Information Technology Reference
In-Depth Information
The purpose of this paper is to analyze the rapeseed harvesting logistics processes
and investigate optimal configurations and policies for their operations so that the
machine efficiency maximized, harvesting and transport coordinated and costs of
rapeseed supply chain minimized. Due to several sources of uncertainty and the
operational complexity in these systems, the method of analysis is based on discrete
simulation techniques of Flexsim software. The paper describes the methods
developed to identify opportunities for increased harvest logistics efficiencies as well
as the process intended to facilitate implementation.
2 The Framework of Modelling Simulation in Case Study
There are two methods of rape harvest: multiple-step harvest and single-step harvest.
Trucks of different types from different fields arrive at the weighing location in the
processing plant, where data is collected and the net weight is recorded. After
receiving a dispatching instruction at the dispatching location, the vehicle proceeds to
the assigned unloading line to unload the rapeseed. The dispatching instruction takes
into account not only the queuing state of the unloading lines, but also the truck type,
the state of the intermediary storage and the quality of rapeseed. In order to avoid
congestion and idle of unloading warehouse, an appropriate decision is necessary.
The operating of modelling simulation is determined by time consumption.
Generally only if the rapeseed accumulated a certain quantity that transportation start
otherwise trucks have to stand idle, so firstly transportation determined by harvesting
time, once trucks leave to plants, harvesting have to performed continuously for the
next arrival of trucks. If the reception takes too long to delay the return of the trucks
to the rural fields, it may cause machine and workers idleness in the fields. As soon as
a vehicle finishes the unloading process, it returns to the rural field to be reloaded, and
the cycle begins again. The cycle time includes the time spent in the company's
reception area until unloading, the travel time back to the field, the time spent in the
field until loading is complete, and the travel time back to the company.
3 Simulation of the System
3.1 Description of Modelling Simulation
The company in case study has 100 vehicles including 3 types and average 25
farmers' fields operated at the same time every day in the harvest season. According
to the proportion the simulation simplified to 40 vehicles and 10 fields every day
while the regulations are maintained. In the model the whole process from harvesting
at different 10 fields, transporting to the company and unloading them at the different
warehouse. There is only one kind of flow-item named rapeseed in the model, but it is
processed at the different field with different harvester, so we define 10 item-types
represented different rapeseed in the 10 fields. There are ten different types flow-
items entered the model at the source that will arrive based on a normal distribution.
Item-types will be uniformly distributed from 1, 2 to 10. As flow-items arrive they
will be placed in a corresponding queue and wait to be harvested. The unit of flow-
item is defined tonne; once a tonne of rapeseed is harvested it will be stored in queue
 
Search WWH ::




Custom Search