Using simulation to optimize transhipment systems: Applications in field

This article presents a new simulation-based meta-model to support logistics providers in sizing transhipment systems. The meta-model is made up of: a user interface with database (where system elements and their parameters are specified); a library of objects (which represent all the elements of the system) and a software application to automatically build the simulation model of the system. The proposed meta-model – through a unique tool – allows service providers to design transhipment systems for various environments, whenever the experience from previous projects is often helpless. The suggested approach has been successfully used in two case-studies: an effective cost analysis has been carried out, by taking into account the expected effects on both revenues and investments; and the robustness of each system’s configuration has been tested by analysing its performance under different levels of various sources of variance.