In the distribution network of a large retailer, shipments can either be transported by the retailer's own trucks or outsourced to third-party logistics (3PL) companies. In the former case, shipments are consolidated and transported from their origins through an intermediate facility, namely a crossdock. At a crossdock, shipments are unloaded, sorted, re-consolidated, loaded and transported to their destinations. The consolidation process offers economies of scale that reduce the transportation costs. At the same time, it increases travel distances and incurs handling costs at a crossdock. For this reason, consolidation is uneconomic for a shipment in which origin and destination are located close to one other, especially through a distant crossdock. It is cheaper to outsource transportation of such a shipment to 3PL companies. This shipping decision raises a series of questions. Should a shipment be consolidated through a crossdock or outsourced to 3PL companies? How do facility locations, the operational cost of a crossdock and mode of shipments influence the shipping decision? Can the robustness and potential growth of a crossdock be measured? How does outsourcing affect the robustness and potential growth of a crossdock? We formulate a strategic model of a retailer's distribution network as an economic trade-off between consolidated shipments through a crossdock and outsourced shipments to 3PL companies. We study the locus of facility locations where the costs of a consolidated shipment and an outsourced shipment are equal and discover that the trade-off can be modeled by classical geometric curves, particularly an ellipse, a hyperbola, a limacon and a Cartesian oval. These curves can be developed into a preliminary routing and locating tool. We also observe interesting connections between the single hub crossdocking network and other fields of geometric study, such as Voronoi diagrams and geometric inversion. In addition, the area bounded by these curves represents the likelihood in which a particular shipment is consolidated through a crossdock. We expand this concept to multiple vendor-store pairs and suggest an index that measures robustness and potential growth of a particular crossdock. This asymptotic-probability index explains economic driving factors of consolidation and outsourcing. Although the derivation of the index is limited by the dimension and spatial distribution of facilities, its numerical value can be determined by a computer simulation. Therefore, we use Monte Carlo simulation to compute the proposed index to explain the outsourcing and the interaction between TL threshold0.1 and mode of shipments. The analysis and computer simulation suggest that outsourcing may cause an adverse effect in a single hub crossdocking network, resulting in the abrupt reduction of consolidated shipments in the network. Furthermore, we propose transportation planning to alleviate this effect and compare them to the optimal allocation. The routing and locating application of the model is illustrated using the Home Depot distribution network. Our model predicts 5.5% and additional 1.0% savings in transportation cost by re-allocation of shipments and re-location of crossdocks, respectively. The empirical study shows that the adverse effect of outsourcing can be eliminated by limiting the number of crossdocks used by each store.

The main aim of the diploma thesis was to explain functional principles and technical bases of a radio frequency identification (RFID) and usage RFID in company Robert Bosch České Budějovice, Ltd. Another aim of this paper was to analyse systems of supply (a internal logistics) in this company. The attention was also given to description of chosen logistic methods and technologies and their use within the framework of Bosch Production System in Robert Bosch České Budějovice, Ltd.

Purpose – The purpose of the study is to investigate how warehouse layout and materials handling affects the performance targets; cost and quality in an enterprise where more than one method is operationally active. In order to accomplish the purpose of the study two research questions were formulated.   1. How will the choices that an enterprise makes regarding different methods within warehouse layout and materials handling affect cost and quality?   2. How are methods within warehouse layout and materials handling interacting when being active simultaneously in an enterprise?   Method – In order to accomplish the purpose and answer the chosen research questions a case study has been conducted at a distribution centre. Interview and observation are the employed data collection techniques when collecting relevant data. To establish the theoretical framework a literature review has been carried out. Collected data and theoretical framework have subsequently been used to answer the research questions.   Findings – The choices that an enterprise makes when using different storage methods has been shown to influence cost and quality in various ways, with free stacking having the most negative impact. Coexistence between the materials handling methods; FIFO and cross-docking, might result in an enterprise ignoring visions and policies. In other words, the relationship between operative active methods needs to be taken in to consideration in order to fulfil performance targets.   Implications – The theoretical implication with the study has been to enlighten a new aspect of already existing theory, where the relationship between FIFO and cross-docking has been the focus of analysis. This might assist enterprises in gaining knowledge when using operationally active methods simultaneously. A practical implication of the study is that enterprises must understand in what ways the coexistence of storage methods might disrupt flow of products in a distribution centre. In this way, this study contributes to raising awareness among enterprises in terms of finding novel approaches to working with storage with the main purpose of improving their logistics performance.   Limitations – The ability to generalize the study can be questioned due to the fact that it consists of only one business case. Moreover, surrounding factors, which could have brought valuable data to the investigation, have been excluded due to the limited scope of the study.

This diploma thesis deals with the real use of operation research method in conjunction with logistics Cross-Docking technology. It is possible to solve this conjunction with either routing problems along with its modifications or simulations methods. The theoretical part describes routing problems, routing problems with time windows, simulations methods with their possibilities of real use and logistics technologies. A model of a Cross-Docking terminal that was created in the program Simul8 can be found in the practical part of this thesis. The goal of the simulation was to ensure smooth flow of products through the terminal without any long queues in the terminal. Routing problems designed to minimize the length of its routes can be found in the second half of the practical part. Other possible real application is routing problems on the real problem. The solution for this task was found using the modelling system MPL for Windows.

This diploma focuses on the real use of operations research methods in conjunction with logistics technologies. The aim is to show the way of optimization and simulation methods application and to evaluate if these methods are suitable tools for logistics technology application. Following logistic technologies were analysed: Just in Time, Kanban, Cross-Docking and Hub and Spoke. Used mathematical tools include: mixed linear programming models, distribution models, methods of multi-criteria evaluation and simulation models. On the basis of mathematical models 4 examples of new technologies introduction or analysis of already functioning systems have been solved.

Cadeias de suprimentos podem ter operações seguindo diferentes estratégias de distribuição e a utilização de cada uma dessas estratégias pode resultar em diferentes operações e custos. A estratégia de cross-docking auxilia na redução dos custos de distribuição de produtos, consolidando cargas, e a redução de tempo e custos de armazenamento, uma vez que o tempo máximo de estoque permitido pela estratégia é de cerca de 24 horas. O objetivo deste trabalho é apresentar um modelo para o problema de cross-docking, em que cargas são entregues e reorganizadas de forma a atender a outras cargas que são coletadas e garantir que as janelas de tempo para início das operações sejam atendidas. Devido à falta de instâncias para o problema disponíveis na literatura, buscou-se gerar um benchmark e disponibilizá-las à comunidade científica. Uma vez que o problema é de difícil solução exata, um método heurístico para a resolução do problema foi desenvolvido. Os resultados mostraram que o modelo proposto resulta em boas soluções quando comparado ao modelo da literatura. O estudo de calibração do software IBM CPLEX mostrou que a calibração dos parâmetros pode resultar em melhores soluções e, por fim, a matheurística se mostrou competitiva com o CPLEX, principalmente para cenários em que a proporção de entregas e coletas diverge. / Supply chains may have operations which follow different distribution strategies and each one of these strategies may result in different operations and costs. The Cross-docking strategy helps to reduce the products distribution costs by consolidating loads and reducing storage costs as the maximum inventory time is approximately 24 hours. The aim of this research is to present a model for the cross-docking problem where loads are delivered and reorganized so as to cater for other loads that are collected and ensure that time windows are respected. Due to the lack of instances available in the literature, a benchmark was generated and was made available to the scientific community. As the problem is difficult to obtain the exact solution, a heuristic method was developed. The results showed that the proposed model has good solutions when compared to the literature model. A study of the IBM CPLEX software showed that tuning can result in better solutions and the matheuristcs was competitive with the software, mainly in scenarios where deliveries and pickups are very different.

In an era where automation has been transforming the industrial arena, it is important not to lose focus on the health of employees who are still engaged in manual work. Employee health both physical and mental plays a vital role in the overall performance of a company, so it must be taken care of. In the case of cross-docking warehouses where there is a need for manual laborers due to the intricacies in handling products of various sizes and weights, the importance of taking care of the health of its employees becomes more vital. In the modern world of the supply chain, a cross-docking warehouse plays a vital role in providing more efficiency to the system. The type of goods handled by these cross-docking warehouses is vast and this, in turn, brings about the need to implement manual labor onto the production. This study focuses on the main physical and psychosocial problems faced by the workers in a cross-docking warehouse and how it can be improved. Here questionnaires and interviews are used to study and develop better practices and methods to improve everyday work. This thesis focuses on one of the largest cross-docking warehouses situated in Jönköping, Sweden. Here COPSOQ version III is used to find the various main psychosocial problem areas faced by the employees and unstructured interviews are used to pinpoint the main physical problems and their causes. Preventive measures to combat the problems are suggested and are supported by literature reviews.

Idag sker många transporter med låg utnyttjandegrad vilket gör att transportkostnaden per produkt blir hög samtidigt som transporter har en negativ påverkan på miljön. Genom att konsolidera transporter kan utnyttjandegraden av transporterna öka. Ökad utnyttjandegrad kan även hjälpa företagen att gå mot cirkulär ekonomi där målet är att utnyttja resurserna maximalt. För små och medelstora företag kan det dock vara svårt att bygga upp samarbeten med andra företag. Dessa företag möter olika möjligheter och hinder vid implementering av transportkonsolidering, därför kommer denna studien identifiera vilka dessa är.Studien har genomförts i samarbete med 16 företag i Orust kommun och har visat att de största hindren vid transportkonsolidering är kundkrav, produktkrav och informationsdelning. Företagen upplevde att kundernas krav på korta ledtider skulle göra det svårt att samordna transporter med andra företag. Många företag upplevde även att produktkraven deras produkter ställer på transporterna skulle försvåra transportkonsolidering. Studien kunde dock visa att flera företag hade liknande produktkrav vilket möjliggör transportkonsolidering. En del företag ansåg att det saknades stöd och samarbete för den informationsdelning som krävs vid konsolidering.De främsta möjligheterna som identifierades är företagskulturen och viljan att gå mot en mer hållbar distributionskedja. Företagen som deltog i intervjuerna nämnde att de såg positivt på transportkonsolidering om det fanns ett sätt att enkelt samordna transporterna. De är även aktiva i Orust Kretsloppsakademi som arbetar för ett hållbart Orust vilket visar att det finns ett intresse av att bli mer hållbara. / Today, many transports are at a low rate of utilization. This means that shipping costs per product will be high and at the same time transports have a negative impact on the environment. Consolidating transports can increase the utilization rate for transports which minimizes costs and environmental impact. Increased utilization rates can also help companies move towards circular economics where the goal is to maximize their utilization of resources. However, for small and medium size companies it may be difficult to build up partnerships with other companies. These companies face different possibilities and obstacles in implementing transport consolidation, therefore this study will identify these.The study has been carried out in cooperation with 16 companies in Orust and has shown that the main obstacles to transport consolidation are customer requirements, product requirements and information sharing. The companies perceived that customer demand for short lead times would make it difficult to coordinate transport with other companies. Many companies also found that the product requirements of their products on transport would make transport consolidation difficult. However, the study showed that several companies had similar product requirements, which enables transport consolidation. Some companies also felt that there was no support and cooperation for the information sharing required for consolidation.The main opportunities identified were corporate culture and the desire to move towards a more sustainable distribution chain. The companies that participated in the interviews mentioned that they can see possibilities of transport consolidation if there was a way to easily coordinate transport. They are also active in the Orust Kretsloppsakademi that works for a sustainable Orust, which shows that there is an interest in becoming more sustainable.

Background: Many processes play a critical role in making non-manufacturing operations work as optimal as possible. One of these processes that is an important part of these activities is the goods flow process. If this process does not function effectively, this can affect the entire business, which in turn will lead to huge costs and lead times. It is therefore important that the flow of goods in the terminal works well because customers nowadays require that goods that they place an order have to be delivered as soon as possible. Purpose: The aim of the study is to find solutions for streamlining flow of incoming and outgoing goods, which will reduce unnecessary transport distances between goods reception and delivery ports, as well as finding a solution for lack of surface. Methodology: All necessary information has been collected by using qualitative and quantitative data and with the help of various types of interviews: semi-structured and unstructured, as well as participating in observations to initiate process mapping and find new terminal design. Subsequently, cost savings were achieved by comparing the new and old terminal design, after that calculations were performed to see how much surface use was made more efficient with movement of LKM stock. Conclusion: By analyzing incoming goods flow and changing port usage in the terminal, in other words by increasing the number of ports for a department and by distributing goods flow between ports in an optimal manner, goods flow efficiency can be achieved. Non-manufacturing operations work can improve its productivity by optimizing floor space usage and eliminating waste and defects which effect goods handling. / Bakgrund: Många processer spelar kritisk roll för att icke-tillverkande verksamheter ska fungera så optimalt som möjligt. En av dessa processer som utgör en viktig del i sådana verksamheter är godsflödeprocessen. Om denna process inte fungerar på ett effektivt sätt kan det påverka hela verksamheten som i sin tur kommer att leda till stora kostnader och ledtider. Det är därför viktigt att godsflödet i terminalen fungerar väl eftersom kunder nuförtiden ställer höga krav på att gods som de lägger en beställning på skall levereras så snabbt så möjligt. Syfte: Studiens syfte är att hitta lösningar för att effektivisera flödet av in- och utgående gods som i sin tur kommer att minska onödiga truckkörningar mellan godsmottagning och utleverans portar, samt att optimera golvyta användning i terminalen. Metod: All nödvändig information har samlats in genom att använda kvalitativa och kvantitativa data och med hjälp av olika typer intervjuer: semi-strukturerade och ostrukturerade, samt genom deltagande observationer för att initiera processkartläggning och designa ny terminallayout. Därefter räknades kostnadsbesparingen fram som uppnåddes genom att jämföra den nya och gamla terminaldesignen, efter detta utfördes beräkningar för att se hur mycket användning av golvyta effektiviserades med LKM lager förflyttning. Slutsats: Genom att analysera inkommande godsflöde och ändra portanvändning i terminalen, det vill säga utöka antal portar för en avdelning samt genom att fördela godsflöde mellan portar på ett optimalt sätt kan godsflödeeffektivisering åstadkommas. Icke-tillverkande verksamhet kan förbättra sin produktivitet genom att optimera golvyta användning och eliminering av slöserier och brister i godshanteringen.

Dans le contexte économique actuel, les entreprises cherchent à développer de nouvelles stratégies de distribution pour leurs performances logistique. Dans cette quête de performances, les entreprises doivent adapter les stratégies de distribution misent en place avec les typologies de leurs produits. Plusieurs stratégies de distribution existent dans la chaîne logistique de grande distribution. Ces stratégies sont choisies sur la base des caractéristiques des produits, et /ou l'impact sur les performances logistiques. Dans cette thèse, nous étudions l'impact de trois stratégies de distribution, à savoir: stockage traditionnel, cross-docking pick by line et le cross-docking pick by store, sur trois performances de la logistiques, à savoir: le niveau de service, les coûts et le bullwhip effect. En outre, nous analysons l'impact des caractéristiques des produits sur les performances des stratégies de distribution et enfin proposer un cadre pour le choix de la stratégie la plus adaptée pour chaque produit. La chaîne logistique étudiée est composée de trois échelons: Centre de distribution du fournisseur, Centre de distribution du distributeur et les magasins. Basé sur un cas réel, nous effectuons une modélisation des processus, qui nous permet de développer un modèle déterministe de coût Macro et un modèle de simulation. Le modèle de coût macro permet d'évaluer l'impact des stratégies de distribution sur des coûts de la chaîne logistique. Après l'analyse macro des coûts, nous développons un modèle de simulation où nous intégrons les données relatives aux produits (la demande, le volume, etc.). Ce modèle permet une simulation dynamique du système la stratégie la plus adaptée pour chaque produit en fonction de ses caractéristiques et de l'impact sur les performances. A la fin de cette recherche, nous présentons une matrice de choix pour la segmentation des produits et choix de la stratégie de distribution. / Nowadays companies must look to develop new distribution strategies in order to achieve the required performance from their supply chain. In this quest, companies wonder about the consistency of their distribution strategies with the products they are selling. Several types of distribution strategies exist in the retail supply chain. These strategies are chosen based on the products characteristics, and/or the impact on the supply chain performances. In this research, we study the impact of three distribution strategies, namely: traditional warehousing, cross-docking pick by line and cross-docking pick by store, on three supply chain performances, namely: service level, cost and bullwhip effect. In addition, we analyse the impact of the products characteristics on the performances of the distribution strategies and propose a framework for choosing the right strategy for each product. The supply chain studied is composed of three echelons: Supplier Distribution Centre, Retailer Distribution Centre and Stores. Based a real business case, we perform a process modelling, that allows us to develop a deterministic Macro cost model and a simulation model. The macro cost model allows to evaluate the impact of the distribution strategies on the supply chain cost performance. After the macro cost analysis, we develop a simulation model where we integrate the data related to the products (demand, volume, ordering quantities etc.) in the model. This model allows a more dynamic simulation of the system in a large time period and determines the right strategy to select for each product depending on its characteristics and the impact on the performances. At the end of this research, we present a framework for product segmentation and distribution strategy selection.