Publication by Dr. Héctor Carlo

Analysis of Optimum Shape and Door Assignment Problems in Rectangular Unit-Load Crossdocks

Carlo, H.J. and Bozer, Y.A.

International Journal of Logistics: Research and Applications

Abstract

In this study, we examine the optimal shape of a rectangular unit-load crossdock (XD) and the location of the ‘best doors’. We show that if the XD's perimeter (i.e., the number of doors) is fixed, a flat XD minimises the expected travel distance. However, if the XD's required area is fixed, the optimum shape is a square. We also show that the doors on the longer sides of the XD are the best doors (in terms of expected travel distances) up to a point when the doors on the shorter sides become more desirable. Lastly, using brute force, we examine structural properties of the optimal assignment of outbound trailers (OTs) to doors as a function of nightly flow patterns. Our experiments indicate that door assignments that alternate between inbound trailers and OTs are often optimal and that ‘volatile’ and ‘narrow range’ trailers should be assigned to doors adjacent to a corner of the XD.

Publication link: here

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