Sergio Barajas
Better Distribution Methods
The methods of finding better distribution methods for efficiency for Golden Grape can be solved in several different ways. The first method, is researching how other transportation companies lower the reduction in drivers’ turnaround time and make distributing the products much more quickly and effectively. Other leading companies in the transportation industry include a variety of companies such as: Swift, Knight, England, and others such as Wal-Mart and how they manage to improve efficiency. I will be researching information about the future of the transportation industry. There has been in increase in talk about self-driving automobiles with Tesla. They have successfully designed a self-driving automobile. I will include information about the future of self-driving semis. Although, it might me a little complicated especially with trucks that have air brakes if there is a mechanical breakdown. (Vartabedian, 2017).
• See how fuel-efficient trucks play an impact in the role of distribution
• With more fuel-efficient trucks Golden Grape will be doing its part in helping save the environment
• Shareholders’ will be pleased of the better public relations image that Golden Grape will have going green
• Research information on how Amazon and other companies design their routes in order to be able to meet the demand of overnight shipping
• Look further into automation at warehouses if that increases the process of the loading up of the trucks
• See if implementing a warehouse for Golden Grape near a major mail carrier will improve delivery for customers out of the state and/or country
There are several distribution methods that the major carriers use. One of them being the point-to-point that is simple and straightforward. The drivers have a designated route. The other method we will research is how automation in the distribution reduces time, which requires less workers to do the same job. Golden Grape’s main priority will be having costs as low as possible and have the best system in the distribution process.
Currently, big corporations such as Amazon, FedEx, and are looking into ways to make the delivery of packages more quick and efficient. Looking at other industries, will help come to a conclusion about what method to choose from. Bus routes and how private/public companies establish routes to make their drivers work more efficiently. After all, making profit is not the only goal for Golden Grape but reducing the fuel costs and helping cut down its carbon footprint.
One of the main arguments that Magann (2014) argues, is that companies have been using manual planning routes since the beginning of the transportation industry. The advantages of the 21st century is that with a century comes new ways of being efficient. By using route planners’, dispatchers have several methods to improve their distribution methods. They can monitor the route methods and send different trucks depending on the short-haul or long-haul routes. It would not make sense for a company to send a long-haul truck that is equipped with a bigger engine and transmission with a bunker sleeper for a driver that has to make a short-haul run. The company would waste more fuel and it would be more difficult for the driver to make the tight turns in a heavy-congested metropolitan area.
Dispatchers can closely monitor the distribution methods by seeing if a route needs an adjustment. In my personal experience, I have seen trucking companies switching over to automatic trucks in order to improve the distribution methods. Automatic transmissions, do not require the constant switching of the gears, especially if a driver is in traffic every day for a short-haul run. “Fleets should expect to see an average 1–3% improvement in fuel economy from automatic manual transmissions, which use a computer to shift the manual transmission at the optimal time.” (TruckEfficiency, 2017).
• Going green helps public relations with stakeholders, including those who simply see the trucks going down the road
• Using alternatives such as diesel-electric hybrid for local routes can help improve distribution methods by helping reduce fuel costs
• Simple adjustments to the truck such as adding plastic covers for the rims and trailer increases aerodynamic which reduces fuel costs
• Even by saving miles by planning routes, companies can reduce their carbon footprint
According to Murray (2016), The industry giants such Kraft, Coca-Cola, and others are coming up with better solutions for improving their carbon footprint. The federal government has implemented stricter regulations on truck manufacturers and those companies who use them in order to help and reduce the impact of climate change in our planet. Wal-Mart for example, has redesigned its trailer by using carbon fiber material to make it. This in return, helps the trailer reduce its weight by about 4,000 pounds which allows companies to carry more freight which reduces their carbon emissions emitted into the atmosphere.
Improving the distribution with the truck drivers is not the only option Golden Grape has to do. Amazon and FedEx have started heavily automating their warehouse in order to make the distribution methods much quicker and efficiently. Automation not only helps reduce the number of employees that are required to do the same job, but requires less employees and combining automation helps them do things such as one-day shipping for its customers. In this competitive market, it is always important for companies to innovate and stay ahead of the game in order to hold on to their competitive advantage.
Supply Chain Management
The supply chain management is crucial for Golden Grape Inc. to be ahead of the industry against its competitors. With having better planned routes the costs will be reduced therefore, lead to the price of the product to be sold a cheaper price in order to gain more customers. The method we chose to implement is the easiest and most effective way of delivering the product. Since we are only moving the product from the warehouse to the final destination it will not be a difficult task to design the routes.
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Implementing a software
The solution to designing a route can be time consuming and take days to complete if not months to perfect it after running trails and seeing how drivers react to them. With the help of technology, we have chosen to use a software route planner that will take into effect all of the things, including driver rest time. Since drivers are required to take a 30-minute break by federal law it will include that.
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My Route Planner Software
The software allows for multiple features to be done such as plan out multiple routes all at once, which will allow dispatchers to compare them and see which ones need adjusting. Another interesting feature is that you can set-up the number of stops each route should have which will give a precise time. (MyRouteOnline, 2017).