TRANSPORTATION EQUIPMENT
focuses on the motor carrier industry and
differentiates betwen truckload (TL) and less than truckload (LTL) carrier
operations . the impact of volatile diesel fuel prices on industry profit is
highlighted in the transporatation profile. A detailed discussion of TL network
structures and network desicions is also offered in this chapter . finnaly the
new federal highway trust found tax rates on motor carriers are discussed
examines the railroad industry and its current
operations . special attention is given to recent attempts by the federal
goverment to reregulate the railroad industry . A detailed discussion of the
new service innovations , including TOFC and COFC , is given focusing on the
growth of intermodal carloadings inteh railroad industry . because volatile
fuel princes have substantial impacts on all transportation modes , a
comparison is made in this chapter betwen railroad fuel efficiency and the
other modes of transportation .
The airline industry. as with the other modal
chapters , a discusion of the impact of volatile fuel prices on the airline
industry is offered . along with this cost impact labor costs in the airlines
industry are also discussed . this chapter offers a comprehensive view of
aircraft operating characteristics as well as a listing of the top airports in
the united states . because safety is critical in passanger air travel , a
comparison of passenger fatalities between airlines and other passenger modes
is offered .
a discussion of bulk carriers ( water and
pipeline ) . the historical development and significance of these modes are
presented along with a discussion of the current status of each mode . the cost
structure of each mode are presented along with their impact on carrier
operations and competitive advantage . finnaly the basics of intramodal and
intermodal competition for each mode are examined.
Materials handling equipment
In this
appendix we explore the different types of materials handling equipment
available to the logistic manager,including dock,conveyors and cranes,guided
vehicles,and order picking and stroge equipment. In addition the materials
handling equipment selection desicion is examined from a design.
Dock
Equipment
The
poliferation of product on the market today makes materials handling selection
a very dinamic process. We now discuss the variuos equipment categories
companies cold use in designing a material handling system. Our objective is to
appreciate how and when company such equipment.
1. Forklift
One of type of dock equipment common to many materials handling system
is the forklift truck(see Figure 11A-1) a very versatile pice of equipment that company can provide at a very reasonable
cost. Able to perform several useful materals handling task.
2. Dock bumpers
Dock bumpers are molded rubber pices that a protect the building from
the impact of a docking trailer backing into. It and from trailer shifting in
weight during loading or unloading
3. Dock lavelers
Dock lavelers level out the angle between the dock and the trailer by
providding a ramp
4. Dock seals
Is a cushioned frame around the dock door opening that coonect the
trailer to the dock.
5. Trailer restaint system
Vehicle restraint prevent the trailer from drifiting away from dock
during loading or unloading. Since the drifiting cause many dock accidents the
occupstional and safety and health administratio(OSHA).
6. Pallets
Pallets are both basic and ssential to material handling operation. A
pallets main fuction to provide base to hold individual items together.
Although pallets play an integral distribution role,their use has one important
problem.
Other materials Handling Equipment
·
Coveyers
Conveyers a very popular from of materials
handling equipmentv play an important role in advicing productivity and
improving bootom line operating results,particulary in the mechanized
distribuition center of warehouse. These systems decrease handling
cost.increass producrivity
·
Cranes
Companisecan utitilize variety of cranes in
warehouse. The two basic types are bridge cranes and stacker or wagon cranes.
Bridge cranes are more common in physical supply
·
Automatic guided vechinecle systems
Are machines that connect receiveng storing
manufacturing and shipping. Firm can track the vechicles ethier roaming freely
or on fixed path, with computers that make trafic control decisions.
Essiantly,AGVs travel around the warehouse of manufacturing palt carring
various of items.
Order Picking and Storage Equipment
One of the main fuctions of physical distribution warehouse is order
picking the process of identifying,selection retriving and cummulating the
proper items for customer orders. Although order picking by nature is labor
intensive an effectively designed order picking and storage system can enhance.
Types of materials handling equipment a design perspective
Companies often divide materials handling equipment into three design
categories. The first category is flexible path equpment,which include manual
had trucks all forklift trucks,and some other picking equpiment. Its design
advantages are versality and flexibilty. However its customarily more labor
intensive. The second category is continous flow fixed path equipment which
includes conveyors and draglines. These are usally very efficient and highly
automated.
Equipment slection factors
Several factors affect the type of materials handling equipment a
company should use. These factors offer the logistics manager guideines for
analyzing company requiredments. The manager must approach this analysis in
trade off terms measuring benefits againts cost.
United states firm produce a vast array of products. Even individual
companies sometimes produce numerous different products. A meterial hadling
system that moves books in or arround a warehouse is quite distinct from one
that stores automobiles tire or chain saws.
For example item weight will influence a system design. Large piece of
euipment that a firm must store in a warehouse may negate the use of something
like a conveyor system and may require overhead bridges cranes. If products is
a small and light weight usually a firm can use any several categories of
materials handling equipment.
Third Party logistic Industry Overview
As indicated throught this bbok firms have directed considerable
attention toward working more closely with other supply cahin
participants,including customers, supliers and various providers of logistic
service. In essence this has resulted in the development of more meaningful
relationship among the companies involved in overall suplychain activity. As a
result many companies have been in the process of extending their logistics organizations
into those of other suply chain participants
and faciliators.
Defintion of third party logistics
Esseantialy a third party logistic fim may be defined as an external
supplier that performs all or part of a companys logistic function. This
definition is purposely broad and is isteanead to ecompass supliers of service
such as transportation warehouse distribution financial service and so on. As
is discussed later,there are other desirable charateristic of a “true” 3 PL.
Type of 3 PL Providers
Although most 3 pl firm themselve as providers of comprehensive range
of logistic service, it is useful to categorize them in one of several ways
include are transportation based. Warehouse/ distribution based forwarder based
financial based and information.
Third Party logistic research study Industry details
One significant reseach stud,”Third party Logistic Stud: views from
the customers”, is conducted on annual basis by Dr . C . John Langley Jr and
Capgemini LCC. Was sponsored by Georgia Tech ,Capgemini LLC,DHL,SAP; It
provides a comprehensive look at the third party logistic industry. Spesific
study objective are as follows:
·
Measure the development and growth of the 3 PL industry acrros major
in industry
·
Identifify customer need and how wel
3PL providers
·
Understand how customers selest and manage 3 PL providers
·
Examine why customers outsource elest no to outsource to 3 PL providers
·
Investigate leading topic,including 3 PL service offering and
capabilities techonology
·
Undestand contempory issue relating to relationship between 3PLs and
customers and look into key issues relating to how 3PL service
·
Provide a strategic assement.
Management and relationship issues
The need for competency as it relates to the formation nd continuation
of succeful relationship has become critical in todays 3PL industry. Although
both providers and users of 3 PL servuce has been improving in their ability to
create more productive,effective and satisfying business relationship the media
is replete with examples of failed relationship. Then, the important question
is “ what can we do to improve in this are?’
A very istighful topic is that of the slestion factors that are
important to customers as they choose 3 PLs which they want to work. Based on
the result of 2006 Eleventh Annual 3PL
study the two most prevalent 3 PL selection factors were price of 3PL service
and quality of tactical operational
logistics service. Based on all of the 2006 study responses 87 percent of
respondents indicated was a factor.
Last year global trade management research indicated tahta more than
90 percent of companies surveyed relied on outsourced providers to excte their
global logistic needs. Their heigh degree of outsourcing relince to deep
competency and capable technologies to manage more complex logistics problems
will likely spread to adoption of outsourcing,
For more than adecade companies have been using advanced suply chain
palnning techniques and technologies.
Customer value framework
Generally, 3 PL users accros the several regions studied characterized
their outsorcing efforts as having been successful. This is supported by the
information contained in figure 4-10 that provides as 10 years perspective on
the percentages of 3 PL users in various regions that rated their 3PL service
as being either”extremely” or somewhat successful.
Respondents in recent studies reported experice a number of problems.
Their responses tended to focus on several key areas of concern as follows:
-
Sevice level commitments not realized
-
Time and effort spent
-
Cost reduction have not been realized
-
Cost creep and price increase once relationship
-
Unsatisfactory transition during implementation stage
-
Inability to form meaningful and trusting relationship
-
Lack of ongoing improvements and achievements in offerings
-
Lack of strategic management
-
Lack of global capabilities
This list should be viewed as a starting pont for
continous improvement by 3PL providers. Overall it suggest a need to meet
service level and cost objective and to avoid unncessary increase in price to
the customers once the relationship has commenced. Also it appears that some
3PLs need to improve in the areas of strategic mamangement technology and
knowledge based skills. Finally some users of 3 PLs service feel taht the time
and effort spent on logistic have not decreased and that their control over the
outsourced function may have lessened. In the latter instance the previusly
discussed move to hybridmanagemen.
Logistic
ststegic view and the role of 3PLs
One major
accomplishment of the past 10-15 years has been estabilishing the validty of
the logistics outsourcing model and especially of the 3PL providers. As we look
to the future we already see increase acceptance of the 4PL model, likely
growth in expenditures by current. Users of 3PL service and growing
shoptisfaction in the out sourced business approaches that respond to dynamic
set of cutomer logistics and supply chain needs.
- Langley. Coyle. Novack. Bardi (2009) Managing supply Chains : A Logistics Approach.
- Coyle. Novack. Gibson. Bardi (2011) Transportation : A Supply Chain Perspective.
