Abstract

This paper analyses the logistics of empty containers in order to reduce demurrage costs and thus avoid the loss of customer confidence. These are caused by defects in the planning of the logistics chain, which includes the processes from the time the ship arrives with the container at the Port, and by means of land transport, it is taken to an extra-port area to deconsolidate the cargo. The aim of this work is to redesign the empty container process to allow savings in demurrage and better customer service. To do this, first the current situation is diagnosed to determine the causes of demurrage, which is the delay in the delivery of empty containers to the customer, where possible improvements to the process are defined, establishing a plan for their implementation. The diagnosis identifies the bottlenecks and critical processes associated with reception, deconsolidation and transport. A SWOT analysis is carried out for the diagnosis and flow diagrams and Business Process Management (BPM) are applied to redesign the processes to achieve an improvement in the logistics chain, mainly its planning and coordination. To this end, a set of indicators is developed to evaluate the redesign processes. Finally, a change management proposal is presented. As a result, delays in the delivery of empty containers are expected to be reduced from 5.6% to 2%.