Dynamics of short-term operations scheduling in systematic supply chain distribution centres.

Abstract

A warehouse or distribution centre has a key and vital role to play in the success of modern supply chains within business in recent times – where the term ‘warehouse’ is referred to as the commercial buildings for buffering and storing of goods. Cross docking on the other hand is more concerned with the minimisation of transportation costs within the supply chain. In as much as it is a warehouse, cross docking looks at the transit of shipment of inbound goods to their prescribed destination within a period of less than 24 hours with no intention of keeping an inventory. One of the motivating facts that drive warehouses and distribution centres into being more efficient are the customer demands to deliver the requested shipments on time, in the right quantity, in the right place with affordable price. In this study, the researcher analyses the dynamics of short-term scheduling in systematic supply chain distribution centres. The aim is to understand inbound and outbound operations, internal information sharing and to understand the role of short-term scheduling on resolving bottleneck. The phenomena of short-term scheduling is modeled by efficient scheduling of trucks, challenges encountered from inbound right through to outbound and the magnitude of information sharing within and among supply chain partners.