Abstract

TRANSPORTATION OPTIMIZATION MODEL, ANALYSIS FOR CEMENT DISTRIBUTION AND RISK REDUCTION

Daniel, Eneojo Emmanuel,1* Udeh, Promise Chukwuedozie2 Ibrahim, Isah1 Abubakar Alechenu, Benard1 and Danhausa, Ahmed Azi1

---

The dangers associated with articulate truck driving has led to calls on the need to reduce risk exposure in cement haulage industry. This study utilized the transportation distance matrix model to propose an optimal distribution plan in Dangote Cement Company, Nigeria. The need to reduce haulage truck travel distance is necessitated by loss of concentration, stress, strains and other risk factors associated with incessant road crashes which results into loss of lives and properties. Transportation Optimization Model was adopted for Dangote Cement Distribution. Study was conducted in three industrial locations, namely; Ibese, Obajana and Benue plants and ten major distribution centers namely; Aba, Owerri, Benin, Ikeja, Ondo, Abeokuta, Enugu, Anambra, Kano and Maiduguri distribution centers. The study recommended that, using optimal cement distribution plan on existing truck capacity, product distribution from Ibese production plant to Ikeja, Ondo and Abeokuta, 2200, 332 and 1050 truck trips should be made respectively. From Obajana production plant, 1075, 1150, 1200, 768, 776, 1025 and 2500 truck trips should be made to Aba, Owerri, Benin, Ondo, Enugu, Anambra, and Kano distribution centers and finally from Gboko production plant, 424 and 2140 truck trips should be made to Enugu and Maiduguri. Using the transportation optimization model, with a 4635835km distance, a grand total of 37,795784km distance would be minimized. Minimized kilometer will lower risk exposure from source to destination, thereby ensuring efficient service delivery in Dangote Cement Company. Keywords: Risk Factors, Transportation, Optimization Model, Distance Matrix

PDF