Abstract:The article discusses the application of management science principles to improve the productivity of Ballyclough Cooperative Creamery (BCC), one of Ireland's largest agribusiness enterprises. BCC wanted to improve operations in its two major divisions. Both the stores trading and milk divisions needed rationalization. Essentially, the stores trading division had too many branches, while the vehicles of the milk division were traveling too many miles to pick up milk, and their tanker volumetric efficiency was lower than it should be. The milk division's two key operating parameters, gallons per mile and tanker volumetric efficiency, were both improved using management science procedures. The stores trading division (fertilizer, animal foods, cement) was investigated using large-scale interactive trans-shipment models. In addition, a new approach to the depot location and sizing problem, employing computer graphics, was used to develop solutions satisfactory to the cooperative's supplying farmers. The operating performance of the cooperative is expected to improve once all of the recommendations have been implemented. 

    Subjects: Management science; Cooperative agriculture; Industrial productivity; Management; Ireland; Ballyclough cooperative creamery (company)

全文链接