PackAssist is an intelligent web based application that can help you with any product packaging issues. The application which is touchscreen optimized uses a simple, uncluttered and easy to use interface. Graphical images are used to support instructions so the user can understand them better.

For security reasons, the application has been designed to automatically time out the session after 1 hour, if no activity is detected in that particular module. The user will be required to re-login.

Main Search Page
On entering any data in the Search Bar of the PackAssist home page, the user is taken to the Search results page. Every search in PackAssist has its own scope and search criteria. For a warehouse user the search function is optimized for warehouse & packaging use. Whereas for the other user the search is used to create and maintain everything related to the packaging.The main search is a combination of various search types which are based on product, part, specification, concept, packaging & manual.

When a search item is entered, the resultant screen will list down the entry item from every module in PackAssist. There is an icon key that denotes all the separate modules like product, packaging materials, destination, concept, Packaging, Manual. A separate Operator icon allows the user to know whether the product listed down, has been entered through the Operator screen. The search results here will only extend to that of the current company.

For security reasons, the application has been designed to automatically time out the session after 1 hour, if no activity is detected in that particular module. The user will be required to re-login.

For capturing an image of a product or packaging material using a webcam, it is advisable to use a static set-up to avoid unnecessary movement. You will be prompted to allow access to the camera and microphone. The images on the right suggest the best positioning of the product for a good capture. The image in the middle is the most preferable positioning.

Under the 'Image from Webcam', there is a settings pop – up that asks for permission to enable the user to access the webcam. On clicking 'Allow' the permission is granted. The Settings icon next to Take Photo - can be used to avoid this pop up being repeated. In the settings, selecting the check box 'Remember' will stop the pop up from coming up everytime the user wants to use the camera.

PackAssist comes in English by default. Currently PackAssist comes in Chinese, Japanese, German, Dutch, and Hungarian. The language modules need to be purchased separately. It is possible to define any number of language modules according to your specific requirements as PackAssist supports a wide array of international languages. This feature allows each user to read the instructions that best suit the policies of their own country and in their preferred language.

Units of measurement

The user can select the preferable unit of measurement for product/packaging dimensions using the personal settings Tab. The available units include Centimeters, Millimeters & Inches.

A concurrent licensing system is available for PackAssist users. A company can purchase any number of licenses and that is the maximum number of users which can be active at the same time for that particular company.

Master license
A master license is a full license with all the standard features and functionalities available with the option to sign up for extra modules.

Partner license
A partner license has limited functionalities. A partner license cannot add Products, Packaging materials, concepts, manuals, packaging. With a partner license, one can only access data from companies with a master license. Provided the company with the Master License gives them the right permissions.

Anyone with an Administrator privilege in the parent company can assign certain roles to the users of that company like Manager, Contributor and Operator. The permissions and privileges vary for each of these roles. The Operator is the actual end user of the application. He is the one who has the duty to pack a product with an Operator Screen that assists him along the way. The Contributor can perform certain actions at the backend, but not those which can influence the packaging strategy of the company. The Manager has the right to perform all the actions that influence the packaging strategy; like defining concepts and managing the packaging materials. The Administrator has the right to manage the application, like creating users and assigning roles to partners and also the same privileges as the Manager.

Partner permissions
A company can assign partners or can decide to give individual employees of their partner certain permissions. This individual permissions or roles assigned to the employee of a company cannot be higher than the specific role defined for his own company by the Partner Company. It can only be lower than the assigned role. For e.g. If a Company named A has assigned a Manager role to a Company named B. Further to this, the employees of Company B can only have the roles of Contributor and Operator and Manager not Administrator. If Company A has assigned an Operator role to Company B, then the employees of Company B can only have the operator roles assigned to them and none other. If Company A has assigned a Contributor role to Company B, then its employees can only be assigned the Operator and Contributor roles. If Company A decides to grant Administrator role to Company B. Then the employees can be assigned Operator, Contributor, Manager and Administrator as well.

Permissions

Master License
The roles available under the Master License are Administrator, Manager, Operator and Contributor. Only the operator will have visibility of the Operator screen module and not for the Administrator, Manager or the Contributor. This is the only module that an Operator will have access to. All the other modules are accessible for the Administrator, Manager and Contributor with the exceptions of the Settings module. Only the Administrator will have access to the Settings Module.

Product Screen
The Administrator & Manager has unlimited access to all the actions in the Products Module. The Operator has no access at all but the Contributor is allowed access to certain actions. But the Contributor will not be able to Edit/Add Product Group, Change or Remove image, Change group, Delete Products, or even View or Edit/Add Product Partners Tab. And as for Viewing or editing product packaging, the contributor will not have permission if the same is in an approved status.

Packaging Materials Screen
The Administrator and Manager have complete permission to perform all actions in the Packaging Materials module and the Operator has none at all. As for the contributor, he is allowed permission to perform some of the actions. He does not have permission to Change or remove image, Change or Edit/Add packaging materials group, or even the change the property definitions of the group. He cannot Edit/Add, Delete, change or remove image, or edit the Properties of packaging materials as well. The contributor will not be able to use the webcam for packaging materials and use the Packaging Tab either.

Destinations Screen
Again the Administrator and Manager has complete permission to all actions in this module and the Operator has none of the privileges. Some of the actions that the Contributor will not be able to do are Change or Remove image and Change or Add Destination Groups.

Concepts Screen
The Administrator, Manager, Contributor or Operator will not have the permission to Edit or Add property definitions for a Concept that is in the Released,Outdated or expired status. If the Concepts status is in progress then the Administrator and Manager has the privilege to Edit or Add property definitions. As for the other major actions, a Contributor cannot add a New Revision to a Concept in any of the four stages and he cannot View or Edit the Relations Tab or View Choose Group and Packaging Materials for a Concept that is in Progress.

Packaging Screen
The Administrator, Manager, Contributor, and the Operator have no permission to Edit/Add properties or View Choose Packaging Material Tab for a Packaging that is in the Released, Outdated or Expired status. They can do so only for a Packaging that is in the in Progress status. Apart from this the Contributor also does not have the permission to Release Packaging or Change Status of a Packaging. The Operator has no access permissions allowed to this module.

Manuals Screen
Only the Administrator, Manager and Contributor have permissions to access the Manuals Module. The Operator has no access to this module.

Settings Screen
The Settings module can only be accessed by the Administrator and not by the Manager, Contributor and Operator.

Combination Permissions
Permission to add combination is allowed for the Administrator, Manager and Contributor. An operator can do so only if the Assign Packaging in Settings is set to Yes, Known or Yes, Unknown. (Refer the Settings Module in PackAssistance for learning more).A contributor does not have permission to approve a combination and an Operator cannot review, approve or decline a proposed combination. While a Contributor can decline a combination only if it is in the Proposed or reviewed status.

Webcam Permissions
By default, none of the roles will have permission for using the webcam in the application. If the checkbox 'Use webcam for images' have been enabled in the settings screen; then the Administrator, Manager and Contributor will have permission to use the webcam. For an Operator to be able to use the webcam in the Operator screen module, then the checkbox 'Use webcam for images in Operator screen' has to be enabled on the settings screen.

Partner License
The roles available under a Partner License are Administrator, Manager, Contributor, and Operator. But unlike the Master License the privileges under this licensing is limited. Only the Operator Screen module is accessible for all the roles and none of the other modules will be visible to them. The only Privilege available for the Administrator is access to a few select Tabs in the Settings module like Settings Tab (Address, Billing address, Languages), User Tab, & Departments Tab.

Dimensions & Weight

Length is the measurement of the longest side of a product or packaging (Material)

Width is the measurement of the shortest side of a product or packaging (Material)

Height is the measurement of the vertical distance (from base to top) of a product or packaging (Material)

Outside & Inside Dimensions - Product / Packaging (Material)

Length-Width-Height The measurement of the outer dimensions of the Product Packaging Material
Length-Width-Height Inside The measurement of the inner dimensions of the Packaging Material

Advanced Dimensions - Maximum & Minimum - Product / Packaging (Material)

Length/Width/Height inside Minimum: - the minimum length of the inside of a Packaging (Material)

Length/Width/Height inside Maximum: - the maximum length of the inside of a packaging (Material)

Length/Width/Height Minimum: - the minimum outside length of the product or packaging (Material)

Length/Width/Height Maximum: - the maximum outside length of the product or packaging (Material)

Small Fit

Customer Specific

Small Fit L/W/H & Small Fit Weight - Extra set of dimensions

Weight & Load - Product / Packaging (Material)

Weight

Weight is the measure of the heaviness of an object.

Total Weight

Total weight is the weight in total of both the product and the packaging combined.

Load is the amount of weight or source of pressure that can be borne by something.

DIMENSION
Length	-	Distance along a product/packaging material from end to end.
Width	-	Distance from one side of a product/packaging material to the other or the distance across.
Height	-	Distance between the lowest and highest point of a product/packaging material.
Length inside min	-	The minimum length inside a packaging.
Height inside min	-	The minimum height inside a packaging.
Width inside min	-	The minimum width inside a packaging.
Length inside max	-	The maximum length inside a packaging.
Width inside max	-	The maximum width inside a packaging.
Height inside max	-	The maximum height inside a packaging.
Height min	-	The minimum height outside a Packaging/Product.
Width min	-	The minimum width outside a Packaging/Product
Length min	-	The minimum length outside a Packaging/Product.
Length	-	Maximum outside length of a Packaging/Product
Volume	-	The total space inside a Packaging/Product.
GENERAL
Material	-	Substance used to make a packaging/product.
Quality	-	The general standard of grade of the Packaging/Product.
Department	-	List of the departments registered in the settings.
Part code	-	Any alpha-numeric information unique to a particular part or accessory.
Color	-	Information on the color of the Packaging/Product.
Type	-	Category or kind the Packaging/Product belongs to.
Design needed	-	Indicate if the Packaging require a design.
Product Specif.	-	Any important specification pertaining to the Product.
Total weight	-	The total mass/quantity of the Packaging and the Product.
Locked PPC	-	Locked Product - Packaging Combination. This product has a dedicated packaging, no other packaging or repackaging allowed.
REMARK
Remark	-	Any additional information/specification regarding the packaging/product.
TRACKING
Serial number	-	Identification number assigned to a packaging/product.
RFID	-	Radio Frequency Identification.
RFID frequency [MHz]	-	The band of frequency, whether High (HF), Low (LF) or Moderate (UHF).
RFID Number	-	The RFID number of the packaging/product.
Barcode	-	A machine-readable code in the form of numbers and a pattern of parallel lines of varying widths used for stock control
Barcode type	-	The type of barcode used like Linear or Matrix (2D).
Warehouse	-	The description of the storage facility.
Location	-	The description of the location.
Stock	-	The stock level of the Packaging/Product.
VENDOR
Vendor code	-	A unique code assigned to the seller.
Vendor	-	The name of the seller company.
ESD
ESD Sensitive	-	If the Product is sensitive to Electrostatic Discharge.
ESD protection	-	If the Packaging requires protection against Electrostatic Discharge.
TECHNICAL
Weight	-	The quality of heaviness or mass of a packaging/product.
Maximum load inside	-	The Maximum permissible weight/mass inside a Packaging.
Maximum load on top	-	The Maximum permissible weight/mass on top of a Packaging.
Sensitivity	-	The state or quality of a Product being sensitive or the degree of susceptibility to stimulation.
ECT	-	Edge Crush Test of the Packaging (Cardboard Box).
BCT	-	Burst Crush Test of the Packaging (Cardboard Box).
Punctures	-	Puncture Test of the Packaging (Cardboard Box).
INTERIOR TYPE
Retention	-	If the interior of the Packaging needs retention or if the product is allowed to be packed with retention
Suspension	-	If the interior of the Packaging needs suspension or if the product is allowed to be packed with suspension
Customized	-	If the interior of the Packaging needs customization or if the product is allowed to be packed with customization
Envelope	-	If the interior of the Packaging needs envelope or if the product is allowed to be packed with envelope
No Insert	-	If the interior of the Packaging needs no insert or if the product is allowed to be packed without insert
Bin Bulk	-	If the interior of the Packaging needs bin bulk or if the product is allowed to be packed with bin bulk

In order to ascertain the fit of a packaging, certain calculation must be carried out. These calculations or 'Fit Check' is done based on the values of the properties like;

1.Weight

2.Dimensions (Height, length, width)

3.ESD Sensitive/Protection

4.Interior type

The following criteria are checked for all dimensions. That of length is;

*Maximum outside Length of the product <= Maximum inside Length of the packaging

*Maximum outside Length of the product >= Minimum inside Length of the packaging

For e.g., if Product A has to fit into Packaging B; the outside length of A has to have a match with the inside length of B.

Once the basic fit check is done, there are scenarios when more than one possible options of packaging that fit is available. PackAssist then does further calculations, in order to ultimately arrive at a 'Best Fit'.

The Best Fit is that packaging which meets all the fitting criteria and has the smallest dimensions, most specifically the one with the least volume. If more than one packaging has the same volume, then the lightest one is chosen. If that is the same, then it is a random choice.

Weight
*Weight of product <= maximum load inside of packaging

Maximum load inside is the maximum weight allowed inside a packaging material.

Dimensions
The outside length, height and width of the product should in every way complement with the inside length, height and width of the packaging to satisfy the fitting conditions.

ESD
ESD Outside - Whether the Product / Packaging (material) is sensitive towards ESD influences

ESD Inside - Whether the Packaging (material) provides adequate protection for ESD influences

*ESD outside product <= ESD inside packaging

Interior Type
Whether the required interior of the product is the same as the interior of the selected packaging. If a product has an interior type selected like Retention, Suspension, Customized, Envelope, No Insert, Bin Bulk; then the packaging interior should support that type. For all individual types these checks have to be done for the packaging to be a fit. For example if a Product has a value for Suspension & Retention, then the fitting package is one which has values for both Suspension & Retention. If either one property has a null value, then the packaging is not a fit.