A visual planning solution to streamline the processes of hybrid cross-dockings

Abstract

Cross-docking is a logistic strategy widely adopted both in manufacturing and distribution contexts. Despite the huge number of researches on this topic, most of them remain rather theoretical as they do not pay enough attention to operational aspects and daily functioning patterns of cross-dockings. This article aims at introducing a new focus for cross-docking research by proposing a visual planning solution to manage daily operation of a manufacturing cross-docking. By avoiding complex optimization algorithms and by adopting concepts belonging to the lean management theory, the article shows the potential of visual planning techniques to improve performance of cross-dockings. Starting from a specific industrial context, the shipping warehouse of an Italian company of the oil andand gas sector, a visual management methodology has been proposed to support the operation of cross-dockings. Although developed in a particular context, the proposed methodology and its underlying principles are to be considered general and potentially applicable to a wide range of cross-dockings. The methodology fully exploits an analytical tool, namely, the Safety Margin coefficientthat could be used for capacity planning purposes and to evaluate quantitatively the system performance at a given time instant.

Keywords:

• Hybrid cross-docking
• manufacturing cross-docking
• visual planning
• visual management
• activity boards

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Marcello Braglia

Marcello Braglia graduated (with distinction) in 1988 in Electronic Engineering at the Politecnico di Milano. Since 1995, he has been a Researcher in Mechanical Technology and Production Systems at the Università degli Studi di Brescia. Since 1998, he has been a Researcher and since 2002, he has been a Full Professor in Industrial Plants at the Università di Pisa. His research activities mainly concern maintenance, reliability, production planning, logistics and statistical quality control. He is the author of about 150 technical papers published in national and international journals and conference proceedings. He is a member of ANIMP (National Association on Industrial Plants) and AIDI (National Association of Academicians on Industrial Plants).

Davide Castellano

Davide Castellano graduated in 2010 in Management Engineering at Università di Pisa. In 2015, he obtained a PhD in Mechanical Engineering at Università di Pisa with specialization in Operations Management. In 2015, he was a Research Fellow at Università di Pisa. At present, he is a Researcher at Università Telematica Pegaso. His research activity mainly concerns maintenance, reliability, production planning, logistics and inventory management. He is the author of about 20 technical papers published in international journals and conference proceedings.

Mosè Gallo

Mosè Gallo is a contract researcher at Università Telematica Pegaso. He is a mechanical engineer and received Ph.D. degree in ‘Production Systems and Technologies’ from University of Naples Federico II in 2008. His research interests are related to design and management problems of production systems. In particular, he has tackled issues concerning quality, maintenance, production planning, environmental sustainability and soft computing techniques applied to industrial fields. He has authored several technical papers and book chapters. He is a reviewer for several international Journals and conferences.

Giovanni Romagnoli

Giovanni Romagnoli completed his PhD course in Operations and Project Management at the University of Parma in 2013. Since 2015, he is employed as a Lecturer at the same University. His research activities mainly concern manufacturing planning and control systems, RFID and supply chain management, improvements and applications of lean manufacturing, designing and managing food plants and processes; and led to the realization of more than 20 international works (Journals and Conferences). He acts as a referee for more than 5 International Journals, and is listed in Marquis Who’s Who in the World since year 2013.