Vehicle Scheduling Project Success At South African And Swaziland Sugar Mills

Ronnqvist (2003) explains that the timeline (operational, tactical or strategic) is an important
aspect for supply chain management. Typically in the strategic and tactical environment,
computer simulation models have been specifically designed and are capable of testing
different transport scenarios. Models can identify bottlenecks within the systems and are used
to either optimise or evaluate scenarios of interest. Pinkney and Everitt (1997), considered the
use of a scheduling simulation program named ACTSS to simulate an integrated approach to
harvesting and rail transport control in the Australian Sugar Industry. Diaz and Perez (2000)
used transport and harvest simulation modelling to identify bottlenecks and provide
information pertaining to resource allocation and risk management. Arjona et al. (2001)
developed a discrete event simulation model of harvest and transport systems for the Mexican
sugar industry to assess the problem of machinery overcapitalisation and underutilisation. The
model demonstrated how less machinery operated more efficiently could maintain production
levels and that the inefficiencies resulted mainly from an inability to manage the complex
system. Gaucher, et al (2003) developed a computer model to simulate the planning and
operation of mill sugarcane supply throughout the season, with the objective of assessing,
amongst other aims, the impact on the transport capacity. Higgins et al. (2004) and Higgins
and Davies (2005) developed an integrated model of sugarcane harvest and rail transport
processes in the Australian sugar industry.

In contrast and in the operational environment, scheduling tools have been used to improve
efficiency to great effect. As early as 1971 the use of a manual type real-time vehicle
scheduling system was designed and this successfully operated at Tongaat Sugar (Dent,
1973). Since the mid-1960s scheduling has been used in the Australia sugar industry in rail
(Murry, 1968). More recently Dines et al. (1999) designed and introduced an operational
vehicle scheduling system named FREDD into the New South Wales sugar road industry in
Australia. Although not used in a sugarcane application, a computerised scheduling system
named ASICAM was developed for the Chilean timber industry in 1990. Through the use of
ASICAM, the fleet was reduced by approximately 30% at the four mills where it was
introduced (Cossens, 1992). The ASICAM operational tool was also used in a strategic
modelling role where it was used to simulate possible improvements within the sugar
transport efficiencies and thereby reduce costs. The study showed that the current transport
fleet could be effectively halved, realising savings of R17 million. Further reductions were
achievable where factors such as loading time, payload or vehicle power were improved
(Giles et al., 2008).