Statistical process control and quality of service at seaports

Abstract

This paper focuses on statistical process control as a strategic tool for the improvement of service at seaports. The aim of this paper is to examine the variable Time of container ships at port. A methodology based on the exponentially weighted moving average (EWMA) statistic is proposed in order to monitor each container vessel that arrives at the Port of Valencia. The EWMA chart is a time-weighted control chart that plots the exponentially weighted moving averages of a process. In the future, this model can be used by terminal managers of Valencia Port to implement better control techniques and thus improve the quality of service. Moreover, the methodological procedure presented in this paper is general enough to be applied by any other port as well.