Product Details
Overall Functionality
CMP is a truck load tour building tool
that can generate optimal matches of truck load moves for
a given set of Origin-Destination (Leg) pairs, where each
Origin-Destination pair identifies a truck load move. It is a stand-alone Windows based application
with an extremely user friendly interface. Problem setup and solution generation
requires minimal user interaction virtually eliminating the
learning curve on the system.
CMP needs the geographic information
about the locations that constitute each Origin-Destination
pair (Leg). It
consists of data management and continuous move planning engine
modules. Solutions can be exported as text files
into MS Word or MS Excel.
Data input is in the form of flat files.
CMP uses powerful matching algorithms to generate the
different continuous moves.
Each continuous move in CMP consists
of a set of moves and can start and end at a user defined
Domicile. The
set of moves consists of loaded and empty moves/legs.
When trying to match the loaded moves input by the
user the system needs to build an empty move if required to
move the truck from the previous loaded leg’s Destination
location to the next loaded leg’s Origin location. If the user specifies a set of Domiciles
(locations where the trucks are domiciled), CMP tries to build
continuous moves starting from and returning to those Domiciles. In the absence of Domiciles each continuous
move starts from and returns to the same location, which is
the Origin location of its first loaded leg.
Data Management
Origin-Destination data can be imported
into CMP in the form of ASCII files. The data import wizard guides users through
the setup process for importing Origin-Destination pair data
into the system. Very minimal data entry is required during
the setup. All the user settings are stored in the
system so that repeated imports of data of same format will
require absolutely no data entry, minimizing user errors.
CMP’s data views present legs and continuous
moves data in spreadsheet format. These views enable users to sort the data
based on different criteria, get more details on any Leg or
Continuous move by double clicking on a row, and provide a
text representation of the data imported into the system.
As the solution
is developed, the data views update automatically to reflect
the changes.
Building Continuous
Moves
CMP uses robust matching algorithms
to build continuous moves from the imported Origin-Destination
pairs. The algorithms
are controlled by the user-defined parameters.
Parameters
The matching
algorithm is currently controlled by three parameters: 1)
Empty Distance Percentage, 2) Maximum Continuous move Distance,
and 3) Minimum Continuous move Distance. Empty Distance Percentage
controls the ratio of the total empty distance (deadhead)
on the continuous move to its total distance (sum of empty
and loaded distances). The empty distance
or deadhead results from the empty legs/moves of the truck
between a pair of loaded legs/moves whenever required. Maximum and Minimum continuous move distances control the distance
a truck can run on any continuous move and thereby control
the number of loaded legs on a continuous move. Additional constraints include equipment types and weeks of availability.
Any number of parameters/constraints can be added to
the matching algorithm. Cost and Time
constraints are being built into the engine at this time.
Calculation Engine
The distance and time calculations
required by the matching algorithm are obtained from different
sources. CMP’s
proprietary engine is the quickest in terms of rate of running
the calculations. Microsoft’s
Mappoint and ALK’s PC*Miler are the other alternatives supported
at this time. Included in both these options is the
ability to use air distances and actual road distances. Air distances are calculated at a faster
rate than the road distances.
Solution
and Presentation
Parameters and Calculation engine settings
control the solution.
The resulting continuous moves and any unmatched legs
are presented in the form of spreadsheets and reports.
The reports can be exported as text files and customized
in MS Word or MS Excel.
Information on each continuous move or unmatched leg can be obtained by double
clicking on the row that corresponds to them.
The information dialogs display all the attributes
of the continuous moves and the legs. The
continuous move information dialog presents both the statistics
and the manifest (list of legs in the order of occurrence).
Reports & Exports
Touring solution can be exported in
the form of text files.
These reports consist of detailed information on all
the continuous moves and any unmatched legs generated by the
algorithm and can be imported into MS Word or MS Excel for
further configuration.
Sample
Export
The continuous move manifest
report includes a summary of all the key statistics of all
the continuous moves in the system in addition to the details
of the legs (loaded and empty) that are part of them. Displayed
below are the snapshots of the two reports generated by CMP,
Tour Detail and Unmatched Leg Summary.
Summary Statistics
CMP provides a statistical summary of the touring solution each time the matching
algorithm is executed. The summary statistics
can be printed out.
Technology
Developed in Visual C++ using Object
Oriented Design (OOD) methodology and Component Object Model
(COM) concepts. Uses
industry standard STL (Standard Template Libraries) and streaming
techniques for efficient data storage, retrieval, and persistence.
CMP does not require any database drivers or software.
Key Features & Benefits
·
CMP can be used as an operational
decision support tool for matching disparate truckload moves
in the most optimal manner.
It can handle any number of truckload moves.
·
Familiar user friendly interfaces
facilitating shorter learning curve. Problem set up is quick and easy, requiring
minimal data entry.
·
Industry standard distances
and times used for matching truckload moves.
·
Technical architecture is
based on Object Oriented design principles, which enable plug
and play of functionality.
·
Comprehensive reports and
exports of data and solution.
Summary statistics can be printed.
·
Runs in all Windows environments.
environments.
For
Pricing Information Please Call Toll Free: 772-224-1116
Paradox Software Consulting,
Inc.
5082 S.E. Inkwood Way
Hobe Sound, FL 33455
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