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An Analysis of Factors Affecting Cross Docking Operations

Cross docking is a logistical activity that allows for the consolidation of small orders into truck-load shipments, which can reduce costs. This paper uses simulation to examine the decisions in moving freight between inbound and outbound trailers in a cross dock. The decisions examined include direct versus indirect handling of pallets, number of open receiving doors, door layout, number of forklifts, size of cross dock and freight mix. The findings indicate that unloading and loading pallets indirectly generally reduces the congestion at the receiving and shipping doors, and allows a cross dock to handle a higher throughput that other pallet handling options. However, unloading pallets directly and loading them indirectly minimizes the labor time and mean flow time required to move pallets between trailers. A layout that assigns inbound trailers and shipping destinations with heavier pallet flows to more central doors maximizes throughput while minimizing labor time and mean flow time. In general, skewed loads appeared to decrease performance, but in large cross docks and cross docks using small numbers of forklifts, the decreased travel time due to skewed loads can offset the additional congestion and improve performance. The use of multiple forklifts was found to decrease the productivity per forklift due to congestion. Congestion at doors was also shown to have a strong effect on the performance of the cross dock.

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  • Authors:
    • Yang, Kum Khiong
    • Balakrishnan, Jaydeep
    • Cheng, Chun Hung
  • Publication Date: 2010

Language

  • English

Media Info

Subject/Index Terms

Filing Info

  • Accession Number: 01157161
  • Record Type: Publication
  • Files: TRIS
  • Created Date: May 25 2010 2:01PM