The Distributor’s Pallet Loading Problem: A Case Study

The pallet loading problem considers the loading of rectangular-shaped boxes with known dimensions into the pallets. In this paper, a real-life pallet loading problem of a beverage company is studied. In this problem, the aim is to maximize the total loaded box volume on pallets by employing a three-dimensional approach, where overlapping of any two boxes is not allowed and the fragility relationship is regarded. As a solution approach, a heuristic algorithm and a mathematical model have been proposed and verified with a computational experiment. A sensitivity analysis is also performed for the parameters of the problem. Furthermore, a user friendly decision support system, which is integrated with IBM ILOG CPLEX, is developed using Excel VBA interface. The proposed solution approach is embedded in this decision support system. It is estimated that proposed solution method will prevent the field loss due to the improper loading and reduce the financial damage, as it reduces the dependency on operators and the decision-making duration. As this problem can be seen in various companies, the proposed solution approach can also be employed by different sectors and companies.