The Value of Limited Flexibility in Service Network Designs

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ahmad Baubaid ◽  
Natashia Boland ◽  
Martin Savelsbergh
Keyword(s):  
Demand Uncertainty ◽  
Economies Of Scale ◽  
Cost Savings ◽  
Decision Makers ◽  
Network Design Problem ◽  
Deterministic Models ◽  
Service Network ◽  
Vector Formula ◽  
Alt Model ◽  
Load Plan

Less-than-truckload carriers rely on the consolidation of freight from multiple shippers to achieve economies of scale. Collected freight is routed through a number of transfer terminals at each of which shipments are grouped together for the next leg of their journeys. We study the service network design problem confronted by these carriers. This problem includes determining (1) the number of services (trailers) to operate between each pair of terminals and (2) a load plan, which specifies the sequence of transfer terminals that freight with a given origin and destination will visit. Traditionally, for every terminal and every ultimate destination, a load plan specifies a unique next terminal. We introduce the [Formula: see text]-alt model, which generalizes traditional load plans by allowing decision makers to specify a desired number of next-terminal options for terminal–destination pairs using a vector [Formula: see text]. We compare a number of exact and heuristic approaches for solving a two-stage stochastic variant of the [Formula: see text]-alt model. Using this model, we show that, by explicitly considering demand uncertainty and by merely allowing up to two next-terminal options for terminal–destination pairs in the load plans, carriers can generate substantial cost savings that are comparable to the ones yielded by adopting load plans that allow for any next terminal to be a routing option for terminal–destination pairs. Moreover, by using these more flexible load plans, carriers can generate savings on the order of 10% over traditional load plan designs obtained by deterministic models.

scholarly journals Highway Passenger Transport Based Express Parcel Service Network Design: Model and Algorithm

2017 ◽  
Vol 2017 ◽  
pp. 1-17 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yuan Jiang ◽  
Baofeng Sun ◽  
Gendao Li ◽  
Zhibin Lin ◽  
Changxu Zheng ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Network Design ◽  
Network Flow ◽  
Programming Model ◽  
Real Data ◽  
Path Selection ◽  
Network Design Problem ◽  
Mixed Integer ◽  
Passenger Transport ◽  
Service Network ◽  
Time Space

Highway passenger transport based express parcel service (HPTB-EPS) is an emerging business that uses unutilised room of coach trunk to ship parcels between major cities. While it is reaping more and more express market, the managers are facing difficult decisions to design the service network. This paper investigates the HPTB-EPS network design problem and analyses the time-space characteristics of such network. A mixed-integer programming model is formulated integrating the service decision, frequency, and network flow distribution. To solve the model, a decomposition-based heuristic algorithm is designed by decomposing the problem as three steps: construction of service network, service path selection, and distribution of network flow. Numerical experiment using real data from our partner company demonstrates the effectiveness of our model and algorithm. We found that our solution could reduce the total cost by up to 16.3% compared to the carrier’s solution. The sensitivity analysis demonstrates the robustness and flexibility of the solutions of the model.

Building a Low-Manned Production Installation: Considerations for Rotating Equipment, Electrical & Automation Systems, and Digitalization

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elgonda LaGrange
Keyword(s):  
Oil And Gas ◽  
Cost Savings ◽  
Decision Makers ◽  
The North ◽  
Automation Systems ◽  
The North Sea ◽  
Rotating Equipment ◽  
Using Data ◽  
Areas Of Interest ◽  
Insight Into

Abstract Nearly all oil and gas operators and engineering companies in the offshore sector today are engaged in programs to advance concepts for low-manned and/or normally unattended production installations (NUIs). When it comes to the design of these facilities, topsides rotating equipment and electrical, instrumentation, control, and telecommunications (EICT) packages represent key areas of interest for decision-makers, owing to the significant impact they can have on required manning levels. Over the past decade, the author's company has worked closely with major Operators in the U.S. and the North Sea to look at how existing technologies can be applied in these areas to safely facilitate de-manning of both brownfields and greenfields. This paper provides insight into these efforts. It also presents projected manpower and cost savings from de-manning, using data derived from both studies and real-world projects.

Student Laptop Ownership Requirement and Centralization of Information Technology Services at a Large Public University

2011 ◽  
pp. 201-212 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gregory B. Newby
Keyword(s):  
Information Technology ◽  
Economies Of Scale ◽  
Cost Savings ◽  
Leading Edge ◽  
Chief Information Officer ◽  
Public University ◽  
General Purpose ◽  
Information Technology Services ◽  
Technology Services ◽  
The Cost

A large, highly ranked public university implemented a requirement for all incoming undergraduates to own a laptop computer starting in fall, 2000. To control increased expenditures for information technology, this requirement has shifted some of the cost of technology to students by decreasing the need for centralized general-purpose computing laboratories. At the same time, a shift towards centralized academic computing support occurred. This shift was away from information technology resources, services and support based in individual departments. This shift, engineered by the newly formed office of the Chief Information Officer (CIO), was envisioned to generate cost savings through economies of scale. The educational impact of the laptop requirement is starting to be felt, but adoption is not widespread in daily classroom use. Envisioned cost savings have not yet become apparent. However, laptop ownership has enabled some new classroom activities and helped to reinforce the leading-edge image of the university.

scholarly journals Dynamic discretization discovery for the service network design problem with mixed autonomous fleets

2020 ◽  
Vol 141 ◽  
pp. 164-195
Author(s):  
Yannick Oskar Scherr ◽  
Mike Hewitt ◽  
Bruno Albert Neumann Saavedra ◽  
Dirk Christian Mattfeld
Keyword(s):  
Network Design ◽  
Design Problem ◽  
Network Design Problem ◽  
Service Network ◽  
Service Network Design

scholarly journals A case of misalignment: the perspectives of local and national decision-makers on the implementation of psychological treatment by telephone in the Improving Access to Psychological Therapies Service

2019 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Kelly Rushton ◽  
Claire Fraser ◽  
Judith Gellatly ◽  
Helen Brooks ◽  
Peter Bower ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Focus Group ◽  
Best Practice ◽  
Psychological Treatment ◽  
Cost Savings ◽  
Clinical Effectiveness ◽  
Service Level ◽  
Patient Choice ◽  
Decision Makers ◽  
Normalisation Process Theory ◽  
Access To Treatment

Abstract Background Psychological treatment delivered by telephone is recommended by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) for mild to moderate depression and anxiety, and forms a key part of the Improving Access to Psychological Therapy (IAPT) programme in the UK. Despite evidence of clinical effectiveness, patient engagement is often not maintained and psychological wellbeing practitioners (PWPs) report lacking confidence and training to deliver treatment by telephone. This study aimed to explore the perspectives of professional decision makers (both local and national) on the barriers and facilitators to the implementation of telephone treatment in IAPT. Methods Sixteen semi-structured qualitative telephone interviews and one focus group were carried out with decision makers (n = 21) who were involved locally and nationally in policy, practice and research. The interviews and focus group were coded thematically, and then mapped onto the four core constructs of Normalisation Process Theory (NPT). Results The use of telephone for psychological treatment was universally recognised amongst participants as beneficial for improving patient choice and access to treatment. However, at service level, motives for the implementation of telephone treatments are often misaligned with national objectives. Pressure to meet performance targets has become a key driver for the use of telephone treatment, with promises of increased efficiency and cost savings. These service-focussed objectives challenge the integration of telephone treatments, and PWP acceptance of telephone treatments as non-inferior to face-to-face. Ambivalence among a workforce often lacking the confidence to deliver telephone treatments leads to reluctance among PWPs to ‘sell’ treatments to a patient population who are not generally expecting treatment in this form. Conclusions Perceptions of a need to ‘sell’ telephone treatment in IAPT persist from top-level decision makers down to frontline practitioners, despite their conflicting motives for the use of telephone. The need for advocacy to highlight the clinical benefit of telephone treatment, along with adequate workforce support and guidance on best practice for implementation is critical to the ongoing success and sustainability of telephone treatment in primary care mental health programmes.

Student Laptop Ownership Requirement and Centralization of Information Technology Services at a Large Public University

2006 ◽  
pp. 163-175
Author(s):  
Gregory B. Newby
Keyword(s):  
Information Technology ◽  
Economies Of Scale ◽  
Cost Savings ◽  
Leading Edge ◽  
Chief Information Officer ◽  
Public University ◽  
General Purpose ◽  
Information Technology Services ◽  
Technology Services ◽  
The Cost

A large, highly ranked public university implemented a requirement for all incoming undergraduates to own a laptop computer starting in fall, 2000. To control increased expenditures for information technology, this requirement has shifted some of the cost of technology to students by decreasing the need for centralized general-purpose computing laboratories. At the same time, a shift towards centralized academic computing support occurred. This shift was away from information technology resources, services and support based in individual departments. This shift, engineered by the newly formed office of the Chief Information Officer (CIO), was envisioned to generate cost savings through economies of scale. The educational impact of the laptop requirement is starting to be felt, but adoption is not widespread in daily classroom use. Envisioned cost savings have not yet become apparent. However, laptop ownership has enabled some new classroom activities and helped to reinforce the leading-edge image of the university.

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