Unit Load

1. What is a unit load?

• "A number of individual packages bonded, palletized or strapped together to form a single unit for more efficient handling by mechanical equipment. [http://www.geodiswilson.com/en/Global_tools/Logistics_Dictionary/U/]

• "Packages loaded on a pallet in a crate or any other way that enables them to be handled at one time as a unit." [http://www.apl.com/equipment/html/equipment_glossary.html]

• "A unit load combines individual items or items in shipping containers into a single "unit" that can be moved easily with pallet jack or forklift truck. A unit load packs tightly into warehouse racks, intermodal containers, trucks, and boxcars, yet can be easily broken apart at a distribution point, usually a distribution center, wholesaler, retail store, etc." [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unit_load]

[http://www.andrews-automation.com/pallet-elevators/]

The bullwhip effect

1. Definition:

"It is a phenomenon observed in forecast driven supply chain and describes that the variation in demand increases up the supply chain from consumer to supplier." [http://www.scribd.com/doc/17392509/Bullwhip-Effect]

-> the more steps that are in between of the consumer and the supplier, the bigger the variation gets

[http://www.scribd.com/doc/17392509/Bullwhip-Effect]

[http://maja.uni-mb.si/files/apem/APEM3-1_045-055.pdf]

Therefore it can be said that the bullwhip effect is an inefficiency of the supply chain and small changes in customer demand can result in large swings in orders placed upstream.

Hub-and-Spoke-System

In transportation one usually distinguishes between direct transportation and Hub-and-Spoke-Systems.

Direct transportation is a point-to-point connection, which means transports that are going into one direction.

The basic characteristic of Hub-and-Spoke-Systems is its star-shaped organization.
The hub is the central node from where the transportation takes place to all the end nodes.