Modelling of a TO-BE scenario through delivery restructuring and efficient truck allocation

Abstract

This dissertation, carried out within the scope of the Master's degree in Industrial Management Engineering at Faculdade de Engenharia da Universidade do Porto, is based on a project developed in a business environment at Unilever Fima, a company that produces and markets an extensive range of products under well-known brands in the areas of home and personal care, food products, and ice cream. The project was conducted with the aim of optimizing order delivery planning. The wide variety of products, the quantity requested, and the vast selection of customers across the country create multiple scenarios that make delivery planning a highly complex process. Although this complexity is largely influenced by "key clients," it is also significantly impacted by smaller clients. Meeting customer demands comes at a cost, and it is within this context that the need arises to identify cost-saving opportunities throughout the supply chain. The main objective of this project was to structure and implement an optimized scheduling process for delivery guides in 2024, aiming to reduce transportation costs while identifying potential savings along the supply chain. This report provides an overview of the company's current situation, and its operating conditions, while establishing a methodology to address this problem. It details the existing issues within the company that led to the development of this project, presents the implemented solution and its underlying process, and outlines the results as well as future aspects to consider in the analysis.