THE QUEST FOR FLEXIBILITY!
The transport sector strives for efficiency in terms of costs, time, environmental impact, to name just a few parameters. But efficiency is difficult to obtain as simultaneous constraints are imposed on: – Demand: e.g. prescribed route, short lead times, special transportation conditions; and/or – Supply: e.g. available transportation capacity, operating hours. Synchromodality refers to combining several modalities (road, rail, waterways) when planning a shipment to a given destination. In the context of synchromodality, a certain route is preferred because, for example: – enough transport capacity is available for the desired modalities; or – transport prices / delivery conditions for the modalities available on the selected route are superior to those offered by modalities on alternative routes.
This approach is different than the more traditional corridor-based or object-based planning. The additional flexibility created by synchromodality can lead to better results when optimising the transport network as a whole. Delivering a Synchromodal transport solution demands much more from the various parties in the network than is customary in intermodal transport in terms of education, understanding and cooperation. A synchromodal transport product is therefore difficult to implement as it requests a mind-shift by various parties at the same time. SynchroMania makes it possible for all those involved in logistics planning (planners, sales representatives, etc.) to experience how synchromodal planning works and which decisions it requires. The game also
THE QUEST FOR FLE XIBILIT Y!
HOW DOES IT WORK? In the game, players step into the shoes of a planner tasked with finding the optimal route to ship the orders placed by three demanding clients to various locations within the network. In planning each order, the planner must strive to comply with the specific requirements imposed by each client while also optimising the overall costs and emissions level. The planner has a limited amount of time to allocate the orders to one/more transport units. In doing so, he/she must strive to comply with the specific requirements imposed by each client. The standard configuration of the game includes 3 rounds that gradually expose the player to an increasing level of difficulty. Action cards can be bought to increase the amount of flexibility on the demand and/or supply side. At the end of each round, the planner’s performance is evaluated in three metrics: total cost, emissions level and customer satisfaction. This score is then discussed in a group setting to support more adequate choices in upcoming rounds.
FEATURES SECTOR – Logistics GENRE – Simulation GOAL – Understand and apply synchromodal planning DURATION – 2-4 hours (incl. introduction, actual game and debrief) IT INFRASTRUCTURE – touchscreen computers (preferable) PARTICIPANTS – Teams of 2-3 persons, max. 6 teams TARGET GROUPS – Planners, sales teams and customers of logistic service providers
EXPECTED OUTCOMES SynchroMania is intended to challenge the participants’ current assumptions and attitude towards planning and collaboration. Possible topics that can be discussed during the gaming session are: – What is the common goal of different departments within a company and how does that influence operations? – What should be changed about current collaborations to further optimise the network? – Which of the ‘hard’ constraints are important to relax through negotiation?
TNO.NL
C ONTAC T For more information about the game and how it can be used in your setting, please contact: Layla Lebesque T +31 88 866 27 41 E layla.lebesque@tno.nl
TNO.NL
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outlines the benefits to be obtained from reducing the number of constraints and enhancing collaboration, not only between planners responsible for various corridors, but also between different stakeholder categories, such as: planners, salespersons and customers. In this way the game helps to establish the necessary mind-shift.