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College Industry Council on Material Handling Education

Material Handling and Storage Strategies for a Containerized Shipping

Download Full Case Description in PDF format

Date approved for distribution: June 1999

Author: Paul M. Griffin and H. Donald Ratliff
School of Industrial & Systems Engineering
Georgia Institute of Technology
Atlanta, Georgia 30332-0204
Keywords: Equipment Types: Gantry Cranes, Toplifters
Facility Type: Shipping Port
Analysis Methodology: Capacity Analysis, Equipment Solution, Product Flow Analysis

Abstract: East Bay Terminal (EBT), a containerized shipping port for ACME Ports Authority, has had decreasing profit margins over the past few years. In addition, there is a concern by management that they will soon run out of space for the estimated demand increases in containerized cargo. Currently, EBT uses a combination of wheeled storage (where containers are left on chassis) and grounded storage (where containers are stored in block stacks by yard gantry cranes). Because of the large potential increase in space utilization from grounded storage, EBT is considering a move towards a completely grounded operation. An additional factor that is leading them in this direction is the fact that EBT is surrounded by the city and so purchasing additional land would be prohibitive. In this case, the specifics of EBT operations are provided, and students are asked to determine whether EBT should go to a completely grounded operation. In addition, students are asked to propose any further recommendations for the Port that will help EBTs profit margins.

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