MGSC 492 Actual Questions and Correct Answers
Q1
The four ways routing and scheduling problems can be categorized into are...
Answer: Resource planning, what-if planning, fixed-route scheduling, and operational
(variable/daily route schedules).
Q2
Routing and scheduling problems are relatively complicated...
Answer: there are many different types of problems that can arise that need to be
understood and approached in different ways, there are a number of different
algorithms or methods that can be used, there are many detailed aspects that need to
be taken into account.
Q3
Resource planning...
Answer: identification of the basic requirements that are needed for a transport fleet
(number and types of vehicles/types of drivers).
Q4
What-if planning
Answer: involves the identification and measurement of the effects of change,
computer routing and scheduling models can be used to test or stimulate the effect of
changing demand, new vehicle availability, legislative changes, more on chapter 32
slide 3/8.
Q5
Planning fixed routes...
Answer: involves mid to longer term aspects of vehicle routing and scheduling -
regular deliveries to fixed or regular customers. More on chapter 32 slide 3/8.
Q6
Planning variable routes...
Answer: involves the preparation of routes that have to be scheduled on a weekly or a
daily basis (retail operations, parcel delivery companies, companies supplying spare
parts, contract haulage companies that work for a number of different clients)
, Q7
Major factor of importance for planning variable route schedules is that either the of goods can
not be estimated or the of the delivery points may vary.
Answer: demand/location
Q8
It is nearly to use historical data to plan vehicle routes according to the ever changing demand.
Answer: impossible (in smaller companies this scheduling is taken on manually by a
load planner in the distribution center)
Q9
Schedules produced interactively can result in very varied daily routes. One of the major
benefits is the scheduler is in a position to make to routes as they are required.
Answer: changes
Q10
Savings method
Answer: two customers are to be serviced by one delivery point. If each delivery point
is serviced by one truck separately, then the truck would run from depot o to drop and
back - the distance would be 2 a, then the truck would run from depot o to drop b and
back - the distance would be 2 b. If one truck would leave the depot with product for
both drops, then the distance traveled would be a+b+c. So the savings would be
(2a+2b)-(a+b+c)=a+b-c. See page two of study guide for the graph.
Q11
Advantages claimed by scheduling and planning software.
Answer: Decreased standing costs as the number of vehicles required by a fleet can be
minimized, decreased running costs as efficient routing reduces distance travelled by
the vehicles, less need to hire in vehicles, increased customer service through
consistent and reliable schedules, less chance of breaking transport regulations
through the ability to program in legislative constraints, savings in management time
as schedules can be calculated quickly, an increased level of control because more
accurate management reporting is possible.
Q1
The four ways routing and scheduling problems can be categorized into are...
Answer: Resource planning, what-if planning, fixed-route scheduling, and operational
(variable/daily route schedules).
Q2
Routing and scheduling problems are relatively complicated...
Answer: there are many different types of problems that can arise that need to be
understood and approached in different ways, there are a number of different
algorithms or methods that can be used, there are many detailed aspects that need to
be taken into account.
Q3
Resource planning...
Answer: identification of the basic requirements that are needed for a transport fleet
(number and types of vehicles/types of drivers).
Q4
What-if planning
Answer: involves the identification and measurement of the effects of change,
computer routing and scheduling models can be used to test or stimulate the effect of
changing demand, new vehicle availability, legislative changes, more on chapter 32
slide 3/8.
Q5
Planning fixed routes...
Answer: involves mid to longer term aspects of vehicle routing and scheduling -
regular deliveries to fixed or regular customers. More on chapter 32 slide 3/8.
Q6
Planning variable routes...
Answer: involves the preparation of routes that have to be scheduled on a weekly or a
daily basis (retail operations, parcel delivery companies, companies supplying spare
parts, contract haulage companies that work for a number of different clients)
, Q7
Major factor of importance for planning variable route schedules is that either the of goods can
not be estimated or the of the delivery points may vary.
Answer: demand/location
Q8
It is nearly to use historical data to plan vehicle routes according to the ever changing demand.
Answer: impossible (in smaller companies this scheduling is taken on manually by a
load planner in the distribution center)
Q9
Schedules produced interactively can result in very varied daily routes. One of the major
benefits is the scheduler is in a position to make to routes as they are required.
Answer: changes
Q10
Savings method
Answer: two customers are to be serviced by one delivery point. If each delivery point
is serviced by one truck separately, then the truck would run from depot o to drop and
back - the distance would be 2 a, then the truck would run from depot o to drop b and
back - the distance would be 2 b. If one truck would leave the depot with product for
both drops, then the distance traveled would be a+b+c. So the savings would be
(2a+2b)-(a+b+c)=a+b-c. See page two of study guide for the graph.
Q11
Advantages claimed by scheduling and planning software.
Answer: Decreased standing costs as the number of vehicles required by a fleet can be
minimized, decreased running costs as efficient routing reduces distance travelled by
the vehicles, less need to hire in vehicles, increased customer service through
consistent and reliable schedules, less chance of breaking transport regulations
through the ability to program in legislative constraints, savings in management time
as schedules can be calculated quickly, an increased level of control because more
accurate management reporting is possible.
