Transportation management in today's consumer goods industry can be
characterized by a high proportion of outsourced transportation
services. Due to rising freight costs consumer goods manufacturers are
seeking opportunities to increase the efficiency of their transportation
network. This book presents an operational transportation planning
problem typical of the consumer goods industry focusing on a network of
suppliers, production facilities and warehouses. With respect to the
large share of outsourcing in these networks a detailed analysis of
freight costs based on contractual agreements is provided. From this
analysis a number of opportunities for efficiency gains are identified
and consolidated in an operative transportation planning problem that is
numerically investigated. Furthermore, an overview of processes and
organizational requirements in transportation management is given with
special focus on the integration of existing commercial Transportation
Management Systems (TMS).