Heuristic optimization of operations at a cross-dock warehouse

Cross-docking is a logistics strategy that streamlines the supply chain and moves the goods to the market faster using an efficient distribution system. A cross dock warehouse receives shipment from various suppliers, consolidates and ships it to the customers directly as quickly as possible, with m...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Afshan Ayub Khan
Other Authors: Rajesh Piplani
Format: Thesis
Language:English
Published: 2019
Subjects:
Online Access:http://hdl.handle.net/10356/78693
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author Afshan Ayub Khan
author2 Rajesh Piplani
author_facet Rajesh Piplani
Afshan Ayub Khan
author_sort Afshan Ayub Khan
collection NTU
description Cross-docking is a logistics strategy that streamlines the supply chain and moves the goods to the market faster using an efficient distribution system. A cross dock warehouse receives shipment from various suppliers, consolidates and ships it to the customers directly as quickly as possible, with minimal or no storage in between. The implementation of cross-dock warehousing has many advantages including shorter lead time and faster delivery to customer, reduced inventory holding cost and space for warehouse, increased customer satisfaction and increased cost savings. This dissertation addresses the issues involved in the optimisation of a cross-dock warehouse which is the vehicle routing and scheduling problem. The objective of this study is to perform cluster analysis to find the optimal number of clusters for different sets of customers and hence find the optimal route. The approach used in this study is cluster first – route second methodology where the customers are first clustered using K-medoid clustering and the optimal route within each cluster is found using Tabu search. The aim of this study is two-fold: to reduce the number of vehicles required to satisfy the customer demand using cluster analysis, reduce the total distance covered and, deliver the goods within the customer specified time; and to minimise the total operational costs in the cross-dock warehouse such as the transportation cost, inventory holding cost, tardiness cost and earliness cost using Tabu search. This paper provides a clear understanding of how cluster analysis produces effective results for a large data set using Tabu search in solving the vehicle routing and scheduling problem.
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spelling ntu-10356/786932023-03-11T17:36:50Z Heuristic optimization of operations at a cross-dock warehouse Afshan Ayub Khan Rajesh Piplani School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Engineering::Industrial engineering::Supply chain Cross-docking is a logistics strategy that streamlines the supply chain and moves the goods to the market faster using an efficient distribution system. A cross dock warehouse receives shipment from various suppliers, consolidates and ships it to the customers directly as quickly as possible, with minimal or no storage in between. The implementation of cross-dock warehousing has many advantages including shorter lead time and faster delivery to customer, reduced inventory holding cost and space for warehouse, increased customer satisfaction and increased cost savings. This dissertation addresses the issues involved in the optimisation of a cross-dock warehouse which is the vehicle routing and scheduling problem. The objective of this study is to perform cluster analysis to find the optimal number of clusters for different sets of customers and hence find the optimal route. The approach used in this study is cluster first – route second methodology where the customers are first clustered using K-medoid clustering and the optimal route within each cluster is found using Tabu search. The aim of this study is two-fold: to reduce the number of vehicles required to satisfy the customer demand using cluster analysis, reduce the total distance covered and, deliver the goods within the customer specified time; and to minimise the total operational costs in the cross-dock warehouse such as the transportation cost, inventory holding cost, tardiness cost and earliness cost using Tabu search. This paper provides a clear understanding of how cluster analysis produces effective results for a large data set using Tabu search in solving the vehicle routing and scheduling problem. Master of Science (Supply Chain & Logistics) 2019-06-25T08:50:53Z 2019-06-25T08:50:53Z 2019 Thesis http://hdl.handle.net/10356/78693 en 81 p. application/pdf
spellingShingle Engineering::Industrial engineering::Supply chain
Afshan Ayub Khan
Heuristic optimization of operations at a cross-dock warehouse
title Heuristic optimization of operations at a cross-dock warehouse
title_full Heuristic optimization of operations at a cross-dock warehouse
title_fullStr Heuristic optimization of operations at a cross-dock warehouse
title_full_unstemmed Heuristic optimization of operations at a cross-dock warehouse
title_short Heuristic optimization of operations at a cross-dock warehouse
title_sort heuristic optimization of operations at a cross dock warehouse
topic Engineering::Industrial engineering::Supply chain
url http://hdl.handle.net/10356/78693
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