University of Twente Student Theses
Self-organizing logistics in container hinterland planning : a case study at Combi Terminal Twente
Bruin, F.H.J. de (2021) Self-organizing logistics in container hinterland planning : a case study at Combi Terminal Twente.
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| Abstract: | This research examines the impact of self-organizing logistics (SOL) using multiple scenarios for the last-mile transportation process of CTT Hengelo to support the human truck planner. This study focuses on the combination of centralized and decentralized decision-making in scheduling activities. With sensors and local communication protocols, real-time information can be retrieved by agents and can be shared with neighbouring agents. This local, decentralized approach enables agents to schedule transports cooperatively, with less, little or no human involvement and may provide more flexibility to respond to unexpected situations more quickly. The local-based scheduling triggers bilateral communication to activate an auction bidding mechanism. Available Trucks make bids on neighbouring available containers based on four time-dependent characteristics, and the container communicates whether the truck has won the auction and should be directed to the container. Both types of agents evaluate continuously whether new better bids are placed from new arriving agents in the neighbourhood, which can overrule a current assignment. Moreover, each container has a (time-dependent) urgency level (e.g., related to the latest allowed arrival time). This urgency level should coordinate the timely pick-up and delivery of all containers in the system and regulates the nervousness of reallocating containers to other agents. The multi-agent system tests different scenarios in which the assignment decision is delegated more and more from the human planner to a SOL-system. Nine key performance indicators measure the impact or efficiency of each setup. Human planners focus on the complex decisions and a SOL-system focusses on the more logical decision. To which extent the decisions are complex or desired to be delegated is studied in the scenarios using scenario-specific variables or thresholds. The outcomes of implementing a SOL-system show promising results. Especially, promising results arise considering the amount of driving distance and driving time to improve sustainability performances. |
| Item Type: | Essay (Master) |
| Faculty: | BMS: Behavioural, Management and Social Sciences |
| Subject: | 55 traffic technology, transport technology, 58 process technology |
| Programme: | Industrial Engineering and Management MSc (60029) |
| Link to this item: | https://purl.utwente.nl/essays/85499 |
| Export this item as: | BibTeX EndNote HTML Citation Reference Manager |
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