JOINT SIMULATION MODELING TO SUPPORT STRATEGIC DECISION-MAKING PROCESSES

摘要

The airfreight industry is highly dynamic. Airline companies need to adapt their processes continuously. This case study was carried out to support an airline company in designing a strategy for airfreight handling. The goal of our research was to explore the operational implications of strategic decisions on the new structure of airfreight handling processes. A Collaborative Business Engineering approach was followed in which simulation models were constructed jointly with the management of the airline company. Simulation models of the freight handling processes were built to provide insight in alternative designs of warehouses. Base models were constructed to save time during the joint modeling sessions. During the group sessions the base models were adapted and expanded jointly with the management. After the group sessions extensive experiments were conducted and the results were presented to the management. The CBE approach was applied successfully. The simulation models and results were valued highly by the management. The management had high levels of trust in the models because of the joint modeling and the 3D animations. In the end the management was able to study a 'richer' set of alternatives; more alternatives and more detailed insight in each alternative was gained.