Category Archives: Logistics

This week we will spend most of our time on material from Chapter 6, which is a long and I think difficult chapter for you. There are some ideas in there you are not familiar with, and they will take some getting used to. Also we will be working problems both in class and outside.  And there will be a case presentation of the Jackson case this Friday.  all teams must prepare their Powerpoint slide show.
I may start off with a bit more on Chapter 5 material that we did not cover last week. One of the most important is remote sensing techniques (RFID and bar codes, RFDC) that we have not discussed (much). There is an article on wireless in conjunction with port management that you will find useful. It is on WebCT. The other is just a flavor of the difference between conventional EDI and the modern way, XML, which I will show you.

See you this week.

So far as of today (Sunday) I have 4 out of 12 inputs for the week 2 run.  Unless they all come soon like now! I won’t be able to make a run over the weekend.  We will have to resolve any problems about input on Monday and run tuesday for delivery Wednesday.

I think this next week (Week 3 of the simulation) it is reasonable to get all inputs in by Friday night as originally planned.  I will start enforcing the deadline by deducting credit for sure if there are late entries.

So figure out the process and get them in on time.  Part of your training here at CSU Maritime is to learn how to work in teams so everyone is able to participate equally.  It’s not an excuse that someone else isn’t doing what you thought.  It’s up to each team member to make sure that you all are contributing.  Talk about it among yourselves and get it resolved.

The first round is complete for all 3 divisions, and each team has received its reports by email. there were some flaws in the input, but most will be cured next week. If there is something you do not understand in the report, be sure to ask about it, and we can figure it out.

The most common error, I think, was not selecting your team on the first sheet under the division. that leads to the wrong number in the first column of your lines in the datain sheet, and I have to edit them.

The second most common error was not sending the actual files created, or the original sheet saved. You should not copy and paste the lines from the datain sheet into an email– they won’t be formatted right. I did say this was ok, but it turns out it isn’t. Also don’t copy all of the datain sheet and paste it into another book and send me that. It is much better to send me the file you are actually using.

If you are having the macro trouble on a campus computer, simply save the entire sheet to a file with a good name and send it to me.

I am posting a new version of the Data.xls sheet on the WebCT site. It will be called Data-1d.xls You should use it for the next round. It has the CSUM logo on the first sheet. It has the actual team names in the dropdown lists. Note that in WEST, Team 2 is 49ers (That is Team 10) and Team 3 is Rams (that is our Team 11), and the cities are now right in the reports. I screwed this up before. Also this sheet should allow you to choose where you save the two files that are created when you save the information using the button on the first sheet (the copy of the spreadsheet with a name corresponding to your team and division and your datain.prn file for the period), with descriptive names. When you send me input for week 2, send me both the spreadsheet and the .prn file– that way I can debug any problems. Here is the file name structure:

“datain.prn” Example: datain_01WESTTeam12.prn

“Data.xls” Example: WESTTeam12-Data_01.xls

The _01 is the week. The other codes are self explanatory.

We should be on track for making decisions by Friday night, or no later than Saturday night, I hope. Good luck!