Business: Industrial
Getting Ideas for Energy Management Opportunities
2.1.2 Transportation and distribution factors
In deciding where to locate a new plant, transportation issues also play a
role among myriad other considerations, such as land availability, absence
of previous land contamination, local business environment, availability
and cost of utilities, etc. Cost of transportation and its portion of overhead
costs are becoming increasingly important. When looking at the transportation
issue, it is desirable to take a broader view of emissions and what can be
done to minimize the foundry’s
impact on the generation of greenhouse gases in operating transportation equipment.
From the transportation viewpoint, some of the following points may be contemplated
for a new plant:
- Proximity to major (potential) customers (particularly if deliveries
would be made in just-in-time environments); - Proximity to major competitors
(potential availability of skilled labour); - Easy road transportation access;
- Easy rail access (potential for rail spur
on site); and - Potential for a two-way utilization of cargo capacity (raw materials
in, product out).
For existing foundries, the transportation question boils
down to making sure that the costs of transportation, in $/km travelled, and
of the upkeep
of the fleet (if foundry-owned, similarly expressed) are minimized. As to
the former, a foundry should ensure that unnecessary trips are eliminated.
This can be
achieved by combining deliveries, optimizing travel routes, and ensuring
that a payload can also be secured for the return portion of the trip. It
also pays
to investigate joint delivery/supplying opportunities with other businesses
in the neighbourhood, and to talk to your transportation broker. This also
includes discussions of freight rates and available services with the local
rail company.
Regular preventive maintenance of the foundry trucks should
be conducted in order to reduce the incidence of breakdown, lengthen useful
truck life and minimize operating expenses (such as fuel consumption).
Other
EMOs
Housekeeping
- Maintain all vehicles, including lift-trucks, in top operating
condition. - Do not let the engines idle; turn them off while waiting, and during
unloading, breaks, etc. - Use the proper size of truck for the job.
- Combine deliveries with pickups or
sales calls wherever possible. - Optimize transportation and sales call routes.