Due to the significant cost of transport in the sugar industry, a model, named FastTrack, was developed to investigate infrastructure planning opportunities. The model mathematically incorporates road construction and maintenance costs, terrain and land-use maps, vehicle performance specifications and annual sugarcane volumes to determine the most cost effective route, per vehicle type, from a production region to a mill. Route planning using geographical information systems (GIS) is a standard approach for determining the optimum alignment for pipelines, roads and canals. Theory of this approach was reviewed to create a foundation for the development of FastTrack. A small portion of the Noodsberg sugar mill region in the KwaZulu-Natal midlands was selected as a case study area to test the capabilities of FastTrack. A start location was identified as a natural flow point for 70 000 tons of sugarcane hauled from an area south of the mill. Currently this volume is transported along a 9.3 km stretch of national road from the start location to the sugar mill, while the Euclidean distance is approximately 7 km. Three vehicle types, differing in payload, fuel consumption and road speed were assessed. Two common and currently utilised vehicles, the tractor hilo and interlink combinations, were aligned by FastTrack along existing national roads. A financial penalty for driving on national roads was assumed for the third vehicle type considered, land trains, as these are currently not permitted to operate on national roads in South Africa. This high bulk vehicle was selected to test the capabilities of FastTrack and to identify if cost savings could be realised through increased consignment capacity as has been achieved in Australia, Malawi and Brazil. Utilising the model a new and more direct theoretical route was generated for the land train with a length of 7.4 km. Existing farm roads which would require upgrading made up 34 % of this proposed route. An economic analysis was conducted and showed that under current conditions, the private route generated by FastTrack for land train use, would be the most cost effective, with a system cost of R 57.50 t" . The tractor hilo and interlink had system costs of R 59.58 t" and R 60.98 t"1 respectively. Repeating the economic analysis with projected fuel prices indentified that the cost saving advantage of the land train system over the other two vehicle configurations increases with increasing fuel costs. A rigorous validation process, including a sensitivity analysis of results from FastTrack, revealed that the model performs predictably under a wide range of input conditions and could be a valuable tool for decision making in the sugar industry. However, further research is required to combine more economic and logistical aspects into FastTrack and to increase its usability. / Thesis (M.Sc.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2008.

In this thesis, we investigate synergies between participants in transportation and distribution systems and we explore collaborative approaches to exploit these synergies to reduce transportation and distribution costs. We study collaboration in two environments: truckload transportation and vendor management inventory replenishment. The first part of the thesis addresses the cost allocation problem of a collaborative truckload transportation procurement network. We study a logistics network where shippers identify collaborative routes with few empty truck movements to negotiate better rates with a common carrier. We investigate how to allocate the cost savings of these routes among the members of the collaboration. In the second part of the thesis, we investigate collaboration opportunities among carriers. When several carriers have to satisfy truckload transportation requests from various shippers, they may reduce their transportation costs by exchanging requests. First, we focus on computing the minimum cost to satisfy all requests. Next, we develop and analyze various exchange mechanisms that allow carriers to exchange requests in order to realize some of the potential costs savings. In the last part of the thesis, we study VMI replenishment. Simple cost allocation methods ignore synergies between the customers, due to their locations, usage rates, and storage capacities. As a result, the price charged to a customer for distribution does not represent the actual cost of serving that customer. We design a mechanism capable of computing a cost-to-serve for each customer that properly accounts for the synergies among customers.

This dissertation contains two topics in operations research. The first topic is to design a distribution network to facilitate the repeated movement of shipments from many origins to many destinations. A method is developed to estimate transportation costs as a function of the number of terminals and moreover to determine the best number of terminals. The second topic is to study dynamics of a buyer's behavior when the buyer can buy goods through both option contracts and a spot market and the buyer attempts to learn the probability distribution of the spot price. The buyer estimates the spot price distribution as though it is exogenous. However, the spot price distribution is not exogenous but is endogenous because it is affected by the buyer's decision regarding option purchases.

Thesis (M.S.)--Mississippi State University. Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering. / Title from title screen. Includes bibliographical references.

Submitted by Maria de Lourdes Mariano (lmariano@ufscar.br) on 2017-02-24T18:09:59Z No. of bitstreams: 1 SOTO_DE_LA_VEGA_Diego_2014.pdf: 73992036 bytes, checksum: fdf7a66d32485844fff894b41112d2b1 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Maria de Lourdes Mariano (lmariano@ufscar.br) on 2017-02-24T18:10:08Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 SOTO_DE_LA_VEGA_Diego_2014.pdf: 73992036 bytes, checksum: fdf7a66d32485844fff894b41112d2b1 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Maria de Lourdes Mariano (lmariano@ufscar.br) on 2017-02-24T18:10:13Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 SOTO_DE_LA_VEGA_Diego_2014.pdf: 73992036 bytes, checksum: fdf7a66d32485844fff894b41112d2b1 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2017-02-24T18:10:19Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 SOTO_DE_LA_VEGA_Diego_2014.pdf: 73992036 bytes, checksum: fdf7a66d32485844fff894b41112d2b1 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2014-10-01 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES) / Este trabalho apresenta uma abordagem multi-metodológica de otimização e análise multicritério para tratar o problema integrado de distribuição e estoque considerando múltiplos modos de transporte de carga. O sistema analisado fundamenta-se na rede de distribuição de uma empresa no setor de telecomunicações, cujas operações são típicas do setor. A rede de distribuição é composta por um conjunto de centros de distribuição que atendem as demandas de centros de distribuição regionais sobre um horizonte de planejamento de médio prazo. No transporte da mercadoria, os modos de transporte de carga completa (Full truckload -FTL) e fracionada (Less Than Truckload -LTL) foram considerados. Para uma carga completa, um valor fixo é constituído em função da capacidade do veículo utilizado, enquanto que para a carga fracionada, o custo é baseado na quantidade embarcada e na distância percorrida. As decisões do planejamento da distribuição neste problema envolvem definir as quantidades e datas de envio desde cada origem para cada destino indicando o modo de transporte de carga utilizado, para carga completa deve se definir ainda o tipo de veículo, considerando uma frota heterogênea em custo e capacidade. Os estoques de segurança em cada centro de distribuição regional também devem ser determinados em função da variabilidade da demanda e dos tempos de atendimento, bem como o nível de serviço desejado. Estas decisões devem ser definidas de modo a minimizar os custos associados a transporte e estoque, e levando em conta critérios relevantes para o problema de difícil quantificação tais como: facilidade de rastreamento, histórico de desempenho, segurança da carga, disposição para negociar os fretes, serviços de documentação e faturamento, entre outros. Uma formulação matemática específica foi utilizada para geração de soluções e uma estrutura decisória construída através dos métodos SMART (Simple MultiAttribute Ranking Technique) e AHP (Analytic Hierarchy Process) permitiu avaliar estas alternativas. Um caso real foi abordado em uma empresa brasileira para testar a eficiência da abordagem em situações reais. Como resultado, a abordagem proposta permitiu analisar com robustez a decisão mais adequada segundo as preferências e aversão ao risco inerentes dos decisores da empresa. Neste sentido, conclui-se que a preferência dos decisores, direcionou a metodologia na proposição de um planejamento focado principalmente na eficiência, a rápida entrega e na confiabilidade dos tempos de atendimento. / Este trabalho apresenta uma abordagem multi-metodológica de otimização e análise multicritério para tratar o problema integrado de distribuição e estoque considerando múltiplos modos de transporte de carga. O sistema analisado fundamenta-se na rede de distribuição de uma empresa no setor de telecomunicações, cujas operações são típicas do setor. A rede de distribuição é composta por um conjunto de centros de distribuição que atendem as demandas de centros de distribuição regionais sobre um horizonte de planejamento de médio prazo. No transporte da mercadoria, os modos de transporte de carga completa (Full truckload -FTL) e fracionada (Less Than Truckload -LTL) foram considerados. Para uma carga completa, um valor fixo é constituído em função da capacidade do veículo utilizado, enquanto que para a carga fracionada, o custo é baseado na quantidade embarcada e na distância percorrida. As decisões do planejamento da distribuição neste problema envolvem definir as quantidades e datas de envio desde cada origem para cada destino indicando o modo de transporte de carga utilizado, para carga completa deve se definir ainda o tipo de veículo, considerando uma frota heterogênea em custo e capacidade. Os estoques de segurança em cada centro de distribuição regional também devem ser determinados em função da variabilidade da demanda e dos tempos de atendimento, bem como o nível de serviço desejado. Estas decisões devem ser definidas de modo a minimizar os custos associados a transporte e estoque, e levando em conta critérios relevantes para o problema de difícil quantificação tais como: facilidade de rastreamento, histórico de desempenho, segurança da carga, disposição para negociar os fretes, serviços de documentação e faturamento, entre outros. Uma formulação matemática específica foi utilizada para geração de soluções e uma estrutura decisória construída através dos métodos SMART (Simple MultiAttribute Ranking Technique) e AHP (Analytic Hierarchy Process) permitiu avaliar estas alternativas. Um caso real foi abordado em uma empresa brasileira para testar a eficiência da abordagem em situações reais. Como resultado, a abordagem proposta permitiu analisar com robustez a decisão mais adequada segundo as preferências e aversão ao risco inerentes dos decisores da empresa. Neste sentido, conclui-se que a preferência dos decisores, direcionou a metodologia na proposição de um planejamento focado principalmente na eficiência, a rápida entrega e na confiabilidade dos tempos de atendimento.

La tesis de investigación estuvo orientada a la optimización de las rutas que operan en el transporte de la distribución de mercancía de equipos celulares que se encuentra a cargo del Operador Logístico, a través de la aplicación de la metodología de programación lineal con el uso del solver de Excel. Para lo cual el primer trabajo realizado fue la búsqueda de información asociada al tema de tesis para la confección del marco teórico y la definición de los conceptos básicos utilizados en el tema como son por ejemplo los términos de Investigación de operaciones, programación lineal, distribución física, transporte, ruta óptima y simulación; para posteriormente continuar con el diagnóstico de la situación actual y el análisis de la problemática existente en la distribución física de los productos, relacionado al diseño y desempeño actual de las rutas en la empresa. Luego con la identificación y selección de las rutas a optimizar, se procedió a encontrar la ruta óptima en distancias para cada una de ellas, a través del uso de la programación lineal y uso del software Excel en donde se ingresaron los datos correspondientes de cada ruta. Finalmente se presentaron los resultados obtenidos de cada simulación realizada en el software informático, en donde luego del análisis y comparación entre las distancias de las rutas reales y las rutas ideales simuladas, se pudo comprobar la disminución de distancias a través del uso de la ruta óptima. La disminución de distancias en las rutas disminuyó también el costo de combustible utilizado en la unidad de transporte. The thesis research was oriented to the optimization of routes operating in the transport of distribution of cellular equipment that is in charge of the Logistics Operator, through the application of linear programming methodology. For which the first work was the search for information associated with the thesis topic to prepare the framework and the definition of the basic concepts used in the subject as such terms are operations research, linear programming, physical distribution , transportation, simulation and optimal route; and then continue with the diagnosis of the current situation and identify the problems in the physical distribution of products related to the design and performance of current routes in the company. Then with the identification and selection of routes to optimize, we proceeded to find the optimal route distances for each of them, through the use of linear programming and using the software Excel where the data of each route is entered. Finally the results of simulation performed on each computer software, where after analysis and comparison of the distances of the actual paths and routes ideal simulated showed it was found decreasing distances through the use of the optimum route. Decreasing distances on routes also reduced the cost of fuel used in the transport unit.

The marketplace competition determines the players to focus on the activities that add value to the products, with the objective of satisfying their customers. In this context, the distribution center becomes the interested area in business activities, due to its connection between productive activity and the customer, as source of added value. The technological development of telecommunications brought to the market one consumer product, of high added value, that demanded a logistic process for its physical distribution and, nevertheless there exists in the literature several studies on logistics, the revision of literature suggests that the majority of these studies have been based in other countries. It is looked for verifying the application of these studies in the locally developed processes, for the operation of the distribution centers. This study analyses the logistic applied to physical distribution of mobile telephones with the objective of becoming the source of consult for the implementation of a distribution center for the business activities that have same characteristics in their products. The analyses embraces the criteria for distribution center location, their four basic activities : order processing, packing, warehousing and physical moving, in this one included the analysis of logistics costs, modals, services providers, cargo agents, risk management, shipping documentation and performance indicators applicable to physical distribution. The results of this analysis indicates that the customer satisfaction is achieved through a continuous process improvement of physical distribution operations, fed by the results of its process performance evaluation, keeping by the customers, due to the continuous quality excellence in logistics services providing and value adding. / A competitividade nos mercados em que atuam levam as indústrias a colocar foco nas atividades que agregam valor aos produtos, com o objetivo de satisfazer seus clientes. Neste contexto, o centro de distribuição torna-se área de interesse nas atividades empresariais, por se tratar do elo entre a atividade produtiva e o cliente, como fonte de agregação de valor. O desenvolvimento tecnológico das telecomunicações trouxe ao mercado um produto de consumo, de alto valor agregado, que demandou um processo logístico para sua distribuição física e, embora existam na literatura vários estudos sobre logística, a revisão da literatura sugere que a maioria desses estudos tem sido baseada em outros países. Busca-se verificar a aplicação destes estudos em processos desenvolvidos localmente, para a operacionalização dos centros de distribuição. Este trabalho analisa a logística aplicada à distribuição física de telefones celulares, com o objetivo de se tornar uma fonte de consulta para a implantação de um centro de distribuição para atividades empresariais, que tenham essas características em seus produtos. As análises abrangem os critérios para localização do centro de distribuição, suas quatro atividades básicas: processamento de pedidos, embalagem, estocagem e movimentação física, nela incluídas as análises de custos logísticos, modais, prestadores de serviço, agentes de carga, gestão de risco, documentação de embarques e os indicadores de desempenho aplicáveis às atividades de distribuição física. Os resultados desta análise indicam que a satisfação do cliente é alcançada através de um processo de melhoria contínua das operações de distribuição física, alimentado pelos resultados da avaliação do desempenho dos seus processos, mantendo os clientes fiéis pela continuada excelência na qualidade da prestação de serviços logísticos e agregação de valor.

M. Tech. (Department of Logistics Management, Faculty of Management Sciences), Vaal University of Technology. / The application of business ethics in Supply Chain Management (SCM) activities in the business environment has attracted much-needed attention from research academics and practitioners alike in recent years. SCM activities within organisational processes are subject to various ethical principles when facilitating contractual procedures between supply chain partners. In a broader context, ethical SCM has mostly been applied to the public industry. Less attention has been directed, however, towards private businesses that seek to employ ethical compliance towards SCM processes. In view of the growing importance of ethical conduct in the private industry, the purpose of this study is to explore the factors that determine ethical SCM in the Fast-Moving Consumer Goods Industry (FMCG) in Gauteng Province. In this study, a quantitative research approach was employed to examine and test the factors that have an influence on ethical SCM in the FMCG industry within South Africa. A cross-sectional survey design was utilised to collect and test the empirical data collected from 221 purposively selected professional employees and managers in the FMCG industry in Gauteng Province. The collected data were analysed through the use of the Statistical Packages for Social Sciences (SPPS version 26.0) software and analysed using a combination of descriptive and inferential statistics. Specifically, the techniques used to analyse data include frequencies, percentages, mean scores, Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA), t-tests, ANOVA, Pearson correlations and regression analysis. Using the EFA technique, six legal components of ethical SCM were identified. These are moral standards, transparency, professional competence, corporate governance, accountability and fairness. Three components, namely supplier assessment and monitoring, relationship commitment and supplier collaboration, were extracted in the EFA procedure. A further three personal ethics components were extracted, namely intrinsic values, honesty and integrity and skills. Descriptive statistics reveal that most managers and professional employees within the FMCG industry believe that they follow the legal aspects of SCM ethics. They also indicated that their firms are effective in managing their suppliers. The managers and professional employees in the FMCG industry also perceived that they espouse a high standard of personal ethics in their SCM activities. The results of the t-tests revealed that female respondents are more likely to adhere to personal ethics than their male counterparts. Results of the ANOVA tests revealed significant statistical differences on the race and occupational area categories of the FMCG employees that participated in this study. Under the race category, Whites and those of the Mixed race have different attitudes towards supplier collaboration when compared to other racial groups. Managers and professional employees from the procurement department have different attitudes on legal aspects when compared to those in other departments such as transport, warehouse, contract management and customer services employees. Pearson correlations revealed that connections between the constructs were either weak or moderate. Regression analysis revealed that among all legal components and personal ethics factors, only fairness significantly and positively predicted supplier management. The study recommends that the FMCG industry should recruit and develop managers and professional employees with a recruitment process that is more structural and process-driven as this promotes a unique brand of leaders that dictate sound and effective leadership processes. To maintain effectiveness amongst managers and professional employees, training remains a catalyst in increasing knowledge, skills and overall competency within the FMCG industry.

Thesis (MBA)--Stellenbosch University, 2007. / Please refer to fulltext for abstract

published_or_final_version / Industrial and Manufacturing Systems Engineering / Doctoral / Doctor of Philosophy