A synchronized strategy to minimize vehicle dispatching time: a real example of steel industry

Abstract

Time compression in supply chains is a crucial aspect involved in the integration of warehousing and transport operations in the manufacturing industries. Supply chain flows could be interrupted due to many sources of delays that lead to additional time in dispatching process and reduction in customer service level. The problem considered in this paper consists of long waiting times of loading vehicles inside the plant. This work presents a simulation-based study to minimize vehicle dispatching time in a steel wire plant. Value stream map is developed to present a system perspective of processes involved in the overall supply chain. Process activity mapping is completed to provide a step by step analysis of activities involved in the vehicle dispatch process. A simulation model is developed for the system and a new model is proposed to improve the delivery performance by minimizing vehicles’ waiting time.

Keywords

Vehicle dispatch process / Discrete event simulation / Lean thinking / Value stream mapping / Process activity mapping