be realized, the following information of the SU is taken into account:

  • Content
  • Number of individual filling units
  • Total filling quantity
  • External dimensions
  • Shape/diameter
  • Total weight

If, on the other hand, capacity and the degree of packing are to be determined, internal dimensions or loading space dimensions as well as the payload, the filling weight and the load capacity (means of transport/shelf) must also be taken into account in the planning.

Practical example of key figures for loading units

When looking for a suitable racking variant, the above-mentioned warehouse key figures must be linked in detail with the subsystems such as storage unit, warehouse technology and warehouse management (software). For example, do the load capacity (shelving/conveyor landscape) and the total weight of the SU harmonize? Does the load capacity of the SU match the number of planned filling units? The resulting rack storage variants can then be compared by those responsible on a cost-specific basis.

More information on related topics can also be found under Traditional key performance indicator systems – overview and under Sliding possibilities of key performance indicator systems.
Source: Logistics: Basics – Strategies – Applications / Timm Gudehus

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