| dc.description.abstract | Due to the global trade imbalance, a region that imports more than it exports will face the systematic accumulation of empty containers, while a region that exports more than it imports will face a shortage of containers. Moreover, there is frequently situation that although average number of containers for an area imported to be nearly equal to exported one in a period, the balance occurs not simultaneously due to local and regional demand changes continually. A shipping line is desired to adapt to satisfy dynamic requirement from both end customers and front branches of the same mother company. In addition, for the section of supply chain within the local area, there is also a need to create the optimized strategy to store and distribute empty containers in different locations. This thesis considers the problem of regional empty container repositioning for a liner shipping company at an operational level. The problem involves illustration of current operation of the supply chain including four elements which are other branches of same mother shipping line, local ports, depots and customers. Then new model is suggested to improve each limitation of the current model, including improvements of link by link of elements: Overseas – Ports link, Ports – Depots link and Depots – Customers link. There is new links among depots suggested as well. The objective is to minimize the relevant costs including inland and oversea transportation costs, inventory costs and penalty cost for customers’ dissatisfaction. Not only results of the current and final model are discussed but also sub-models are separately analyzed to give the best understanding. Integer Programming is applied. A real case study of Yang Ming Shipping Line in Ho Chi Minh City is taken into consideration.
Keywords: Empty container allocation, Shipping line, Inland network, Empty container supply chain, Empty container netwwork | en_US |
