Article Details
  • Published Online:
    February  2026
  • Product Name:
    The IUP Journal of Operations Management
  • Product Type:
    Article
  • Product Code:
    IJOM010226
  • DOI:
    10.71329/IUPJOM/2026.25.1.5-22
  • Author Name:
    Sandeep Bhattacharjee
  • Availability:
    YES
  • Subject/Domain:
    Management
  • Download Format:
    PDF
  • Pages:
    5-22
Volume 25, Issue 1, January-March 2026
Packing Heuristics for Improved Operational Efficiency in Warehousing Operations: A Comparative Study
Abstract

This study compares three classical bin-packing heuristics (next fit, first fit, and first fit decreasing) by using multidimensional performance indicators and statistical validation for enabling evidence-based heuristic selection. The findings demonstrate the superiority of first fit decreasing over other heuristics in terms of bin efficiency and utilization. The impact is evident due to its significant statistical dominance observed across multiple problem instances, in comparison to other algorithms that satisfy feasibility constraints related to weight and volume. The originality of this study lies in exploring beyond theoretical assumptions and single-metric evaluations by empirical experimental analysis of utilization performance and dominance significance. However, the study is limited due to its focus on classical heuristics and static datasets. The results provide practical implications for operational decision-making in largescale logistics and resource allocation systems.

Introduction

Space utilization and resource management remain a critical problem in operations management.