A Spreadsheet Decision Support Optimization Model for Railcar Storage at Canadian Pacific Railway
Accessioned
2016-05-12T16:07:41ZAvailable
2016-05-12T16:07:41ZIssued
2012-02Subject
aggregate planningstorage
spreadsheet optimization
mathematical programming
railways
transport
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Abstract
Canadian railway companies operate in a capital intensive segment of the transportation industry. In most railway companies, the covered hopper railcar fleet is one of the larger fleets due to its use in moving grain and potash, commodities that move large volumes of product. This railcar fleet is also difficult to manage due to demand seasonality and joint commodity use. This paper demonstrates how an aggregate planning model can be used to support decision-making related to optimization of covered hopper railcar storage. Exploratory research prior to model development involved interviews with company personnel. The model was developed through quantitative research and implemented using spreadsheet optimization. The results indicate that using this model can reduce the total cost of storage through effective planning. The model also provided insight to improve railcar storage such as the elimination of excess storage locations and the need to do further investigation. The company is in the process of implementing suggestions from this paper.Refereed
YesLink to Publisher's version of the article http://www.jstor.org/stable/41353917 Pre print deposited 05/12/2016 Accepted for publication in the Journal of the Operational Research Society, October 2010.