Network Design Software - Supply Chain Focus - Discussion Forum - Supply Chain & Logistics Online Community

jeb · 22 September 05, 08:09

My company wishes to look at it's network eg no of DCs and their size? Does anybody have any experience with this type of project?

Loggie · 22 September 05, 08:18

Hi Jeb. Depends what you need to know. I've been involved in a few. You need to work out what it is you want to achieve, answer. And over what time frame. There are some good bits of software around that can help you 'model' your network too. Usually based on mapping the location of DCs and customers and working out the least cost network.

Trucks n Sheds · 22 September 05, 09:27

Jeb, If you are after software to model the distribution network, there are a few. CAPS, CAST etc. But driving them is not that easy. Takes a fair bit of training and experience.

Loggie · 05 October 05, 09:52

Jeb. Are you looking for a software solution or just a process?

T Rex · 28 October 05, 07:31

Are these sorts of software tools expensive?

paul · 02 November 05, 02:17

Yes, I was probably more interested in the process and solution rather than the software.

Mark · 07 November 05, 00:30

Do you think that some of this network design software is best suited to certain regions? For example, if it was designed in the US, with a good spread of cities, good road networks etc, would it perform as well in the middle of China?

CD · 04 January 06, 22:00

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mark

Do you think that some of this network design software is best suited to certain regions? For example, if it was designed in the US, with a good spread of cities, good road networks etc, would it perform as well in the middle of China?

I have found it all depends on where the software was developed and where the largest markets are. This dictates the investment in keeping the software up to date. Not many are good in China! Most are very good in the US and Europe.

Loggie · 22 February 06, 22:28

CD. Very true.

The US products are great in the US, UK products great in the UK etc. Part of the problem has always been the method of geo coding locations. In the US zip codes were often used, in the UK post codes etc. In the UK that is fine, where I think a post code gets you as close as 6 houses! In Australia as another example, a post code could be 10,000 houses (in a city) or 1,000 square miles (in the country)!

So the software gets designed to meet the needs of the local market, and how that market identifies locations, and so how locations can be easily geo coded. Good systems now use GPS data (Lat - Long) to geo code accurately, but then the old problem always comes up! If you have 10,000 customers.....do you have geo codes for them all?

Never easy....

WMS · 07 April 06, 03:08

I once designed a tool that could do warehouse centre of gravity optimisation, on a spreadsheet. Well me and hundreds of others!

If you have done a Cranfield University Masters in Logistics this 'little' exercise is one of bits of homework required to understand the functionality of spreadsheets! Very neat, complete with maps.

22 September 05, 08:09	#1 (permalink)
jeb Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Ireland Posts: 6	Network Design Software My company wishes to look at it's network eg no of DCs and their size? Does anybody have any experience with this type of project?

22 September 05, 09:27	#3 (permalink)
Trucks n Sheds Regular Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: UK Posts: 38	Jeb, If you are after software to model the distribution network, there are a few. CAPS, CAST etc. But driving them is not that easy. Takes a fair bit of training and experience. __________________ Ain't nothing like playing around with trucks n sheds!

05 October 05, 09:52	#4 (permalink)
Loggie Member Plus Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Australia and SE Asia Posts: 129	Jeb. Are you looking for a software solution or just a process? __________________ Supply Chain what?

28 October 05, 07:31	#5 (permalink)
T Rex Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 1	Re: Network Design Software Are these sorts of software tools expensive?

02 November 05, 02:17	#6 (permalink)
paul Regular Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 10	Re: Network Design Software Yes, I was probably more interested in the process and solution rather than the software.

22 September 05, 08:18	#2 (permalink)
Loggie Member Plus Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Australia and SE Asia Posts: 129	Hi Jeb. Depends what you need to know. I've been involved in a few. You need to work out what it is you want to achieve, answer. And over what time frame. There are some good bits of software around that can help you 'model' your network too. Usually based on mapping the location of DCs and customers and working out the least cost network.

07 November 05, 00:30	#7 (permalink)
Mark Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 1	Re: Network Design Software Do you think that some of this network design software is best suited to certain regions? For example, if it was designed in the US, with a good spread of cities, good road networks etc, would it perform as well in the middle of China?

22 February 06, 22:28	#9 (permalink)
Loggie Member Plus Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Australia and SE Asia Posts: 129	Re: Network Design Software CD. Very true. The US products are great in the US, UK products great in the UK etc. Part of the problem has always been the method of geo coding locations. In the US zip codes were often used, in the UK post codes etc. In the UK that is fine, where I think a post code gets you as close as 6 houses! In Australia as another example, a post code could be 10,000 houses (in a city) or 1,000 square miles (in the country)! So the software gets designed to meet the needs of the local market, and how that market identifies locations, and so how locations can be easily geo coded. Good systems now use GPS data (Lat - Long) to geo code accurately, but then the old problem always comes up! If you have 10,000 customers.....do you have geo codes for them all? Never easy.... __________________ Supply Chain what?

07 April 06, 03:08	#10 (permalink)
WMS Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Posts: 5	Re: Network Design Software I once designed a tool that could do warehouse centre of gravity optimisation, on a spreadsheet. Well me and hundreds of others! If you have done a Cranfield University Masters in Logistics this 'little' exercise is one of bits of homework required to understand the functionality of spreadsheets! Very neat, complete with maps.

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