Abstract
Organizations in the agroindustry sector face shorter delivery schedules; therefore, they are seeking ways to conduct more effective and less costly product distribution. Supply chain management efforts have focused on improving the flow of both products and information. Thus, the aim of this case study was to build a graphical user interface to enable decision-making based on quantitative information for a food distribution process. The problem to be solved was associated with the development of a technological solution to reduce and control variations in transportation times, delivery costs and capacities in cold and dry food distribution. An eight-step system for a dynamics methodology was used: (1) distribution process analysis, (2) route description, (3) variable and parameter description, (4) causal loop diagram creation, (5) current model simulation, (6) validation, (7) quantitative scenario construction based on key performance indicators, and (8) graphical user interface development. The main findings of this research were that the graphical user interface and simulation showed information that represented on average 56.49% of the total distribution costs regarding fuel and that maintenance and tire wearing costs had less of an impact on total costs, representing 9.21% and 3.66% of the total costs, respectively. Additionally, the technological solution—created for the supply chain in the distribution process against the background of changes in policies—makes it possible to improve decision-making based on different scenarios supported by a graphical interface according to key performance indicators. This solution could be used by different organizations who aim to reduce logistics and transportation costs. The main implications of this research were the available and organized information and the restructuring of the distribution process.
Highlights
Southern Sonora, Mexico has 158 organizations registered as a “wholesale business”
The purpose of their work was to determine the dynamics complexity within a system, to understand the source of policy resistance and to design more effective strategies, such as the following: (1) distribution process analysis, (2) route description, (3) variable and parameter description, (4) causal loop diagram creation, (5) current model simulation, (6) current model validation, (7) quantitative scenario construction based on key performance indicators (KPIs) and (8) graphical user interface development
The case study in this research is related to a micro-company that has a collection center for regional products associated with the cold and dry food chain, which must be packaged according to demand and distributed to customers located on different routes
Summary
Southern Sonora, Mexico has 158 organizations registered as a “wholesale business”. They are grouped according to the different products offered and are distributed into economic entities, as is theAppl. Economic units in the wholesale sector are mainly divided according to the types of products distributed, namely the wholesale marketing of fruits and vegetables, groceries, seeds and food grains. Within this context, the organization under study is a regional product wholesaler—mostly involving food and cleaning products and medicines—in southern Sonora. The company business model is focused on being an intermediary between the producer and the end customer and it is seeking to expand product sales in the region These operations are carried out on a Web platform and an application through which customers place their order to the company in charge of delivering the products to the client, stepping into the area of what is known as e-commerce
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
