Improving Logistics Processes in Inland Container Terminal

Abstract

This paper focuses on the application of two approaches: Business Process Redesign (BPR) and Discrete Event Simulation (DES) in an attempt to enhance the basic logistics processes in inland container terminals. The goal of the paper is to identify the weaknesses and potential problems in the execution of current logistics processes, as well as to redesign such identified weaknesses and problems. The main contribution of the paper is to show how DES and BPR can be used in restructuring of container logistics processes in inland container terminals. Its original feature is a novelty, a holistic approach in rationalization of container logistics processes in inland intermodal terminals, creating models of the current (AS-IS) and improved (TO-BE) states. Models show that DES and BPR represent an easily accessible and effective tool in the analysis of terminal processes in container terminals. Therefore, it can be efficiently used for monitoring the current situation, identification of weak spots in a particular system and for creating any necessary preconditions for improvement of business processes.