M.Ing. (Engineering Management) / Globally, Logistics and Supply Chains play important roles; and they contribute immensely to the economy of a nation. The purpose of this research is to investigate and how logistics and supply chains management were implemented in a cement factory in Nigeria. Through the investigation, it was confirmed that Cement Company based their logistical system only on a road-link transport system to deliver their product to their customers or end-users, whereas in today’s technology, there are many ways in which logistics can be implemented. Therefore, this research was conducted, in order to do investigate while other logistical systems have not been actively used. The resultant findings are going to be used to address the problem. According to the investigation, it was found that 73.3% of the questionnaire respondents still prefer to use the road-link logistical system. There is a railway infrastructure in place from one point to another. However, the rail system logistics cannot be implemented because the railway infrastructure is obsolete. A new infrastructure will have to be put in place; and this is going to be costly. Apart from addressing the issue, this research also identify some possible hazards that could arise from using a road logistical system alone, such as the wastage of products, when accidents take place. There needs to be an elimination or reduction in the traffic congestion along the highway. It is also necessary to reduce the environmental pollution. Furthermore, apart from the point mentioned above, other logistical systems could be cheaper, safer and easier to maintain, compared with the Road only. Strong collaboration with logistical and supply-chain professional expertise would be required, in order to have a modern logistical system for better results. Collaboration in the working environment plays a role, but involving expertise would make a strong contribution and be more effective.

Esse trabalho tem como objetivo apresentar um estudo sobre a viabilidade de implementação do VMI - Vendor Managed Inventory considerando-se que, nos dias atuais, um dos principais desafios logísticos das empresas se relaciona à cadeia de suprimentos, seja ela direcionada para o gerenciamento, para o planejamento ou até mesmo para o controle. Considerou-se na pesquisa o estoque gerenciado pelo fornecedor uma ferramenta de abastecimento e reabastecimento da cadeia de suprimentos e para essa tecnologia torna-se necessário, uma total parceria entre fornecedor e cliente, aprimorando-se assim, os rendimentos operacionais e a qualidade da prestação de serviços, com a minimização de prazos e aumento da competitividade. Trata-se de uma pesquisa exploratória através da coleta de dados junto a Associação Brasileira de e-business, Panorama do cenário do Supply chain e ações colaborativas nas empresas brasileiras, realizada com 36 empresas em Novembro de 2005 e uma pesquisa composta de 10 (dez) clientes de distribuição de autopeças do mercado de reposição de borrachas, buchas e coxins automotivos representando 47 filiais no território brasileiro. Dentre os resultados obtidos, destaca-se que para se obter a eficácia dos recursos sistêmicos no setor da cadeia de abastecimento de uma empresa no mercado de reposição, é importante a integração para a cadeia de abastecimento, descrevendo de forma integrada, os níveis competitivos e os ambientes em que a empresa está inserida e se conclui que a VMI - Vendor Managed Inventory é uma aplicabilidade que está em evidência conforme mostrado na pesquisa exploratória e determinante na redução dos atrasos e melhoria ao atendimento no mercado que está inserido. / This work aims to present a study on the feasibility of implementing VMI - Vendor Managed Inventory - considering that, today, a major logistical challenges of companies relates to the supply chain, whether it is directed to the management, for planning or even control. It was considered in the survey vendor managed inventory tool supply and replenishment supply chain and this technology becomes necessary, a full partnership between supplier and customer, thus improving the operating income and the quality of provision services, with the minimization of time and increased competitiveness. This is an exploratory research by collecting data from the Brazilian Association of e-business, "Panorama scene of Supply chain and collaborative actions in Brazilian companies," with 36 companies in November 2005 and a survey consisting of 10 (ten) distribution customers of auto parts aftermarket rubber, automotive bushings and cushions representing 47 branches in Brazil. Among the results, it is noteworthy that to obtain the effectiveness of systemic industry supply chain of a company in the aftermarket, it is important for integrating the supply chain, describing in an integrated, competitive levels and the environments in which the company operates and concludes that VMI - Vendor Managed Inventory is an applicability that is in evidence as shown in exploratory and instrumental in reducing delays and improving service to the market that is inserted.

The Master’s thesis provides an analysis of problems related to physical distribution of a selected group of products in a production company. It contains proposal that facilitates meeting the customers’ demands for quantity and time and contributes to the competitive advantage of the company in the market.

Study project (MPhil)--University of Stellenbosch, 2000. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Liner shipping supplies a frequent scheduled transport service between designated ports to meet the needs of importers and exporters. Those needs are becoming more specific as a result of increasing competition attributable to globalisation of trade while importers and exporters are requiring more exacting services from the liner operators. The elements of service which most concern the importers and exporters are obviously the costs they must bear for the conveyance of the cargo and the time taken for its delivery. In order to meet the requirements of importers and exporters and at the same time enable the operators of the services to remain in business in the face of increasing competition within the industry, liner shipping worldwide is undergoing major changes. These changes are intended to increase the economies of scale and to extend control of the liner operators over the landside transport services. A discussion on liner shipping and current developments is contained in Chapter 3. Liner shipping plays an indispensable role in the economy of South Africa because almost 50% by value of South African imports are containerised. That equates to 8% of South African imports by volume (Moving South Africa: 1998), although it must be borne in mind that some of the cargo moving through South African ports is ultimately destined for countries in SADC (Southern African Development Community). According to Drewry Shipping Consultants, containerised cargo worldwide has been growing at the rate of about 8% per annum since 1980 and the South African trade has experienced a similarly high growth. The actual transport of containers, by sea is only one of the elements in the transport logistics supply chain (TLSC) between exporters in one country and importers in another with which liner operators must concern themselves. A conceptual background explaining the entire TLSC is provided in Chapter 2. In that chapter, the TLSe is defined and two models are used to identify key elements of the TLSC as well as interaction between them. Inefficiencies existing in individual elements of the TLSC as well as suggested solutions to the underlying problems are discussed in Chapter 4. Emphasis is placed on the need to use information technology as a vehicle to integrate the individual elements of the TLSe and as a means of saving costs and time. A discussion of the economic benefits of an efficient TLSe is contained in Chapter 5, while Chapter 6 includes a discussion on local and regional developments that have a bearing on the efficiency of the TLSe. The conclusions of the study together with recommended action are contained in Chapter 7. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Lynvaart bied 'n gereeld geskeduleerde vervoerdiens tussen bepaalde hawens om in die behoeftes van in- en uitvoerders te voorsien. Weens toenemende mededinging voortspruitend uit die globalisering van handel, raak hierdie behoeftes egter al hoe veeleisender, terwyl in- en uitvoerders ook al hoe meer eise begin stel aan die gehalte van die diens wat deur lynvaartoperateurs gelewer word. Die elemente van hierdie diens waarby in- en uitvoerders die grootste belang het, is uiteraard die koste en die tyd verbonde aan vragverskeping. Om aan die vereistes van in- en uitvoerders te voldoen en dit terselfdertyd vir operateurs moontlik te maak om hul besighede te midde van toenemende mededinging in die industrie te bly bedryf, is die lynvaartbedryf wereldwyd besig om groot veranderinge te ondergaan. Hierdie veranderinge is bedoel om skaalvoordele te verbeter en lynvaartoperateurs se beheer oor vervoerdienste aan land uit te brei. Lynvaart en huidige ontwikkelinge in die bedryf word in Hoofstuk 3 bepreek. Lynvaart speel 'n onontbeerlike rol in Suid-Afrika se ekonomie omdat ongeveer 50% van die waarde van Suid-Afrika se invoere in houers vervoer word. Dit is gelyk aan 8% van Suid-Afrika se invoere per volume (Moving South Africa: 1998), alhoewel daar ook in gedagte gehou moet word dat 'n gedeelte van die vrag wat deur Suid-Afrikaanse hawens beweeg, uiteindelik bestem is vir lande in die SAOG (Suider-Afrikaanse Onwikkelingsgemeenskap). Volgense Drewry Skeepskonsultante, groei die vervoer van houerverskeping sedert 1980 teen 'n tempo van ongeveer 8% per jaar, en het die Suid-Afrikaanse handel 'n soortgelyke hoe groeikoers ondervind. Die werklike verskeping van houers is net een van die elemente in die vervoerlogistiekvoorsieningsketting (VL VK) tussen uitvoerders in een land en invoerders in 'n ander land waarmee lynvaartoperateurs rekening moet hou. 'n Konseptuele raamwerk wat die VLVK in die geheel verduidelik, verskyn in Hoofstuk 2. Die VLVK word ook in hierdie hoofstuk gedefinieer en twee modelle word gebruik om elemente daarvan asook die interaksie tussen daardie elemente te identifiseer. Die ontoereikendheid van individuele elemente van die VLVK asook moontlike oplossings vir die onderliggende probleme word in Hoofstuk 4 bespreek. Klem word geplaas op die noodsaaklikheid om informasietegnologie te gebruik om die individuele elemente van die VLVK te integreer ten einde tyd en koste te bespaar. Die ekonomiese voordele van 'n doeltreffende VLVK word in Hoofstuk 5 bespreek, terwyl Hoofstuk 6 handel oor plaaslike en streeksonwikkelinge wat die VLVK se doeltreffendheid beinvloed. Die gevolgtrek

M. Tech. (Industrial Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Technology) Vaal University of Technology| / Implementing either periodic or continuous inventory review model within most manufacturing-companies-supply chains, as a management tool, incurs higher costs. These high costs affect the system flexibility which in turn affects the level of service required to satisfy customers. However, these effects are not clearly understood. This may be due to the fact that lead time and demand which are important input parameters of the manufacturing supply chain are not designed to be fully utilized under different and uncertain conditions such as seasonality, poor manufacturing, poor supplies and delivery performance, etc. Coming up with a hybrid inventory model which may combine, in some sense a continuous (r, Q) and a periodic (R, S) inventory review models can be useful in dealing with such problem. Therefore, more attention should be first devoted to formulating accurate models for lead time and demand that incorporate uncertainty. This study presents a simulation based approach that assesses the effect of uncertainty on the cost of implementing a continuous (r, Q), periodic (R, S) and hybrid inventory review models while considering appropriate constraint such as customer service and system flexibility. The stochastic representations of demand and lead time are proposed and used in the simulation models. Results reveal that under a unique situation, implementing a continuous (r, Q) inventory review model may cause manager to under-budget while the use of a periodic (R, S) inventory review models may lead to over budget and vice versa. Further investigation shows that the cost of implementing the hybrid inventory model, although higher at the beginning of operation, seems to be the most cost effective one over time. The result also reveal optimal re-order point path and optimal review interval path which when followed, should lead to optimal inventory cost path as demand and lead time fluctuate. Thus, a management guide is proposed that can be used by managers in making inventory decision.

Este trabalho foi motivado pela necessidade de otimização nos serviços de entregas urbanas combinados com o alto custo de implantação e customização da maioria dos pacotes disponíveis comercialmente, que muitas empresas se defrontam, na expectativa de obtenção de respostas rápidas e eficientes, numa base diária. Geralmente a utilização destes software requerem grandes investimentos de tempo e recursos. Os custos operacionais do transporte de cargas têm experimentado um aumento expressivo devido a fatores que, de uma forma ou de outra, impedem o fluxo eficiente dos veículos na rede, tomando evidente a necessidade de ferramentas flexíveis e efetivas. Vários estudos encontrados na literatura revelaram que fatores como restrições de circulação e velocidades nos arcos têm contribuído para aumentar distâncias de percursos e a frota de veículos. Geralmente, estas rotas são planejadas de forma simplificada, utilizando um fator de correção, que fornece uma solução aproximada. Um SIG foi objeto de estudo na operação de entregas urbanas, de forma a atingir os objetivos deste trabalho. O estudo de caso abordou os serviços de entregas de bebidas na cidade de São Carlos, onde foi aplicada a heurística de economias de Clarke & Wright implementadas no software TransCAD 3.2. Foram feitas diversas simulações, comparando os resultados das distâncias em rede com os valores das distâncias estimadas, como também com as distâncias percorridas pela empresa distribuidora. / This research was motivated by the necessity of optimization of urban delivery services and the high cost of implementation and customization of most routing packages commercially available. Moreover, the companies expect to obtain fast and efficient answers on a daily base. The use of some routing software generally requires significant investments of time and other resources. The operational costs of freight transport have had a remarkable increase due to factors which somehow restraint the efficient flow of the vehicles in a network, leading to the need of flexible and effective tools. Several studies in the literature have revealed that factors such as restrictions of circulation and speed on network contribute to increase the travel distances and the fleet size. Generally, these routes are planned in a simplified way, using a correction factor to get an approximated solution. This research has considered the use of Geographical Information Systems as a tool to achieve better results for routing delivery services. The case study was the delivery service of beverages in the city of São Carlos. The Clarke & Wright\'s heuristic of economies was irnplemented in the TransCAD 3.2 software. Several simulations were carried out, comparing the results of route length, considering network and estimated distances, as well as the real one traveled by the delivery company\'s vehicles.

Este trabalho foi motivado pela necessidade de otimização nos serviços de entregas urbanas combinados com o alto custo de implantação e customização da maioria dos pacotes disponíveis comercialmente, que muitas empresas se defrontam, na expectativa de obtenção de respostas rápidas e eficientes, numa base diária. Geralmente a utilização destes software requerem grandes investimentos de tempo e recursos. Os custos operacionais do transporte de cargas têm experimentado um aumento expressivo devido a fatores que, de uma forma ou de outra, impedem o fluxo eficiente dos veículos na rede, tomando evidente a necessidade de ferramentas flexíveis e efetivas. Vários estudos encontrados na literatura revelaram que fatores como restrições de circulação e velocidades nos arcos têm contribuído para aumentar distâncias de percursos e a frota de veículos. Geralmente, estas rotas são planejadas de forma simplificada, utilizando um fator de correção, que fornece uma solução aproximada. Um SIG foi objeto de estudo na operação de entregas urbanas, de forma a atingir os objetivos deste trabalho. O estudo de caso abordou os serviços de entregas de bebidas na cidade de São Carlos, onde foi aplicada a heurística de economias de Clarke & Wright implementadas no software TransCAD 3.2. Foram feitas diversas simulações, comparando os resultados das distâncias em rede com os valores das distâncias estimadas, como também com as distâncias percorridas pela empresa distribuidora. / This research was motivated by the necessity of optimization of urban delivery services and the high cost of implementation and customization of most routing packages commercially available. Moreover, the companies expect to obtain fast and efficient answers on a daily base. The use of some routing software generally requires significant investments of time and other resources. The operational costs of freight transport have had a remarkable increase due to factors which somehow restraint the efficient flow of the vehicles in a network, leading to the need of flexible and effective tools. Several studies in the literature have revealed that factors such as restrictions of circulation and speed on network contribute to increase the travel distances and the fleet size. Generally, these routes are planned in a simplified way, using a correction factor to get an approximated solution. This research has considered the use of Geographical Information Systems as a tool to achieve better results for routing delivery services. The case study was the delivery service of beverages in the city of São Carlos. The Clarke & Wright\'s heuristic of economies was irnplemented in the TransCAD 3.2 software. Several simulations were carried out, comparing the results of route length, considering network and estimated distances, as well as the real one traveled by the delivery company\'s vehicles.

Manufacturing outsourcing in the U.S. has never been stronger than it is today. Increased outsourcing has led to significant changes in the design of the retail distribution network. While the traditional distribution network had the manufacturing plants supplying goods to the retail stores directly, the off-shore manufacturing has increased the network's demand for transportation and warehousing to deliver the goods. Thus, most companies have a complex distribution network with several import and regional distribution centers (RDC). In this thesis, we study an integrated facility location and inventory allocation problem for designing a distribution network with multiple national (import) distribution centers (NDC) and retailers. The key decisions are where to locate the RDCs and how much inventory to hold at the different locations such that the total network cost is minimized under a pre-defined operational rule for the distribution of goods. In particular, the inventory cost analysis is based on the continuous review batch ordering policy and the base-stock policy. Both Type-I (probability of stock-outs) and Type-II (fill-rate) service level measures are used in the analysis. Two different models are presented in this thesis for solving the integrated facility location-inventory allocation problem. The first model, continuous approximation (CA), assumes the distribution network to be located in a continuous region and replaces the discrete store locations with a store density function. The second model is a discrete representation of the problem as a mixed integer programming problem. Both the models take a nonlinear form and solution techniques are developed using the theory of nonlinear programming and linear reformulation of nonlinear problems. The goal of the first part of the thesis is to model the problem using a modified CA approach and an iterative solution scheme is presented to solve it. The main contribution of this work lies in developing a refined CA modeling technique when the discrete data cannot be modeled by a continuous function. In addition, the numerical analysis suggests that the total network cost is significantly lower in the case of the integrated model as compared with the non-integrated model. It is also shown that the regular CA approach leads to a solution which is inferior to the solution obtained by the modified CA approach. Our analysis shows that the type of service measure used affects the network design. In the second part of the thesis, the problem is modeled as a nonlinear mixed integer program and a linear reformulation solution technique is proposed to obtain a lower bound on the original problem. Computational results are presented for small problem instances. We conclude this part of the thesis by presenting an integrated model when a base stock inventory policy is used. A drop-decomposition heuristic is proposed to solve this problem.

<p>Introduction</p><p>An increased globalization and competition has forced companies to change their view on the supply chain, from supply chain management to demand chain management.</p><p>The company Martela is experiencing an increased competition and a declining market. They have started a program for change in order to reclaim market shares. The goal of one of the sub-projects is to increase the customers’ confidence on Martela in order to increase customer satisfaction.</p><p>Purpose</p><p>The purpose of this study is to illustrate the strong significance of physical distribution on customer satisfaction.</p><p>Method</p><p>We have used a qualitative method. We have gathered information for this paper by means of discussions, interviews and data processing of delivery and sales. It has been an iterative process in which we have moved from empiric data to theory and then back, in order to analyze the result. A significant part of this paper are interpretations, in which the theory as well as our background had an influence in the analysis and the dis-cussion.</p><p>Conclusions</p><p>Customer satisfaction plays an important role in order to compete in the office furniture market. One step towards making the customer satisfied is to have a satisfactory physi-cal distribution. The conditions for a good distribution and satisfied customers can be created by focusing on damage-free deliveries on time along with the relevant informa-tion.</p>

Introduction An increased globalization and competition has forced companies to change their view on the supply chain, from supply chain management to demand chain management. The company Martela is experiencing an increased competition and a declining market. They have started a program for change in order to reclaim market shares. The goal of one of the sub-projects is to increase the customers’ confidence on Martela in order to increase customer satisfaction. Purpose The purpose of this study is to illustrate the strong significance of physical distribution on customer satisfaction. Method We have used a qualitative method. We have gathered information for this paper by means of discussions, interviews and data processing of delivery and sales. It has been an iterative process in which we have moved from empiric data to theory and then back, in order to analyze the result. A significant part of this paper are interpretations, in which the theory as well as our background had an influence in the analysis and the dis-cussion. Conclusions Customer satisfaction plays an important role in order to compete in the office furniture market. One step towards making the customer satisfied is to have a satisfactory physi-cal distribution. The conditions for a good distribution and satisfied customers can be created by focusing on damage-free deliveries on time along with the relevant informa-tion.