Netherlands-based consultancy firm TBA has developed an algorithm to ease the workload handled by reefer mechanics.
Reefers are refrigerated containers and as such need a power supply to maintain correct temperature.
Mechanics are enlisted to manage these specialised containers, which are often located at specified regions around the terminal and travel time is variable between each job.
Up until now, the operation and handling of these containers has been managed manually, often leading to inefficient and time consuming schedules.
Reefer mechanics are therefore constantly stretched for time, often failing to correctly manage their workloads.
The new algorithm developed by TBA will act as a scheduling tool, optimising travel and performance up to three times more than that of manual management.
By correctly scheduling reefer management, TBA predicts that reefer mechanic productivity would increase tenfold.
TBA predicts that this would not only provide reefer mechanics with a much easier way to organise day to day workload, but also greatly reduce man hours. (see graph below)
Furthermore, the scheduling tool has been designed as an application that can be integrated with the NAVIS TOS suite.
TBA is a Port Technology International Preferred Partner for 2014.
