Models and software for corrugated board and box design

To design and develop boxes which protect, and at the same time utilize fiber material efficiently, models and software for predicting corrugated board and box properties are needed. The purpose of this research is to provide propositions toward improving the use and development of models and software for corrugated board and box design. By using an abductive approach, 18 models and four software for predicting corrugated board and box properties were identified, compared, and categorized depending on the needs of different supply chain actors. Eight of the models use paper properties for predicting board properties while ten models predict corrugated box properties. In order
to decrease the gap between theory and practice new insights, in the form of propositions toward improving the use and development of models and software for corrugated box design, are suggested. A holistic perspective for modeling corrugated board and box is proposed and enables practitioners and researchers to identify causes to variation in predictions by considering control and noise factors.