Lufthansa Cargo restructures cargo terminal
Lufthansa Cargo is one of the world’s leading companies in the transport of air cargo. With the help of SimPlan’s simulation experts, a simulation tool was to be introduced for the simulation of a cargo terminal (covered area 110,000 m² and adjacent yard areas) at Frankfurt Airport.
The tool should help to answer the following questions: How do you restructure one of the largest cargo terminals in Europe during ongoing operations? Which measures should be started with? How can strategic decisions be safeguarded so that the desired improvement occurs? What are the implications for ongoing operations during the restructuring phases? Where might additional resources need to be deployed?
Realistic mapping of the physical processes of the entire cargo terminal with a flexible simulation tool
flexible use of all areas
simple parameterization of resource utilization (personnel etc.)
control of the simulation e.g. by Excel tables or databases (different periods and scenarios, varying cargo volume)
Possibilities for simulation of future structuring measures as decision support
Restructuring of material flow
Reorganization of processes
Implementation of future ideas regarding infrastructure and processes through modular configuration of the entire system
Software used: Plant Simulation
Flexible use/parameterization of all warehouse areas
Possibility to update to new time periods
Definition of scenarios via Excel interface
After the simulation model was created, the model and reality were compared. Important key figures for this included
Converted tonnage per area
Minimum transit time in the cargo terminal / Minimum transit time for the customer
Utilization of the resource and utilization of the area
Quality of cargo
Distances traveled
Proportion of value-added time per cargo item
These key figures matched 99% (as-is simulation vs. reality).
The simulation showed concrete optimization potential right away.
Currently, the simulation model is used by the operator of the cargo terminal as a decision support for every strategic restructuring measure. Thanks to the simulation tool from SimPlan, management is able to make decisions based on concrete key figures.
