Improving Terminal Efficiency and Throughput
Data integration and functional alignment unlocks terminal efficiency
Context and Challenge
Terminal operation at a large lubricant plant with a complex portfolio of over 300 products
Tightly constrained loading area with high potential for spills and cross-contamination between 20 compatibility families
Terminal operators were spending 3 to 4 hours/day developing and updating the load schedule based on compatibility groupings, tank availability, trailer sequencing, driver time limits and plant constraints
Daily, chronic schedule changes required at least an hour of manual updates using the existing scheduling tool. This process was dependent on the knowledge of the lead operator
Order status updates required constant verbal exchanges between manufacturing, customers, logistics, and inside sales
Approach
Identified and mapped actual information flow and decision points for all terminal stakeholders
Created and piloted integrated scheduling system to automate the repetitive data input process, eliminate variability, and isolate non-variables, while ensuring product compatibility
Developed reports to track real-time order and trailer status. This automatically generated daily performance reporting and allowed order change root causes to be tracked
Trained lead operators and back-ups to use and distribute scheduling and reporting tools
Developed an integrated daily information channel between terminal and 3PL logistics dispatcher to eliminate erroneous and redundant data entry
“The program provided a framework that enabled us to understand key issues and to confront them.”