Category Archives: Logistics

Final Case – Logistics

As we discussed the final case will be written and presented for Monday.  For the morning class it is AML; for the afternoon class it is Alberta Highway. The case is both on WebCT and on reserve in the library.  The questions are on WebCT.  Bring your presentation on a jump drive.

We can have dueling presentations in both classes.

I am expecting the presentations in morning class to be made by: Team 2 (Eagles) and  Team 3 (Giants).  Please limit your talk to 20 minutes with 5 minutes for questions at the end.
I am expecting the presentations in afternoon class to be made by: Team 9 (Falcons), Team 10 (49ers) and  Team 12 (Saints).   With 3 presentations there will be a time limit of 15 minutes for the presentation and only brief post-presentation questions.

All teams should email me their presentations BEFORE CLASS on Monday.  Thanks.

This week – Logistics

Remember, this week we will be talking about a bit more optimization.  On Friday, you have a case to write up as teams. I will ask teams that have not talked before to present. The case is AML for the morning class (teams 1 thru 5) and Alberta Highway Dept for the afternoon class (everyone else).  I am expecting the powerpoints before class Friday.

On Monday the 11th we’ll conclude the class with some remarks.  On Wednesday the 13th we will have our simulation windupparty and I will ask some teams to discuss their stratetgies, and issues with the simulation.  On either of these days feel free to ask about the exam.  I will also hand out the take home portion of the exam on Wednesday the 13th.

Friday the 15th will be exam day, as discussed elsewhere.

What’s on the exam? – Logistics

As you know the exam will be Friday December 15 in class, or Monday December 18 at 4pm in TEC146, whichever you choose. There will be a take home case given out Wednesday December 13 and brought to your exam. The take home case is to be worked alone; it is not a team exercise.

The exam will cover chapters 7,8,9,10, and the material we are covering now from chapters 11 and 13, plus the extra material I am giving you.

Chapter 7: functions of transport, who are the participants and what do they do, the modes of transport and how they compare along important logistics dimensions. types of carriers.

Chapter 8: Transportation operations– what are the cost drivers; know the special terms such as deadheading, etc. How are rates set? what is freight classification? How are standard rates figured? Be prepared to work an example using the classification, the rate base, and the tariff table. What types of activity pay ancillary rates? What is consolidation and what kinds should we be looking for? Can you do it in a given example situation? What are the required documents, and what is on them? How is freight paid for and audited?

Chapter 9: What are the benefits of warehousing? How can it add value? What is cross-docking? types of warehouses and their features. How can we select the site of a warehouse (location problem)– could be a computational problem.  What does a WMS do?

Chapter 10: What are the roles of packaging in the supply chain? Wht is unitization and how can we exploit it to optimize a supply chain’s performance? What are the four types of wrehouse systems, and how do they differ in technology. information requirement, and cost? What are the capabilities and the downsides?  Examples from materials provided on Web-ct.

Chapters 11 and 13: Operational integration.  Why (or how) does integration create value? What processes are good targets for integration?  What is an APS and why is it an important advancement? What are some of the goals and issues of pricing in the supply chain?  What are some possible objectives of logistical integration?

A lot of what we covered in chapter 13 was done early in the class.  We learned a few optimization techniques appropriate for network integration, including location analysis (the CG method), the Clarke-Wright vehicle routing technique, and some elements of waiting line modeling (to be presented this week), as well as  some investigation of simulation as a possible planning technique.

I will summarize  the class a bit by presenting a bit about chapter 16 (measuring operational performance) next Monday. It won’t be on the exam.