Question

Identify the transportation network structure in each case study below. You are required to justify your answer: 3x5 = 15 MARKS

a) FP Du Toit transports products from CIC Namibia in Windhoek to Metro Cash & Carry, Shoprite, and Spar Supermarket in Oshakati.

b) A full truck loaded with Windhoek Lager Beer from Namibia Breweries Limited brewing plant to a warehouse at Ramatex. The Beer is packed into smaller shipments, and they are immediately dropped at Shoprite, Pick'n Pay Supermarket, and Checkers in Windhoek City Centre.

c) A full truck loaded with Top Score Maize Flour from Namib Mills milling plant to its warehouse in the Northern Industrial area in Windhoek. The Top Score Maize Flour is stored at the warehouse until Metro Hyper and Woermann Brock Wholesalers place their orders.

d) Namibia Dairies operates its fleets whereby it delivers dairy products such as fresh milk and yogurt just in time when their retailers need them. Namibia dairy runs a full production schedule, and once the products are produced, they are transported to its warehouse at Avis. The products are sorted out at the Avis distribution centre (DC) according to the customers' orders. Three trucks are assigned to drop dairy products directly to Metro Hyper, Spar, and Checkers, while two trucks drop off smaller shipments of dairy products to mini markets in the Katutura suburb at once. Dairy products are not stored at the DC, and they only stay for a maximum of eight hours.

e) A full truck loaded with assorted cooldrinks from Coca-Cola Namibia Bottling Company (Pty) Ltd, Oshakati, to Metro Cash & Carry in Oshak

Answer 1

The transportation network structures analyzed for the case studies include point-to-multipoint, hub-and-spoke network, delayed differentiation/warehouse storage network, direct distribution network, and direct shipping network. Each structure is determined based on the distribution path from production to consumer.

Step-by-step explanation:

Identifying the transportation network structure for each case study involves analyzing how products are transported from the production point to their final destination, considering factors such as the levels of shipping, storage, and distribution. The transport network structures differ based on the complexity and the nature of the distribution channels involved.

• Case a: This is an example of a point-to-multipoint distribution network, where FP Du Toit transports products directly from CIC Namibia in Windhoek to multiple destinations in Oshakati.
• Case b: This structure represents a hub-and-spoke network, where products are moved to a central point (warehouse) and from there, distributed to multiple retail locations in Windhoek City Centre.
• Case c: This is an example of a delayed differentiation or warehouse storage network, where the Top Score Maize Flour is stored until orders are placed by retailers, indicating a demand-responsive distribution model.
• Case d: Namibia Dairies operates a direct distribution network, also known as just-in-time (JIT) delivery, ensuring minimal storage time and quick transportation of dairy products to retailers as per their orders.
• Case e: This scenario represents a direct shipping network, with the transportation of goods directly from the production facility in Oshakati to a single retailer in Oshakati.

Understanding these networks is vital for optimizing transportation based on the factors mentioned in Alfred Weber's Least Cost Location Model, which highlights the significance of managing transportation costs, as they play a critical role in site location and logistics planning.