The contactless, digital, automated and optimized container yard, as an integral part of the supply chain, has been additionally promoted by the covid-19 pandemic. However, what is the future of yard management? Andr é kaeber, CEO of leogistics, has the answer;
Contactless yard management is essentially a completely paperless and equipment / application controlled yard treatment for truck drivers and logistics personnel at relevant locations. "Non-contact yard management", which was originally developed from safety related aspects (for example, avoiding accidents by allowing drivers to leave the cab as little as possible), that is, non-contact or low contact yard treatment, has been another important promotion in covid-19.
A core driving force of container yard management in the future is, of course, digitization. This has also made a great leap in many aspects of the work field, the most important reason is covid-19. For example, the byod method is now being used more and more. No wonder smartphones and tablets have become standard everywhere.
Byod also brings many advantages in the process management of the factory site: after all, all relevant communication and yard processes can be designed to run smoothly on the driver's equipment. By the way, the work of installing countless different individual applications is eliminated. Instead, progressive Web Applications (PWA) have moved to the communication center at the factory site - which is a great benefit to everyone's convenience and security.
Collaboration promotes joint planning
An important part of container yard management in the future is to accurately plan the logistics activities in the factory. This includes coordinating loading and unloading dates with transport companies or transport service providers. The integration of partners is carried out through the corresponding portal website, where all participants can call relevant order information, book time periods and exchange files. Therefore, all process steps are recorded transparently.
A core function is to compare load and unload quotas through the slot management function. However, it must be considered here that the appointment is purely a statement of intention of both parties. In this regard, the time slot management of transport capacity planning must see the arrival date of their respective means of transport - in reality, due to traffic congestion and other reasons, the arrival time may eventually be delayed several times, so it must be dynamically incorporated into the planning.
A further collaborative process is, for example, the integration of notifications (e.g., which quantities are delivered at what time) and the throughput time calculation of the yard or warehouse based on the notified quantity information. In general, the collaboration between business partners through digital platforms ensures the improvement of transparency and the reliability of processes.
Contactless registration enables a more efficient and secure check-in process
When a truck arrives at the factory site, it still registers in the traditional way: manually at the guard. Kiosk terminals are more advanced to some extent. On the other hand, through non-contact registration, drivers can use their own equipment in the cab to register through PWA, which is very convenient.
If the time period is not scheduled in advance, it must be included in the loading and unloading plan immediately after registration. Of course, the driver's instructions, briefings and other safety related information can also be recorded in a contactless manner through applications or terminals, which shortens the check-in process - safer in a pandemic.
Digital communication in the factory floor eliminates language barriers
Especially in Europe, but also in many other countries, there are often language barriers between logistics personnel and truck drivers. The application in the yard can provide valuable help here. Information, instructions or calls to the loading door can be easily understood and timed through a smartphone or tablet. In this way, logistics personnel can communicate with drivers in their mother tongue through equipment, and vice versa.
It is important that! Compared with applications permanently installed on smartphones or tablets, using web applications for communication in the yard will increase people's willingness to use many times. QR codes and free Wi Fi for drivers can also greatly reduce barriers to entry.
The processor using real-time information coordinates and optimizes the utilization rate in the hospital
The utilization rate and turnaround time of factory workshops are affected by various factors. In general, it seems that there are mainly goals to be achieved in the factory or warehouse. This includes, for example, the smooth use of all yard resources during the day, low idle rate or long-term use of loading points, and reducing the waiting time of transportation companies. On the other hand, meeting the delivery date expected by customers plays a role in throughput optimization. This critical deadline must also be given priority when considering the loading sequence.
Basically, the interaction between different systems (WMS, TMS, slot management, etc.), processes (warehousing, outbound, etc.), loading point characteristics and real-time information is particularly important when it comes to the utilization of loading points. The real-time information from the truck telematics system and the real-time information from the integrated system are the basis of permanent loading area control, so as to optimize the throughput and utilization of the plant site.
With the expansion of the plant scale, the process in the yard becomes more and more decoupled. An example: a driver arrives at a central parking lot and registers. After a while, he was called away and drove to the loading point. Here, it may be buffered again before loading starts. Only then will he receive the necessary documents to record his previous load safety work and finally settle the bill. All these activities will affect the turnaround time of the freight yard. Therefore, it is very important to monitor the coordination of the whole process, and it is best to be able to automatically rearrange in case of deviation.
Achieve optimal loading and unloading through a complete system map
The loading and unloading process usually runs in the corresponding WMS or MES (Manufacturing Execution System) system. In the case of bulk such as liquid, most of these processes are even carried out in MES. As an important part of optimizing the yard process, WMS and MES should be closely combined with yard management in order to synchronize each process in the best way. Here are some examples of neural nodes between systems;
● match loading point resources and transfer points (such as warehouse gate): WMS and YM access the same resources;
● planning of loading and final loading capacity, including personnel, i.e. multi-level planning
● dynamically calculate the throughput time according to the number of products and vehicles, forwarding, etc.
● material movement in container yard: do they belong to yard or WMS? Is it material (inventory management) or just moving load carriers or both?
● integration of container logistics: are containers serialized? Can the overall observation of the cycle in the system be realized through technologies such as RFID or ble?
● load scanning: this can usually be done in two system worlds.
● load guarantee and corresponding documents: this can also be carried out in two system worlds.
The following applies to all loading and final loading processes: system mapping is essential. Therefore, all reservations must be synchronized and up-to-date between all systems. In this way, subsequent processes can be triggered based on corresponding system events. Only through this complete digital mapping can non-contact steps in the process be realized, such as between truck drivers and logistics personnel at the factory site.
Digital file exchange reduces error sources
Even if the necessary legal framework has not been established in all countries, all documents will be exchanged electronically in the future - which will automatically pave the way for contactless digital exchange at the latest. After all, important documents, such as shipping notes, delivery notes and shipping documents, have been increasingly identified by numbers.
Therefore, the yard management system must be able to support, trigger and enrich the exchange of documents. In addition, it must be possible to create files directly from the yard management department or store them there. Of course, data security plays an important role here, because the corresponding documents should be provided to the corresponding partners according to the process.
When manually exchanging documents, it is often necessary to print documents on the self-service machine. As a kind of self-service, it delays the process as a whole. This situation still occurs frequently in terms of export documents.
Finally, check out - either with the help of an app in the yard or at the terminal. At the latest, digital or classic paper documents can be issued and forwarded to the driver and the corresponding freight forwarder. The identification work is carried out through a central QR code, which connects all yard activities into a bracket.
Checklist: This is necessary for non-contact truck transportation
The web-based company portal is used to communicate with freight forwarders, suppliers and customers and to integrate WMS / TMS or ERP processes.
● time period management
● loading point control
● mobile applications (Registration retrieval navigation / process control of plant sites).
● cockpit in yard / list in yard
● yard Designer
● display stand of storage yard
● digital document exchange (ebol / ECMR).
● key performance indicators / reports
● flexible workflow
Prospect: the future theme can be realized through intelligent yard management
The introduction of digital and non-contact storage yard management system has not only brought significant safety level to logistics personnel and truck drivers under the background of epidemic. Along the way, it also brings greater transparency, higher process reliability and usually more effective plant processes.
However, the implementation of such intelligent yard management is by no means the end of the story. Once the factory logistics is fully digitized, the future potential will be further opened, such as automation. Many processes, including load point control, can be further optimized through information such as real-time eta (estimated time of arrival). If the yard management is completely digitized and all necessary information is input into the system, it is easy to imagine the automatic control of the Mafia.
Inspection applications, for example, for fixed goods or dangerous goods inspection, are a good idea. The next step to sign in at the factory gate may be OCR recognition through the camera, which can recognize the truck through the license plate. IOT sensor technology can be used to intelligently monitor containers, for example, to report temperature fluctuations that may mean the loss of some cargo quality. Finally, based on the data, the scheme of optimizing the utilization of capacity is determined, and the permanent optimization of loading points is no longer a problem.
