The OMDS/BALOR talk series hosted Dr. Simon Belieres from the Toulouse Business School, who presented on the topic of "Hedging against uncertainty in transportation network design through flexible scheduling".
- Time: Thursday, November 23, 2023, at 11:30 (until around 12:30)
- Location: Seminar Room 15, OMP-1
- Abstract:
We consider the planning problem of a consolidation carrier that seeks to plan effective transportation operations in the presence of uncertainty in shipment sizes. We presume the carrier seeks to execute regular operations with respect to the geographical routing of vehicles and shipments. However, the carrier can respond to volatility in shipment sizes by effectively scheduling shipment and vehicle dispatches, as well as acquiring additional vehicle capacity at a premium. We present a mathematical model of this planning problem as well as of a related planning problem wherein vehicle and shipment dispatch scheduling decisions must be made before shipment sizes are known. Based on an extensive computational study, we estimate the savings potential of scheduling flexibility and characterize situations when those savings may be significant. Finally, we identify tactics for designing a transportation network that will position it to benefit from schedule flexibility.
