Optimering av paketdistributionen på ett fallföretags pakettransportrutt

Sammanfattning: Internal transportation is one of the key elements in manufacturing operations, and there is a constant need to optimize this process (Antoniuk, 2021). The case company has a very large industrial are covering 3 km2, which poses significant challenges for the internal transportation. The company has too many parcel stations, lacks clear requirements for new parcel stations and documentation for the parcel stations, and faces route planning issues as a result. The purpose of this case study was to identify obstacles and problems to optimize the company’s parcel transport in terms of route planning, placement of parcel stations and the number of parcel stations. The project aimed to develop a general working model for how a parcel transport can be optimized without relying on the Industrial Internet of Things (Sinsinni et al., 2018) and digital technology. The study focused on the company’s internal and external parcel transport routes within and outside the industrial area. Observations and interviews were conducted at the case company, revealing that customers needs include receiving deliveries twice a day and ensuring correct parcel deliveries. The drivers require unchanged or reduced workload, easier training, fewer parcel stations, properly equipped parcel stations, and improved route planning. The transport manager needs a standardised work approach, fewer parcel stations, documentation of parcel stations, and an expanded requirements list. To optimize the case company’s transport, the number and placement of parcel stations, and simultaneously meet these needs, several improvement suggestions were developed. It was found that implementing a scanning system could enhance the accuracy of the parcel deliveries, but this option was not recommended due to it being expensive and gives no guarantee of correct deliveries, among other things. Instead, it is recommended that the company implements a milk run system to achieve JIT (Just-in-time) deliveries for customers and a standardized work approach standardized work approach for drivers. Additionally, a proposal for a digital map was presented to improve documentation and facilitate training, along with a suggestion to merge parcel stations to reduce workload and enhance route planning. Lastly, expanding the requirements list was suggested to ensure properly equipped parcel stations and provide clearer specifications for parcel stations. A general conceptual work model for this optimization process is outlined as follows: 1.       Observe current delivery routes and stations. 2.       Interview stakeholders (such as customers and drivers). 3.       Identify and compile requirements. 4.       Map out stations on a digital map. 5.       Apply a heuristic selection process.  a.       Examine clusters of stations of the digital map.  b.       Evaluate stations based on collected data.  c.       Assess the activity level; if multiple stations have high activity, make an individual assessment.  d.       Merge the stations.  e.       Apply the 250-meter rule to the remaining selection without available data. 6.       Create an optimal route using the selected stations.