Transportation Optimization Model of Risk Reduction for Flour Distribution Plan in Dangote Flour Plants

Abstract

Reduced risk exposure in Dangote Flour haulage industry has been on calls due the dangers posed by articulate truck driving in Nigeria. In this paper, the transportation distance matrix model was used to propose an optimal distribution plan for Dangote Flour Company in Nigeria. The calls to reduce haulage truck travel distance is warranted by daily stress, strains, fatigue, loss of concentration and other related factors that usually lead to unnecessary road crashes thereby, resulted to loss of precious lives and properties. Transportation optimization was adopted for Dangote Flour Distribution to reduce the truck distance travel and enhanced the distribution of flours to the various destinations and thereby, reduce loss of lives and properties which in returned increased the profit maximization. The study conducted involved four Dangote flour industrial locations in the country (Ilorin, Apapa, Calabar, and Kano plants) and eight major distribution centers were considered (Sokoto, Ibadan, Ogun, Osun, Ebonyi, Kogi, Ekiti and Lagos distribution centers) for the purpose of this research. The data collected was used to obtained optimal flour distribution plan on existing truck capacity, product distribution from Ilorin production plant to Osun and Ekiti where 9,000 and 3,167 truck trips of flour should be made respectively to reduce risk and maximizing profit. From Apapa production plant to Lagos with 12,167 truck trips. From Calabar production plant to Ogun, Ebonyi, Kogi and Ekiti with 417, 7,000, 6,000, and 4,833 truck trips of flour respectively. Finally, from kano production plant, 6083 truck trips of flour should be send to Sokoto. The actual kilometers for these eight distribution centers from the four production plants is 18,510km, however, with application of transportation optimization model, the distance to be covered is 2,838km. This translates to a grant total of 15,672KM distance would be minimized and this would translate to lower risk exposure from production plants to destination centers, thereby, reduces loss of lives and properties and enhanced service delivery by Dangote Flour Company and thereby increase profits.