Australia's Port Kembla Coal Terminal Maximizing Throughput and Optimizing Stockyard and Ship Loader Utilization with Quintiq Solution
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MELBOURNE, Australia - Quintiq, a leading provider of Advanced Planning and Scheduling (APS) solutions, announced that Port Kembla Coal Terminal (PKCT) is already realizing bottom-line benefits from the Quintiq integrated operational planning solution, which went live at PKCT in February. Within less than six months, the company has reported improved port terminal throughput, better utilization of the stock yard, and enhanced visibility of scheduled maintenance and its impact on capacity resulting in shorter coal ship queues.
PKCT, an Australian coal exporting terminal located south of Sydney on Australia's east coast, handles in excess of 13 million tons of coal annually. Coal is delivered to Port Kembla via both road and rail and is stored in a stockyard on site until the cargo is assembled, reclaimed and taken by conveyor to waiting ships. In 2009, 226 ships were loaded with more than 13.2 million ton of coal and almost 400,000 tons of coke. PKCT implemented the Quintiq APS solution to support it in optimally handling the increasingly large volumes of coal it dispatches.
Maximizing throughput requires solution flexibility
The Quintiq solution is an integrated operational planning solution that provides real time visibility across the Port Kembla coal supply chain, covering the movement of coal from the coal terminal unload point to vessel departures across multiple time horizons. PKCT chose Quintiq because the solution could handle the complex planning puzzle associated with train and truck unloading, ship loading and managing onsite storage. Another factor that made Quintiq ideal is its immense flexibility - enabling it to take into consideration all of the numerous business rules associated with stock yard utilization, machinery and other critical port assets. After just six months, PKCT is already experiencing increased throughput and better utilization of its resources and storage capacities.
Automated planning improves decision making while reducing planner fatigue
Quintiq automated many of PKCT's planning functions and shifted embedded knowledge to the planning solution. A centralized information database has been set up with business rules and processes in place. Knowledge can now be shared. With Quintiq, PKCT's planners have greater visibility and foresight and they are better equipped to handle outages and deal with large forecast demands. All in all, planners are now more independent and they work under less stress, lowering fatigue.
In addition, the Quintiq solution enables PKCT to do performance-based planning. Managers can develop data-driven targets and goals and make informed decisions on the parts of the supply chain that they control and influence. Quintiq also provides what-if scenario capabilities so planners can fully understand the consequences of planning decisions on the coal supply chain.
Smooth implementation and positive results
"We at PKCT have been impressed with how quickly the Quintiq solution has brought us positive benefits in terms of vessel turnaround time and improved stockpile management," commented Mark Beale, Planning Manager at PKCT. "We now handle the coal at the port more quickly and efficiently. This planning tool has allowed us to identify bottlenecks early and improve customer service."
Paul Shepherd, Business Unit Director at Quintiq added: "The bottom line and indirect benefits that PKCT has achieved in just months is the best kind of proof of the value Quintiq can bring to bulk terminals. We enjoy the challenge of customizing our solutions to meet the complex planning puzzles of organizations like Port Kembla. It brings us great satisfaction to witness the positive changes we can deliver companies with our solutions."
About PKCT
http://www.pkct.com.au
About Quintiq
http://www.quintiq.com
Source: Quintiq
More Information: Quintiq,
Martijn van Gils,
Global Marketing Director,
Phone: 73-691-07-39,
Email: martijn.van.gils@quintiq.com
Quintiq Australia,
Charlotte Poh,
Marketing Executive,
Phone: 3-9268-6900,
Email: charlotte.poh@quintiq.com
