ETS Chapter 21 Flashcards
(9 cards)
What are the key factors affecting resource utilization?
transportation cycles
load capacity
return journeys
demand fluctuations.
Example: A truck that transports goods from City A to City B but returns empty has low resource utilization.
How is resource utilization measured?
It is measured as the ratio of volume time (when the resource is actively transporting goods) to resource time (total time the resource is occupied).
Reu = c1 / (c1 + c2)
c1 = transport time
c2 = empty return time
Example: If a truck spends 5 hours transporting goods and 5 hours returning empty, resource utilization is 50%.
What is the impact of empty return journeys on resource utilization?
Empty returns reduce efficiency since the transport resource is not used to generate revenue.
Example: A taxi driving a customer to the airport but returning empty has only 50% utilization.
What are structural imbalances in resource utilization?
Structural imbalances occur when transport demand is uneven in a bi-directional system.
Example: If more people travel from City A to City B than vice versa, buses may return empty, reducing efficiency.
How can resource utilization be improved?
- Optimizing return trips by finding cargo for the return leg.
- Increasing load factor by combining shipments.
- Using better scheduling to reduce idle time.
Example: A logistics company can coordinate shipments so that trucks never return empty.
What is the relationship between resource utilization and volume utilization?
The more efficiently a resource is filled with goods, the higher its utilization.
Example: A fully loaded truck uses resources better than one that is only 50% full.
Why is balancing goods flow important?
If goods only move in one direction, transport vehicles return empty, reducing efficiency and increasing costs.
Example: A freight train that carries coal to a power plant but returns empty wastes resources.
What are the main types of losses in resource utilization?
- Structural losses: Imbalances in transport demand.
- Operational losses: Inefficient planning or scheduling.
- Technical losses: Use of incompatible vehicles for certain goods.
- Chain losses: Delays due to network inefficiencies.
Example: A company using large trucks for small deliveries experiences technical losses.
