Persons involved in pallet decisions at U.S. grocery distribution centers were surveyed to investigate the degree of material substitution, assess factors influencing pallet material substitution, and quantify consumer perceptions of wood pallets compared to substitutes. A total of 444 questionnaires were mailed nationwide. Underlying reasons for material substitution were investigated through in-depth interviews with 20 respondents. Cost per use was considered by grocery distributors to be the Persons involved in pallet decisions at U.S. grocery distribution centers were surveyed to investigate the degree of material substitution, assess factors influencing pallet material substitution, and quantify consumer perceptions of wood pallets compared to substitutes. A total of 444 questionnaires were mailed nationwide. Underlying reasons for material substitution were investigated through in-depth interviews with 20 respondents. Cost per use was considered by grocery distributors to be the most important factor when choosing a pallet to be sent downstream to their customers. Common advantages of solid wood pallets reported by respondents included: availability, low initial cost, durability/stability (the ability of the pallet to be racked and hold the necessary weight with little deflection), industry standard, ability to exchange, ease of repair. Common disadvantages of solid wood pallets reported by respondents included: easily damaged, short life, high repair and replacement costs, heavy, inconsistent construction, and damages product. Advantages of plastic pallets reported by respondents included: light weight, durability, longer life, true four-way entry, and ability to nest. Plastic pallets were perceived to be superior to wood pallets in terms of overall performance, durability, and recyclability. Although 100 percent of the responding companies use solid wood pallets to ship goods to customers, approximately 20 percent of the companies also use plastic pallets (the dominant substitute pallet material) for this purpose. The common plastic pallet used by respondents was of the twin sheet thermoform type. The primary reason for switching to plastic pallets was perceived overall cost savings resulting from long pallet life. / Master of Science

Today, American industries are in a highly competitive international market. To achieve the competitive edge, manufacturers are demanding excellence from their vendor/suppliers. The pallet and container industries are the suppliers to the other companies. Statistical Process Control (SPC) is one-way to prove to the buyer the quality level of their products. One part of the this thesis is a handbook, which explains a step by step process of implementing an SPC program for the pallet and container industry. In addition, the thesis examines the quality levels of materials that goes into the pallet including the finished product such as raw material, cut-stock, fasteners, and workmanship. The raw material proved quite variable from the different sawmills. The between board variation was greater than the within for both the thickness and width. The cut-stock had less size variation in thickness than width. The workmanship of the finished pallets showed that the number of nail splits and uniformity of deckboard spacing to be a problem. While the number of missing nails, protruding nail points and heads, and the "out of squareness." It was not a problem. The physical characteristics of the fasteners proved extremely variable from one characteristic to another. There are a number of fasteners being produced outside of the NWPCA criteria for wire diameters. The most popular fastener gauges are the 11 and 11.5. In addition, the most popular fastener length is 2.25 and fastener flute number is 4. The MIBANT angle variation is higher for the stiffstock fasteners then the hardened fasteners. / Master of Science

The concept of a bin leasing system represents an effort to use bins more extensively. In a leasing system one inventory of bins would be used by two‘or more annual users. System benefits would be lower per-use costs for the user and the opportunity for the lessor to make a profit. In order to establish a working data base of information, a mailed questionnaire was sent to 333 fruit and vegetable processors. The response rate on the survey was 45%. A typical bin is built of hardwood lumber, lasts about seven years, and costs an average of $36.53. Seventy-eight percent of the owners considered bin repair a problem, 85% thought bin transport was expensive, 96.5% agreed that bins were a significant investment. Overall, 66% considered bin leasing a viable option to ownership. Eastern North Carolina was chosen as the most promising leasing system location. The system will cater to cucumber/pepper processors and sweet potato packers. The method chosen to establish the system is to contract with one or more large companies to supply, on a lease basis, the required replacement bins for future years. A sample system was designed based on cost and revenue information received from area bin owners. Calculations yielded a net present value of $31,056.99 for a 15 year run of the system when using a discount rate of 12.5%. The effects of changes in key variables were analyzed. The most dramatic changes in NPV were due to changes in bin life and per-bin revenues. / Master of Science

Wood pallets serve as interfaces between packaged products and transport vehicles. vertical vibrations are transmitted through pallets into unit-loads. Pallet response to forced vibration affects forces experienced by products. A study was conducted to determine how pallet design influenced the resonant response of a uniformly distributed case goods unit-load. other studies were conducted to develop a pallet section model to emulate the response of three stringer wood pallets to forced vibration. This model was used to investigate the effects of joint stiffness, deckboard EI, and uniformly distributed load level on the resonant response of pallet decks. Pallets were found to lower unit-load resonant frequencies and increase transmissibilities at resonance. Pallet sections constructed with stiff decks and joints were found to have higher resonant frequencies and lower transmissibilities than sections constructed with less stiff deck components. To prevent pallets from elevating acceleration transmitted through unit-loads, pallets should be constructed with the stiffest decks and joints that are economically feasible. / Master of Science

The model used to estimate pallet life in the durability section of PDS is a composite of several computed "factors" which are intended to reflect the impact of design characteristics on pallet durability. The objective of this study was to evaluate the reliability of the estimates of joint performance and the resulting estimates of pallet life relative to the estimated joint performance. A series of delayed fastener axial withdrawal tests were performed on a wide range of pallet fasteners to evaluate the estimates of joint separation resistance that are used in the computation of the F ( 1) factor, the factor for joint separation resistance perpendicular to the pallet deck. This data, in addition to data obtained from previous studies, suggested that the model underestimated the delayed withdrawal performance of threaded nails. An improved relationship was derived for helically threaded, twisted square wire and annularly threaded nails which had the additional advantage of being sensitive to lumber moisture content both at the time of joint assembly and at the time of joint testing. Both the original and the improved relationships were found to grossly overpredict the withdrawal performance of plain shank nails and staples. A series of pallet corner drop tests were performed to evaluate the reliability of the estimates of joint torsional shear resistance that used in the computation of the F(2) factor, the factor for joint separation resistance parallel to the pallet deck. The pallets tested varied by lumber species, number of fastener couples, and fastener stiffness as measured by the MIBANT bend angle. The observed affect of changes in fastener stiffness on pallet diagonal rigidity was found to be accurately reflected in the computed F(2) values. The observed affect of changes in the number of fastener couples on pallet diagonal rigidity was overpredicted in the computed F(2) values. The observed affect of changes in the lumber specific gravity on pallet diagonal rigidity appeared to be overpredicted in the computed F(2) values but this might be due to the fact that the measured pallet distortions were adjusted to account for differences in pallet weights. Pallet weight is specific gravity dependent and adjusting pallet distortion by weight may have reduced the observed affect of specific gravity. It was not possible to statistically confirm a relationship between the estimates of pallet durability relative to pallet diagonal rigidity and observed pallet life. However, such a relationship appears likely. Also, the estimates of pallet durability were found to be conservative. / M.S.

The objective of this project is to develop a methodology to measure and predict the strength and the stiffness of red alder (Alnus rubra) nailed pallet connections subjected to repetitive loading. Joint tests were conducted to define the mechanical properties of bottom block pallet connections. The primary tests were conducted to define the strength and stiffness of joint specimens tested in cyclic lateral loading, using three different side member thicknesses and four types of nails. Also, the influence of other specific variables on joint performance was evaluated including friction, pattern, moisture content, number of nails per joint, specific gravity, and rate of loading. In total, 23 sets of nailed joint specimens, with 15 replications each, were constructed and tested. The use of a reversing cyclic lateral loading procedure permits documentation of the effect of dynamic loading on the load-slip response of the connection. Analysis of the data included the creation of two envelope curves, the initial and the final (stabilized) curve. The data obtained from the two curves was used to find the “best” model for predicting the strength and stiffness of the connections. Four models were identified but only one of these was found useful for prediction purposes. Finally, experimental capacity loads were found to be at least three times greater than the national design specification allowable design loads. / Master of Science

Yes / The study examines the impact of liquidity risk on freight derivatives returns. The Amihud liquidity ratio and bid–ask spreads are utilized to assess the existence of liquidity risk in the freight derivatives market. Other macroeconomic variables are used to control for market risk. Results indicate that liquidity risk is priced and both liquidity measures have a significant role in determining freight derivatives returns. Consistent with expectations, both liquidity measures are found to have positive and significant effects on the returns of freight derivatives. The results have important implications for modeling freight derivatives, and consequently, for trading and risk management purposes.

Yes / Speed optimization of liner vessels has significant economic and environmental impact for reducing fuel cost and Green House Gas (GHG) emission as the shipping over maritime logistics takes more than 70% of world transportation. While slow steaming is widely used as best practices for liner shipping companies, they are also under the pressure to maintain service level agreement (SLA) with their cargo clients. Thus, deciding optimal speed that minimizes fuel consumption while maintaining SLA is managerial decision problem. Studies in the literature use theoretical fuel consumption functions in their speed optimization models but these functions have limitations due to weather conditions in voyages. This paper uses weather archive data to estimate the real fuel consumption function for speed optimization problems. In particular, Copernicus data set is used as the source of big data and data mining technique is applied to identify the impact of weather conditions based on a given voyage route. Particle swarm optimization, a metaheuristic optimization method, is applied to find Pareto optimal solutions that minimize fuel consumption and maximize SLA. The usefulness of the proposed approach is verified through the real data obtained from a liner company and real world implications are discussed.

Since 1960, pallet production has quadrupled, increasing the pallet industry's use of hardwood lumber from 14 percent to almost 50 percent of total hardwood lumber production. Part of this growth can be attributed to the grocery and related products industry, which should continue as a major growth area for pallet usage over the next decade. The general objective of this study is to provide information that can be used to understand the long-term potential and long-term trends in the grocery pallet market which relate to future regional timber demands by the pallet industry. Specific objectives are: (A) Provide information on current use of grocery pallets in the grocery distribution industry; (B) Provide theoretical framework for future analysis of the regional demand for grocery pallets; and (C) Provide information on demand for regional timber resources resulting from grocery pallet production within specified regions. Models are presented representing demand and supply in the grocery and related products and grocery pallet markets. In the grocery pallet model, demand for new grocery pallets is expressed as an 'excess demand' where demand for new grocery pallets equals the difference between aggregate supply of pallets to grocery distribution and available inventory of grocery pallets in the system. Inventory of grocery pallets in grocery distribution is expressed as a function of dollar volume of retail sales, based on application of a stock adjustment model for durable inputs. Consumption of grocery pallets by the grocery distribution industry is shown to be an important part in overall new pallet production even though the pallet used, 48"x40", only constitutes about 11 percent of total new pallet production in 1986. Estimates of national consumption of new grocery pallets in 1986 are broken down into regional estimates of new pallet consumption. Volume of wood raw material used in 1986 for production of grocery pallets is estimated to exceed 838 million board foot of wood raw material, or potentially 18 percent of total hardwood raw material consumed in production of all types of pallets. National trends effecting wood use in grocery distribution are considered. Specific regional trends effecting wood raw material use are not identified. / Ph. D.

本研究係以中國大陸「水路運輸部門」的「航港體制改革」有關問題為研究對象，係屬一種針對某一特定「產業部門」（Industrial Sectors）的體制改革問題之研究取向。 　　由中共建政至「改革開放」路線實施前的三十年中，其「水路運輸部門」在實踐上也浮現了若干問題，而隨著經濟體制改革，如何尋求這些問題的解決，即為1980年代初期以來中共推動「航港體制改革」之目的。 　　有關「改革開放時期中共航港體制改革之研究」此一議題，基本上橫跨了做為「經濟基礎」的航運事業、港口事業兩大「產業部門」（Industrial Sectors），又涉及到其「上層建築」的「政府機構改革」（航港行政管理體制改革）；在屬性上是一個典型的「公共政策分析」議題。 　　本研究主要使用「公共政策分析」研究法的「過程論模式」（Process Model）做為分析模式（analytical models）。經由「政策環境分析」及一系列的「政策過程階段分析」，據以產出「政策主張」。 　　綜上，本研究之主要內容，乃在探討（1）「水路運輸部門」的「航港體制改革」之公共政策分析，以及其中一系列的政策過程階段分析，（2）跨入新世紀航港體制改革進一步深化發展之可能取向。 / The subject of the study is focus on the related public policy issues that were regarding the shipping and ports sectors regime reform on the Reform and Opening Era for the Mainland China. The shipping and ports sectors regime reform are a part of the integrated transportation sectors regime reform, especially in the water transportation sectors regime reform. This study orientation is against the regime reform issues on one specified industrial sectors. 　　During the 30 years form the regime found of the People’s Republic of China (PRC) at 1949 to the beginning of the Reform and Opening Route at 1979, there were many problems existed on each developing process of the shipping and ports sectors. How to find the solutions against the problems, was the object to promote the shipping and ports regime reform from the beginning of 1980’s decade. 　　As regarding the issues of “A Study on the Shipping and Ports Sectors Regime Reform on the Reform and Opening Era for the Mainland China”, it is not only across both on the shipping industry and ports industry of the two important industrial sectors as the “Economic Base”, but also involved the government institutions reform (shipping and ports administration regime reform) as the “Upper Construction”, so that is a typical public policy analysis issues. The study will utilize the Public Policy Analysis Methodology, especially in Process Model to be the analytical models. Through the Policy Environment Analysis and the series Policy Process Stage Analysis, then it will output the Policy Advocacy. 　　As the above mentioned, the major contents of the study are including the （1）policy process stage analysis of the shipping and ports sectors regime reform, and （2）the possible upgrade orientation of the shipping and ports sectors regime reform during across to the new century.