Abstract:
This research was conducted to determine the location of oil palm distribution center in order to minimize a total cost of oil palm transportation in Krabi. The transhipment model and Risk Solver Platform Program were used to find the optimal location for the distribution center. The starting point of transhipment is farmers grouping by district, with a total of 48 districts and the ending point is 21 oil palm plants of located in Krabi, where every district has the opportunity to set up distribution center of oil palm equally.
This research studied three models of transportation. The first model is defined by forcing all farmers to transport their products only to distribution centers. The second model captured the situation where farmers had a choice to ship their products either to distribution center or plants. The third model is shipment the oil palm in excess of the needs in Krabi export to the plant in Prasang, Surattanee. The farmer transported by truck and distribution center use 10-wheel truck or 10-wheel truck trailers.
The result showed that in the first model. With 10-wheel truck, Distribution center must be established in a total of 36 DCs with a total cost of 473,771,755.99 baht. This results in a reduction of transportation costs by 16.10 percent from the current transportation costs, 90,211,621.45 baht. With10-wheel truck trailers, Distribution center must be established in a total of 36 DCs with a total cost of 455,841,558.82 baht. This results in a reduction of transportation costs by 19.39 percent from the current transportation costs, 108,141,818.62 baht.
The result of the 2nd model with 10-wheel truck showed that distribution center must be established in a total of 24 DCs with a total cost of 464,406,623.26 baht. This results in a reduction of transportation costs by 17.55 percent from the current transportation costs, 98,334,754.18 baht. With10-wheel truck trailers, distribution center must be established in a total of 24 DCs with a total cost of 449,068,915.26 baht. This results in a reduction of transportation costs by 20.29 percent from the current transportation costs, 113,672,462.18 baht.
The result of the 3th model with 10-wheel truck showed that distribution center must be established in a total of 33 DCs with a total cost of 603,133,598.17 baht. This results in a reduction of transportation costs by 11.71 percent from the current transportation costs, 79,597,959.75 baht. With10-wheel truck trailers, distribution center must be established in a total of 33 DCs with a total cost of 571,501,043.53 baht. This results in a reduction of transportation costs by 16.37 percent from the current transportation costs, 111,230,514.39 baht.
WALAILAK UNIVERSITY. CENTER FOR LIBRARY RESOURCES AND EDUCATIONAL MEDIA