Séminaire conjoint CIRRELT-Chaire de recherche du Canada en distributique-Chaire de recherche du Canada en logistique et en transport

TITRE : Integrated operational transportation planning and its extension to collaborative planning of the freight forwarders

CONFÉRENCIÈRE : Marta Krajewska, Chair of Logistics, University of Bremen, Germany

DATE et ENDROIT : 15 septembre 2006, 10h30, salle 5441, Pavillon André-Aisenstadt, Campus de l’Université de Montréal

RESPONSABLE : Gilbert Laporte (343-6143)

RÉSUMÉ : The integrated operational transportation planning problem as the extension of the traditional pick-up-and-delivery problem-with-time-windows is presented. The extension consists in the possibility of forwarding requests to subcontractors on different terms: from the simple forwarding of single requests at defined costs to the most complex freight optimisation problem. Different types of approaches based on metaheuristics have been applied to the problem: from the savings algorithm up to the tabu search and memetic algorithm. They also diversify with respect to different types of integration: hierarchical or simultaneous planning are the matter of consideration. We present the comparison of existing theoretical approaches. Furthermore, there are several practical aspects of modelling the integrated operational transportation planning which have not been discussed as yet. We introduce the results of our practical analysis sharing the planning processes in practice, where human decision makers have to interact with the planning system. We also analyse several further forms of subcontraction of practical relevance and compare the practical cost structures for them. Further enhancement of competitiveness among the freight forwarding enterprises can be achieved if they cooperate in coalitions in order to balance their request portfolios. Therefore, we introduce a model for collaboration among freight forwarders that is based on theoretical foundations in the field of combinatorial auctions and operations research game theory. As the assumptions of this model are also based on practical experience, the proposal is applicable for coalitions of freight forwarders, especially for the collaboration of autonomous freight forwarding entities with nearly similar potential on the market. In the end, practical aspects of such collaboration and potential impediments are discussed.