The distributor's three-dimensional pallet-packing problem: a human intelligence-based heuristic approach (Q2505335)

Summary: The distributor's pallet-packing problem requires the loading of a pallet or container that has a fixed length, width and height with the objective to maximise utilisation of the pallet's volume. We develop a new heuristic algorithm using novel heuristic rules and a dynamic data structure to mimic human intelligence, thus providing a new solution approach to 3-D pallet packing. Comprehensive empirical testing to include new methods for generating problems with known optimal solutions demonstrate that our algorithm achieves pallet volume utilisations comparable or better than the best-known solutions, while finding these solutions very quickly. Computer-independent complexity results are provided.