Introduction/General Information about Stack and Transport

First, we need to activate the stack and transport modules in PM.

It is of the utmost importance to understand how the software recognises what a Stack and what a Transport is defined as in IMPACT.

A Stack in IMPACT is several elements that are stacked together, so they can be transported in the same vehicle.

A Stack can be a Horizontal/Vertical Rack with or without specific dimensions, an A/L-frame and a Rack for an Inloader truck.

A Vehicle is the transport carrier for the Stack. In IMPACT a vehicle can be defined as a Truck, Trailer, Semi-Trailer and Inloader. If none of those is your vehicle type, then there is also the "User-Defined Vehicle" option.

In IMPACT a Transport is defined as a Stack on top of a Vehicle. This can be defined in the settings as a Transport template. Without a predefined transport template, we cannot automatically plan a transport in IMPACT. A transport can also have multiple stacks under the same vehicle (as long as the criteria for max element count and the max mass are fulfilled).

IMPORTANT Note: Every time that we automatically create a transport, then we create the corresponding stack also. On the other hand, when I create a stack I will need to add it to a vehicle to create a transport.

All the above are crucial definitions so we can understand the differences between the 2 Modules.

The above also means that a user has great flexibility when it comes to logistics planning in a factory.

Note: One more output of the above is that for flooring precast elements, it is optimal to first create the stacks and then add the stacks to a vehicle, and for vertical elements create the transport automatically. Every company is different and can create their own processes when it comes to logistics planning.

If you are a Production Admin and would like to know how to pre-define Stacks, Vehicles and Transport Templates then please follow this link.

For the sake of this training, there have been a few demo Stacks, Vehicles and Transport Templates already available.

If you are following the training material then please continue on this page.

3D Stack Module Overview

The 3D Stack Module is separated into 3 Windows.

1. The Stack List

2. The elements on every Stack

3. The 3D View of the Stack

An example is shown below.

Example - Create a Stack

Filter out all the Hollow core slabs of the first floor in the model view and then select them.

Use the function Auto-Stack and the following window will pop up.

Select the Horizontal Stack template and Load Order "Erection Sequence Reversed". That will ensure that the last Hollow core stacked (on top of the pile) will be the 1st that needs to be erected first on-site.

You should have the following List of Stacks created:

Stack Module Functionalities

You can Merge Stack Layers (1), Move up/down the stack (2), and Rotate (3) elements by selecting them on the list and then manipulating them on the 3D view. You can also drag and move elements (4) from one position to another but need to be very careful when doing so.

1. Merge Stack Layers. Select the elements that you want to Merge under the same layer and then right-click and use the function "Merge Stack Layer".

The Slabs should look like that now.

Let us do the same for the other 2 slabs on the top.

2. Move up and Down the Stack Layer. Select the Hollowcore that sits on layer 4 and then use the function below to get it up a few layers.

Press the button to move up 4 times, and you should see the following result.

3. You can rotate the elements on a stack around the Y and Z axis, by using the following commands.

4. Drag and Move elements from the 3D view. See the following GIF.

You can give it a try and play around with the rotate function if you like, but when you are finished, please press the button next to the rotate function so the elements can be recalculated to the initial position.

Note: If you move the left side of the window to the right you can review all the stack properties. An easy trick is that every column with a blue header can be edited by just double-clicking on a field!

Create a Transport from a Stack

Select all the stacks and then choose to add them to a vehicle.

The following window will pop up. Select a date (or use the element dates) and Set the status to preliminary. Use the trailer Template. Press OK.

A new transport number has been added for all the stacks.

If we right-click on 1 or multiple stacks we will get the options for editing, changing dates and of course, printing a nice stack report. This is not relevant for this training. Feel free to explore some of the options.

Now open the Transport module (right next to the Stack Module). Select Strusoft Factory 1 and then press Refresh. All the transports will show in a list!

Note: The 2 modules are interconnected which means that if you make a change on the stack for a specific transport that will automatically be applied in the transport view also. Try and move 1 hollow core up the stack from the stack module, then go back to the Transport module and press Refresh. The view has now changed.

IMPORTANT Note: In the transport module, we can only Drag and Move the whole Stack and not every element separately. If we want to move every element separately, then we need to go back to the stack module and do it from there.

Create an Automated Transport

Select all the sandwich walls on the model view and then press auto-transport.

Select the corresponding template (Truck), Status to Preliminary, stack them according to the erection sequence, use the element dates and then press OK.

New transports have been created.

Go back to the stack module and Refresh the list. The stacks are also created there. If there are any visual issues( stacks hanging out of the predefined space) this is where you can adjust the stacks to look correct (Use the function merge stack layers for walls on the A-frame).

Note: The elements that are red on the Stack mean that they are outside the predefined space of the stack. When merged to the correct Stack layer, then the colour will turn back to normal.

IMPORTANT NOTE: Remember that the time you will be using the software is way less than the time people gathering the elements from storage will use to optimally figure out how to load those elements on the vehicle.

If you select 1 or multiple transports, you can print out the delivery note (docket) and get ready to scan it from the mobile app. You can print multiple reports with or without a 3D picture.

The note should look like the following:

When you scan the note in IMPACT GO, all the elements under the transport will be visible on a list. The principal is the same as in the cast planner. You can add controls and take pictures of the elements before leaving your factory, but most importantly you can change the status.

The status can be changed by setting the header of the transport to “On waybill”. If all the elements are produced and in storage then the status will change to 80 (on waybill).

The transport can be set to "Delivered" only if the delivery date is the same as today’s day! To change the delivery date you will need to right-click, Edit the transport and change both the load and delivery date.

When that is done, the transport can be set to "Delivered".

The elements are now moved away from your storage and cannot be found there anymore.

Note: If you change the Element Colour on the model view to "Transport" or "Stack" then the colour will change to the corresponding transport or stack colour.

Continue to the next part of the training here.