A method for loading a target loading aid with articles at a loading station (1, 1a, 1b) with an automatic loading device (4, 4a, 4b) comprising the steps: a) acquiring an order and determining the articles associated with the order using an order-processing computer, b) providing loading properties comprising properties of the loading device (4, 4a, 4b) and articles properties of the articles in a database for a simulation unit, c) specifying loading parameters comprising at least one parameter relating to the loading device (4, 4a, 4b) and/or at least one parameter relating to the articles and/or at least one parameter relating to the target loading aid in the simulation unit, d) simulating a loading operation of the target loading aid with articles using the simulation unit based on the loading properties (E1, E2) and the loading parameters (P1..P3) and generating a loading pattern with the simulation unit, e) repeating steps b) to d) with modified loading parameters (P1..P3), f) analysing the loading patterns generated on the basis of a target specification using the simulation unit including checking whether at least one of the loading patterns fulfils the target specification and executing the following steps g) and h1) if at least one of the loading patterns fulfils the target specification or executing the following step h2), omitting step g), if none of the loading patterns fulfils the target specification, g) selecting that loading pattern which best fulfils the target specification and generating the loading regulation for the loading device (4, 4a, 4b) comprising the loading parameters (P1..P3) which lead to the selected loading pattern using the simulation unit, and h1) transporting the articles to the automatic loading device (4, 4a, 4b) of the loading station (1, 1a, 1b) and loading the target loading aid with the articles using the automatic loading device (4, 4a, 4b) according to the loading regulation, or h2) transporting the articles to a manual loading device of the loading station (1, 1a, 1b) and loading the target loading aid with the articles by an operator. a) acquiring an order and determining the articles associated with the order using an order-processing computer, b) providing loading properties comprising properties of the loading device (4, 4a, 4b) and articles properties of the articles in a database for a simulation unit, c) specifying loading parameters comprising at least one parameter relating to the loading device (4, 4a, 4b) and/or at least one parameter relating to the articles and/or at least one parameter relating to the target loading aid in the simulation unit, d) simulating a loading operation of the target loading aid with articles using the simulation unit based on the loading properties (E1, E2) and the loading parameters (P1..P3) and generating a loading pattern with the simulation unit, e) repeating steps b) to d) with modified loading parameters (P1..P3), f) analysing the loading patterns generated on the basis of a target specification using the simulation unit including checking whether at least one of the loading patterns fulfils the target specification and executing the following steps g) and h1) if at least one of the loading patterns fulfils the target specification or executing the following step h2), omitting step g), if none of the loading patterns fulfils the target specification, g) selecting that loading pattern which best fulfils the target specification and generating the loading regulation for the loading device (4, 4a, 4b) comprising the loading parameters (P1..P3) which lead to the selected loading pattern using the simulation unit, and h1) transporting the articles to the automatic loading device (4, 4a, 4b) of the loading station (1, 1a, 1b) and loading the target loading aid with the articles using the automatic loading device (4, 4a, 4b) according to the loading regulation, or h2) transporting the articles to a manual loading device of the loading station (1, 1a, 1b) and loading the target loading aid with the articles by an operator.