Abstract
Warehousing enables the consolidation of shipments to clients by assembling full truck loads from goods stored in warehouse or distribution center. Storage can be efficiently replenished by ordering full truck loads from suppliers. In order to reduce freight storage and handling costs from distribution centers, cross-docking technique represents a logistic solution which is more and more used. Thus, the optimization of simultaneous unloading/loading operations constitutes an important issue for the distribution center owner/administrator. This paper presents a model based on genetic algorithms optimization techniques for solving the problem of unloading/loading ramps allocation. The efficiency of a cross-docking center is conditioned practically by finding an allocation and an optimal arrangement of ramps. This implies the allocation of destinations to unloading/loading ramps of distribution centers to minimize the total distance performed by the the cargo handling equipment. The case study presents a cross-docking platform with single handling equipment which is assigned to 10 unloading/loading ramps. By applying the solution of the ramp allocation generated through simulation, the total distance performed by the handling equipment is reduced which means lower handling cost for the distribution center owner/administrator.
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Disclaimer: 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.