Using discrete event simulation to investigate road delivery policies to UK retailers

Retail customers provide a number of significant challenges to the efficiency and effectiveness of distribution systems. These challengers include shorter delivery windows, fluctuating volumes and a wider product mix. This paper demonstrates the use of discrete-event simulation to investigate policy issues regarding the incorporation of retail customers in a road delivery network from the spoke terminal of a hub and spoke distribution system. In particular a comparison of a mixed (retail and non-retail) delivery policy with a dedicated retail delivery run is made.