Date of Award

3-10-2010

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science in Operations Research

Department

Department of Operational Sciences

First Advisor

James T. Moore, PhD

Abstract

The United States Transportation Command (USTRANSCOM) is currently responsible for the daily shipment of supplies to forward operating bases throughout Afghanistan. Aerial cargo shipments are an important method used to quickly deliver items that are needed immediately. Currently, delivery times vary greatly. This variation causes a decrease in confidence for on-time deliveries. As a result, shipments are demanded early and often, causing bottlenecks in the transportation system and fewer on-time deliveries. This paper analyzes data gathered through the global transportation network to determine shipment characteristics that cause the greatest amount of delivery time variance. A simulation is developed using the ARENA simulation software package that models cargo shipments into aerial ports in Afghanistan. Designed experiments and a simulation optimizer, OptQuest, are used to determine the most effective methods of reducing delivery time variance at individual aerial ports in Afghanistan as well as the system as a whole. The results indicate that adjustments in port hold times can decrease the overall delivery time variance in the system.

AFIT Designator

AFIT-OR-MS-ENS-10-02

DTIC Accession Number

ADA517388

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