Distribution Centers

Storing facilities are the integral components of every supply chain. This table is used to specify distribution centers that comprise your supply chain. Data for this table can be collected automatically from the results of the GFA experiment or inserted manually for each distribution center that you create.

To define the involved costs, refer to the Facility expenses table (available in the NO and SIM scenario types).

To specify the type and the quantity of vehicles that a site possesses, refer to the Fleets table (available only in the SIM scenario type).

The distribution center in the selected record is highlighted on the map.

The product's selling price may be adjusted for the required site.

A site that is supplying a customer is defined by the sourcing policy.

The default values of the Paths and Sourcing tables allow connections to be created instantly on adding a new object to the scenario.
e.g. When you add a new distribution center to the SIM scenario containing customers, the sourcing policy automatically (dynamically) detects customers that will be supplied by this distribution center. This set of customers is updated each time this distribution center is moved or another distribution center is added. When properly defined, the sourcing is visualized on the map via connections.
A distribution center may be used as a shadow object for a customer. This will allow the customer to have inventory.
A Supplier may be used as a shadow object for a distribution center. This will allow the distribution center to have unlimited inventory (in case of NO scenario type).

Column	Description
Name	Specify the name of the distribution center. It must be a meaningful name since you will refer to it in the other anyLogistix tables.
Type	Site type. The default site type is “DC”, but it can be replaced with your own site type. Select the type of the site: DC — distribution center. A type of a warehouse with additional customer services. DC (Yogurt Factory) — custom distribution center type that is used in the SIM Yogurt Factory example. DC (DC with Staff) — custom distribution center type that is used in the SIM DC with Staff example. DC (DC with Storages) — custom distribution center type. DC (Online Shop) — custom distribution center type that is used in the SIM Online Shop (Variation experiment) example.
Location	Specify the current location of the distribution center. The cell contains a drop-down list with the available Locations.
Initially Open	Specifies if the facility is initially open. A facility can change its state only once during Simulation and Network Optimization based experiments.
Inclusion Type	Defines the status of the current facility. Include — if set, the facility will be included into the supply chain configuration. Exclude — if set, the facility will be excluded from the supply chain configuration. If selected, the table record will be grayed out to denote the current inclusion type. The table record remains editable. Consider — if set, the facility can be turned off / on during scenario optimization (only during network optimization).
Capacity	The maximum inventory amount (physical capacity of a facility) in the specified Capacity Unit. When inventory is replenished, the replenishment order's quantity will be adjusted automatically to meet the capacity limit of the facility (inventory replenishment parameters are defined in the Inventory table). If capacity is defined for a facility, the inventory replenishment logic is the following: If inventory for a product can be replenished in full quantity, it is performed according to the specified replenishment parameters. If inventory for a product cannot be replenished because of the capacity limit, the record in a special FIFO (First In, First Out) queue is created for this product. Inventory for the records in this queue is checked on each outgoing shipment and is replenished as a first priority. Inventory replenishment under a regular inventory check (as defined in the Inventory table) is performed as a second priority.
Capacity Unit	The measurement units that the Capacity is measured in. The list of available units comprises the units defined in both the Manage units dialog and the Units table.
Priority	Here you define the priority, according to which a distribution center processes the received orders (reserves products for orders fulfillment): Big first — order with the biggest demanded volume of products has the highest priority. Orders cannot be skipped. ELT — order with the least lead time is the highest priority. Orders cannot be skipped. Equal — [selected by default] all orders have the same priority. All orders are processed one by one in order, in which they are received. This is similar to the FIFO priority type, but in case of the Equal priority type orders can be skipped (e.g. in case of insufficient inventory for this order). FIFO — (First In, First Out) orders are processed in the order, in which they are received, i.e., the first received order has the highest priority. Orders cannot be skipped. These priority types (Big first, ELT, FIFO) are the same priorities that the shipping policy uses to prioritize shipment. So prioritization is done in two steps: When a distribution center receives an order (defined in this table). Order splitting as Partial delivery is possible on this step, if required. When the shipment is prepared (defined in the Shipping table). Order splitting as Partial shipment is possible on this step, if required. If the inventory is insufficient, inventory replenishment is initiated for the lacking product type(s). Other orders requiring this same type of product (unless it is the Equal reserving priority) are queued until the current order has reserved the demanded amount.
Aggregate Orders by Location	Allows you to accumulate orders for a number of customers located in one location. The option is unchecked by default. e.g. We have 5 customers in the same location. Each customer places an order for 10 items. If the Aggregate Orders by Location toggle button is enabled, the solver will treat those orders as one order for 50 items.
Additional Parameters	Contains parameters of the extended object that is selected in the Type column of this table.
Icon	Here you define an icon that will represent this particular object only. All other objects of this type will keep their current icons. If you convert the current object to the object of the custom type, the current icon will remain. Initially the default icon are set for all distribution center and factory objects respectively (can be changed in Edit icons).

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