Logistic strategies for segregation of Identity Preserved grain during unloading operations: assessment by means of network simulation

The objective of this paper is to investigate the network modeling technique as an innovative system useful for analyzing the interaction between the grain elevator and the farmers who carry grain to the facility. In this investigation, network modeling was used to compare the performances of the four elevator strategies that characterize a large inland elevator in Delphi, IN, USA. The strategies examined were: baseline scenario, one-pit enlargement, two-pit enlargement, and traffic pattern change. The network model simulates unloading activities inside the elevator, farm activities (harvesting and transportation to the elevator), as well as the interactions between these two systems. The link between the elevator and traffic subsystem models allows for the analysis of the elevator performance by also taking into account the performance of the farmer and vice-versa. The software used to build the simulation model was Extend® (ImagineThat Inc., Palo Alto, CA, USA). The Average Service Time [AST] of the trucks was used as the indicator performance to compare the system performance with different strategies. The network model Scenario 1 predicted AST savings for a daily grain volume that could occurs during the season (average, busy and peak day). The savings were 32% for the one pit enlargement, 38% for the two pits enlargement, and 23% for the traffic pattern change compared to the baseline scenario. The network model Scenario 2 predicted near-maximum performance of the elevator strategies. The results showed that the two-pit enlargement was best and allowed for dumping of up to 76 loads.day-1 resulting in a 16.7% increase compared to the baseline scenario (i.e., The AST savings were 34.6 min.truck-1 vs. baseline scenario (i.e., 34.0%). The results showed that grain distribution also had important influence on the performance of unloading operations. The network modeling approach could be used to investigate the regional impact of harvest-transport operations (bigger combines, field-to-field yield variability, transportation speed effects, etc.), management practices and resources availability on farmers as well as the unloading operations of multiple grain facilities all simulated in one large-scale model. The performance of the system could be evaluated both on farm and elevator side.