Although computer-directed techniques were pioneered by the larger
marine terminal operators, a large container volume is not a requirement
to obtain the control provided by computer direction. In fact, even
if the simplest type of passive-tracking system is implemented Ñ a
CRT operator in radio contact with the machine operator Ñ the base
requirement of accurate and timely information can be achieved. Consequently,
even the smaller marine terminals can install the simplest passive-tracking
building block, and then realize all of the benefits of computer-directed
management.
In general, the areas of a marine terminal operation currently
susceptible to computer direction are performed by clerical personnel
under tight management direction. The computer-directed building
blocks that will be reviewed here are:
- Spot selection
- Short moves
- Pooling
Each building block attempts to achieve the same level of performance
as a conscientious supervisor performing the same task.
Spot Selection
When a truck arrives at the in-gate, an available spot must be
selected in the terminal for the container. If the facility has
only one gate lane, then the person responsible for planning can
give the in-gate clerk the list of available spots in the yard.
When there is more than one gate lane and a clerk is assigning spots
at each lane, then the available spot list must be split. In a congested
terminal, not only is this difficult to do, but it results in the
inefficient use of the available open yard space.
Instead of distributing the lists to the gate clerks, the yard
planner can enter the list into the computer. The computer will
then consult its internal yard board and select the spots as needed
from the yard planner's list [see Figure 7]. A spot is selected
by the computer when the clerk at each gate lane notifies the computer
that a truck has arrived. Under this system, all of the spots are
available for use by any gate lane. Of course, this same technique
can be extended to the delivery of empty containers to a truck.
