Since 1981 ORTEC is the world’s leading supplier of mathematical optimization software and advanced analytics with around 1,000 employees and offices in 13 countries around the globe. Over the years, we have optimized business processes at more than 1,200 leading companies, enabling us to make a significant contribution to a better world.

Partnership for scientific research with a focus on the application to practice in the field of sustainable last-mile delivery services in online retailing. The project is part of the NWO Program "Duurzame Logistiek". Partners of the project are Erasmus University and Albert Heijn; advisory roles for EVO, thuiswinkel.org, Stadsregio Arnhem Nijmegen.

TITLE – TNT Global Optimization Program: a pilot Simulation StudyABSTRACT – TNT Express uses various large sorting centers, called hubs, in their transportation networks. Hubs are crucial in making fast and reliable connections in the TNT network. Within the GO Program of TNT Express, various static data analyses of hub performance had been performed. Though, several “what-if”-questions remained unanswered. One can think about questions like “what if the sorter capacity is increased?”, “what if a truck comes in late?”, “what if no floor space is available?”. Overall, with those questions one tries to get a better insight into the bottlenecks of a hub. Hence, we see a growing interest in a more dynamic analysis of hub performances. In this, simulation will become more and more important. Simulation is a powerful tool in the development of dynamic analyses of real-life processes. Simulations involve designing a model of a system and carrying out experiments on it as it progresses through time. The simulation study in this thesis started by the analysis of the current sorting process at a selected hub location. Afterwards, the simulation study was used to analyse the effects of increasing speed of the sorting machine with and without increase of the workforce at the sorter. Besides, the effect of increasing forklift capacity was considered. Finally, the impact of volume growth on the performance of the hub has been studied.

TITLE – The Design of Road and Air Networks for Express Service ProvidersABSTRACT – Express service providers move packages (i.e. parcels, documents, or pieces of freight) from senders to receivers under various but guaranteed service level agreements. These service level agreements specify date and time of collection at the sender, and receiving at the customer. Research in this dissertation is dedicated to the design of so-called express line-haul transports from the first consolidation point, the origin depot, to the last consolidation point, the destination depot. The line-haul transport is commonly organised either via road or via air. Hub locations are used to sort packages of incoming line-hauls, and to consolidate and load these packages on the outgoing line-hauls. The strategic network design problem is concerned with decisions on these hub locations in the network: how many hubs are needed and where should these be located, and which line-hauls are unloaded and loaded at each hub location? The tactical planning level at express service providers contains decisions on package routings from origin to destination and asset usages. This dissertation focusses on the design of the strategic and tactical line-haul network for road transport in Part I of this dissertation and deals with similar topics for air transport in Part II of this dissertation. In the concluding chapters we present a general review of strategic and tactical network design for express service providers and point to directions for future research. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO CONTACT ME TO RECEIVE A HARDCOPY OF MY DISSERTATION