Showing papers on "Distribution center published in 1997"

Easily Implementable Inventory Control Policies

Abstract: This work was initiated and supported by a manufacturer of mail processing equipment, which stocks 30,000 distinct parts in a distribution center to support field maintenance of their equipment. To find an effective stocking policy for this system we formulate a constrained optimization model with the objective of minimizing overall inventory investment at the distribution center subject to constraints on customer service and order frequency. Because size, integrality, and nonconvexity make this problem intractable to exact analysis, we develop three heuristic algorithms based on simplified representations of the inventory and service expressions. These lead to what we call easily implementable inventory policies, in which the control parameters for a newly introduced part can be computed in closed form without reoptimizing the rest of the system. Numerical comparisons against a lower bound on the cost function show that even our simplest heuristic works well when a high service level is required. However...

Top down electrical distribution center assembly

Abstract: An electrical distribution center assembly and a method of constructing the same which eliminates the need to flip an electrical distribution center over in order to couple a wire harness connector to the electrical distribution center. The electrical distribution center assembly includes an electrical distribution center, a wire harness connector, and a connector retainer carried by a vehicle for temporarily holding the wire harness connector in position while the wire harness connector is coupled to the electrical distribution center.

Central Distribution in Europe: A Multi‐Criteria Approach to Location Selection

Abstract: This paper describes a conceptual framework for developing new distribution structures. In real life decision‐making, optimal regions to locate a distribution center take into account both quantitative and qualitative factors. An adjusted kuehn‐Hamburger model is suggested to minimize transport and location costs and a Grid model is used as an alternative approach in case of missing data. The outcome is refined on quantitative and qualitative criteria by application of the Electre method. This framework is applied to a major telecom company's European distribution.

Evaluation And Evolution Of The City Distribution Concept

Abstract: The historical centers of Dutch cities offer a convenient atmosphere for shopping and pleasure activities. The quality of the living environment is afflicted by the noise and air pollution of trucks. Spinning motors while (un)loading the truck cause emissions of several damaging environmental exhaust. In the early 90's the concept of city distribution centers became an issue of growing interest for Dutch municipalities. Centralized distribution, organized at a distribution center at the edge of a city, was thought to provide a firm basis for improvement of the quality of the inner city. Many positive effects were anticipated from the introduction of the city distribution center-concept: congestion reduction, gain of time, reliable delivery, economies of scale and noise reduction. In 1997 the 'real-world' implementation of city distribution centers in the Netherlands gave rise to some critical questions about its functioning. On the whole, one can conclude that the total size of demand provided for the city distribution center was overestimated. Governmental, logistic, managerial and juridical incentives have not resulted in a substantial switch towards new distribution concepts, mostly because the behavior of forwarders, government and shopkeepers was not analyzed thoroughly. Superficially evaluating the concept of city distribution centers one can conclude that the concept seems to fail. In our view the concept of city distribution centers is still valid if not seen as a blueprint for uniform appliance. It is a first step towards the development of other, new, promising logistic concepts based on a framework of multidisciplinary performance indicators. In future, based on the lessons learned, the city distribution concept can alter towards two important directions: 1. the idea of 'shop stop stock', which means that shops provide only show windows, sales areas with samples or a virtual shopping environment. The final purchase will be electronically messaged to the city distribution center, where the real products are stocked. Finally the achieved products will be straight delivered to the buying customer at any time and place he or she wants. The 'shop stop stock' idea will provide some interesting logistical advantages. 2. the embedding of underground transportation technology as a core element of the distribution structure. Looking at the current application areas for underground transportation the spatial and environmental conditions are similar for city distribution. So after evaluating the functioning of city distribution centers during the last five years some critical elements for good functioning have been overlooked. Taking these critical elements seriously into account the concept of city distribution must change radically into new directions. Information technology and underground transportation technology give city distribution centers good opportunities to survive or revive. Transactions on the Built Environment vol 30, © 1997 WIT Press, www.witpress.com, ISSN 1743-3509

Physical distribution management system

Abstract: PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To propose wide slivery conditions of a product for an order from a user by allotting to the order not only a stock in the warehouse of a physical distribution center and a storage timing plan from a factory but also a production plan in the factory SOLUTION: A local physical distribution center 2 which receives user's orders from a store 1 allots a product in a warehouse to the order and transmits the order to which a product can not be allotted to a central physical distribution center 3 The central physical distribution center 3 asks factory 4 a storage timing when the product is put into storage and a production plan and writes these information to a storage timing file 11 and a production plan file 12 The central physical distribution center 3 allots a product in the warehouse thereof to the order to which the local physical distribution center 2 can not allot a product and allots the order to which a product can not be allotted to a product in a storage timing plan or a production plan to transmit the result of allotted storage timing plan or production plan to the local physical distribution center 2 The local physical distribution center 2 transmits the results of allotted stock in its warehouse and storage timing plan or production plan received from the central physical distribution center 3 to the store 1

PANEL ON TRANSPORTATION AND LOGISTICS MODELING Chair

Abstract: Transportation and logistics are fertile areas for modeling. Simulation has traditionally been used in warehousing and inside the distribution center or processing hub in the trucking and package delivery sectors, for baggage systems and passenger queueing in the airline industry, and for detailed models of terminals and yards in the railroad industry. In addition, simulators are used for certain specialized applications, such as airspace applications and line-of-road railroad applications. Other non-simulation models based on optimization, networks and heuristics have dominated many other areas of transportation and logistics, especially large-scale supply chain issues such as logistics network design, vehicle routing, facility location, and scheduling. The panel discusses a number of these and other issues: when to use simulation models versus optimization and heuristic models, the features (or lack thereof) in current generation simulation software relevant to transportation and logistics modeling, the possibility of combining simulation and optimization or mathematical models, and how to convince management of the benefits of simulation.