Have N4 Your Way: Customizing N4 for Operational

Frederik Stork, Optimization Services
Megan Hallin, Field Development
Meena Shah, Product Manager
CONNECT.
COLLABORATE.
INNOVATE.
Have N4 Your Way: Customizing N4 for
Operational Productivity & Efficiency
Innovate and Differentiate!
Better Business Processes
Example: Housekeeping
Better Resource Usage
Example: Yard space, equipment
Offer Additional Service
Example
Can we represent the process in the TOS?
Automate Business Process? Data entry / Decision making
Can we represent all billable events?
Tradeoff
Picture Size
1.41” x0.94”
Improve productivity
Risk of IT system failure
Increase efficiency
Higher maintenance costs
Ease planning process
User Acceptance
Maintenance is a Concern
From a 2012 Oracle Survey
Picture Size
1.41” x0.94”
Risk
IT Risk
TOS External System
TOS Configuration
TOS Customization
A System External to the TOS
Example: Multi-Trailer Based Housekeeping
‐ Identify containers to transport
‐ Determine when they should be transported
‐ Assign containers to empty Multi‐Trailer Truck
‐ Identify departure time of an Multi‐Trailer Truck
‐ Pre‐Position empty Multi‐Trailer Truck to meet demand
Functional Requirements
• Berth plan
• Outbound carriers
•
•
•
•
Yard inventory
Truck locations
Work queues
and much more
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Input data
TOS
Results
TOS‐External software to optimize Multi‐
Trailer Use
DB
End user configuration?
• Containers to transport
• Est. move times
• Container to Truck assignment
• Next position for empty trucks
Challenge: Non-Functional Requirements
Export every 30 sec.
Run every 30 sec.
Input data
Update consistently
Alternate solution
9
TOS
DB
Results
TOS‐External software to optimize Multi‐
Trailer Use
Run less than 20 sec.
Ownership of issues.
Challenges and
Recommendations
10
Data Synchronization / Timing
When close to real time, carefully assess ROI
Fault Tolerance
Have a backup option (TOS internal or manual)
Maintainability
Clear Responsibilities
Challenges and
Recommendations
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Data Synchronization / Timing
N4 3.1 Optimization Framework Think twice if close to real time
Fault Tolerance
Some terminals have done it.
Maintainability
Better starting point in N4 3.1
Challenges and
Recommendations
Data Synchronization / Timing
Fault Tolerance
Think twice if close to real time
Automation Architecture in N4
Tuesday 1:30pm
Some terminals have done it.
John Scattergood, Principal Software Engineer, Navis
Maintainability
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Better starting point in N4 3.1
N4 Customizations
Customization of N4
YES!
Groovy Best Practices – Opening Pandora’s Box
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Do Not Reinvent the Wheel
Use Sparingly
Have a Groovy Test Plan
Document Thoroughly
Weigh Risk Against Benefit
Case #1 – Exchange Lane Logic
Picture Size
1.41” x0.94”
Water
2 Pools/Queues/Exchange Areas
1:1 Block to Exchange Area
Default N4 Exchange Lane Assignment Ignores Travel Distance
Pool 2
Pool 1
Block 101
Block 201
Block 102
Block 202
Exchange Area 1
Exchange Area 2
Land
Exchange Lane Logic Issues
Picture Size
1.41” x0.94”
Congestion
Traffic Variability
&
Work Distribution
Longer Runs
Exchange Lane Logic Solution
Picture Size
1.41” x0.94”
Water
Pool 2
Pool 1
Rules Based Exchange Lane Assignment
Evaluate Entire Exchange Area
Land
The Results
Picture Size
1.41” x0.94”
Avg Laden Time
Moves Per Hour
Case #2 - Rail Ready
Rail Ready Criteria
Active Container in Yard
Routed for Rail
No Major Damage
No Holds
Rail Ready Solution
Rail Ready Outcome
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Quick identification
More efficient planning
Prevent unnecessary moves
Increase operational efficiency
ECN4 Configuration
Show of Hands…
CHEs Arriving to the Stack out of Order
Configurable Refine Button
Configurable Refine Button
ECN4 Supports Configurable Decking
 Row Refinement
 Tentative Move Row Refinement
 Tier Drop
 Assign Position
Decking From a Button or CHE’s Workflow
FORM_ STRADDLE_IDLE
dispatch
FORM_EMPTY_
TO_ORIGIN
position update
FORM_EMPTY_
AT_ORIGIN
lift
set
FORM_LADEN_ AT_DEST
refine efine in row
position update
arrive at row
FORM_LADEN_ TO_DEST
refine in row
ECN4 Job List Sorters
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© 2015 Navis, LLC. All other trademarks are the
property of their respective owners.
RTG Job List – MVKD Sorts SHIFTS
ECN4 Configuration
 Decking Logic
 Job List Filters and Sorters
 Validations
 Automatic Transitions
 Simplify Job Steps
ECN4 Controls CHE Workflows
FORM_ STRADDLE_IDLE
dispatch
FORM_EMPTY_
TO_ORIGIN
position update
FORM_EMPTY_
AT_ORIGIN
lift
set
FORM_LADEN_ AT_DEST
position update
FORM_LADEN_ TO_DEST
ECN4 Communicates with ECN4Web via
XMLRDT
ECN4Web Controls Display
Configuring Display for Readability
ECN4 Corner Collaboration Center
ECN4 Corner Collaboration Center
FORM_ DISPATCH
refine efine in row
user pushes refine button
FORM_ DISPATCH
Summary, Resources, and Help
Risk
IT Risk
TOS External System
TOS Configuration
TOS Customiziation
Summary
Keep innovating!
Don’t fix everything with customizations, but don’t exclude them either
Talk to Navis, there may be a simple solution.
Experience with externalization, system integration, and optimization
Navis Collaboration Center
Engage with the community online for customization tips and tricks
Thank You!
CONNECT.
COLLABORATE.
INNOVATE.
We Want to Hear From YOU!
Your Ideas Make it Back Into the Product