Estimating Unloading Time at Cross Docking Centre by Using Fuzzy Logic

摘要

Cross docking is an alternative technique of warehousing that aims on eliminating the storage cost by significantly reducing handling and storage of inventory. One of the decision levels that requires vital attention to ensure the smooth and effective operation at cross docking terminal is the truck scheduling policy. Prior to that, an assignment decision of truck to door need to be decided first, hence the sequence of truck can be organized. The common practice was to assign the truck based on the availability of dock door and estimates the time of unloading based on intuition or experience from past record. Thus far, no systematic approach was found in the literature to estimate truck?s unloading time. Paper on hand aims to tackle this issue by proposing a fuzzy logic approach to estimate truck?s unloading time at retail cross docking warehouse. Refers to three orderly stages introduced in the literature of fuzzy logic inference system, seven steps were implemented in this study. With the help of Matlab software, all the input and output variables were set in the Fuzzy Logic Toolbox. Results obtained were analyzed and compared with the actual data gathered from the selected cross docking warehouse. The finding in this study is significant for the scheduling policy in cross docking terminal specifically to coordinate the assignment process for truck to door. Methodology proposed can also be adopted in any traditional warehouses, distribution centre or container terminal.