A DSS for integrated distribution of empty and full containers

  • Authors:
  • Denise Lindstrom Bandeira;João Luiz Becker;Denis Borenstein

  • Affiliations:
  • Management School, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, R. Washington Luiz 855, Porto Alegre, RS, 90010-460, Brazil;Management School, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, R. Washington Luiz 855, Porto Alegre, RS, 90010-460, Brazil;Management School, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, R. Washington Luiz 855, Porto Alegre, RS, 90010-460, Brazil

  • Venue:
  • Decision Support Systems
  • Year:
  • 2009

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Abstract

A DSS integrating empty and full containers transshipment operations is presented, addressing the typically unbalanced export/import containers trading problem. The problem is modeled as a network, where nodes represent customers, leasing companies, harbors and warehouses, while arcs represent transportation routes. The underlying mathematical model operates in stages, first prioritizing and adjusting full containers demands considering available empty containers supplies, and then statically optimizing costs. Transportation routes are registered and dynamically controlled, cyclically, for a given time horizon. The DSS is flexible, allowing several parameters to be configured. Experimental examples using randomly generated parameters were conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of the system.