Route planning needs the number of usable containers as well as vehicle volume. Count full, customer-held, returning, washing and ready stock separately.
Give each container an ID; scan or record full containers at dispatch, units left at each customer and empties collected on return. Timestamps and customer IDs make circulation visible.
Record entry and exit at washing, drying and refill. If a container is missing, find its last verified location and handoff; do not count a missing unit the same as one not yet due back.
Across several operating days, compare delivery demand, actual return cycle and wash capacity. Identify whether the bottleneck is the vehicle, customer wait or preparation step.
Adjust the next round to the measured bottleneck. Calculate additional stock from actual peak demand, return delays and the site's service target; do not treat one day's count as a universal plan.
