Manufacturing Engineering Modular Series: Logistics and the Outbound Supply Chain
This publication explores the issues involved in distributing products from the manufacturer to the customer.
TABLE OF CONTENTS Manufacturing Engineering Modular Series: Logistics and the Outbound Supply Chain
Chapter 4: Transport
4.1 Introduction
The main objective of transport in the distribution system is simply to move products from their source to the customer. In meeting this objective, however, the questions that have to be answered are numerous. Which type of transport is to be used: road, rail, sea, air, or some dedicated form of product delivery such as a pipeline? How many different modes of transport will be employed in getting the product from source to the customer? How many breaks should there be in the journey and where should they be? What route should be taken from source to customer and what is the best time to undertake the journey? To what extent should the transport activity be subcontracted to transport service organizations and to what extent should it be undertaken as an inhouse activity? Who should take responsibility for the transport of products: the supplier or the customer? There is no single answer to all these questions. In this chapter, we shall try to throw some light on the issues and explore the advantages and disadvantages of different solutions.
4.2 Types of transport
4.2.1 Road
Road transport is capable of providing a door to door service without any break in the journey to change from one vehicle to another; so it can, unlike any other means of transport, move a product from anywhere to anywhere else. Road vehicles, being relatively small, can also be transported by other means of transport such as ships and aircraft, hence providing the ability...
Copyright John Meredith Smith 2002 under license agreement with Books24x7
