Cubing and weighing... sounds simple enough. And in some ways it is.

These systems utilize ultrasonics, infrared light, cameras, lasers, or a combination of technologies to acquire an accurate analysis of a package's dimensions and weight. The solutions range from static, fairly rudimentary scales, to dynamic cubing and weighing systems mounted on conveyor, assessing packages and other items on the fly.

But that's only the start for this technology. It's what happens next with the collected information that makes cubing and weighing increasingly important to distribution efficiencies from storage to shipments.

For instance, a cubing and weighing solution measures the dimensions of items on a received pallet load and sends the information to the DC's warehouse management system (WMS). The WMS then determines the most space efficient location for the received inventory dependent on its size and weight.

"People are saving real money from space management," says Randy Neilson, director of sales and marketing for Quantronix, the manufacturer of the Cubiscan cubing and weighing system (800-488-2823) "They're not only saving significant money on real estate needed for storing inventory, but also saving on packaging material costs and transportation labor costs."

Another common application is to measure freight "on-the-fly." A dimensioning system located on a conveyor can determine the size of individual packages as they travel at high speeds. Detailing the exact dimensions of packages as they move along the conveyor can aid suppliers in determining accurate, dimensional-based shipping charges and facilitate trailer loading strategies.

By cubing and weighing packages prior to shipment, companies achieve a super-accurate predictive assessment of expected freight charges—avoiding back end expenditures levied by third-party logistics (3PLs) providers if the freight is heavier or more space consuming. "This is especially important with large, lightweight packages," Neilson comments.

Third-party logistics providers are also seeing the benefits of the technology by maximizing space on over-the-road trailers. Not only does the process allow 3PLs to pack trucks to absolute capacity—taking cues from the 3PL's WMS—fuel costs are curbed with more efficient shipments. Conversely, if a company employs an in-house transportation management system (TMS), it can accurately predict shipment costs further upstream in the supply chain. In addition, 3PL customers benefit from more accurate shipping charges and greater shipping efficiencies because over-the-road trucks are filled to capacity.

And the savings don't stop there.

"There are large savings in packaging materials—peanuts, less cardboard with smaller boxes—saving fuel and driver costs," Neilson explains.

Calling cubing and weighing a "maturing technology," Mark Verhaden, vice president of marketing, Accu-Sort (800-227-2633), says that more accurate measuring instruments are currently being developed to further enhance the space saving capabilities of a cubing and weighing application.

He adds that because of the precision of a cubing and weighing unit, a slight jostle tends to distort the calibration. Making the units more rugged, more attuned to warehouse conditions, "is a constant challenge for suppliers," he asserts. "The unit needs to be physically tough and easy to repair, to reduce maintenance time by a factor of five."

Also in the works, are cubing and weighing systems capable of measuring packages that aren't actually cubed. While mostly in the planning stages as of now, the systems would help maximize storage space, much as their cube-focused counterparts do today. "These are cutting edge technologies, sophisticated algorithms—non cuboidals or irregulars," Verhaden explains.

Neilson explains that measuring large freight is certainly a future direction for the technology. New technology could yield a system capable of assessing accurate dimensions of much larger freight.

With the push toward heightened visibility in the warehouse and upstream in the supply chain as well, cubing and weighing solutions are likely to be prominent when it comes to maximizing storage efficiencies and trimming shipping costs in the future.