International Intermodals / Hubs

The report focuses on the international intermodal that deals with the shipping of products. Qube Holding Ltd has been taken in this study to analyse the shipping process. The report provides steps taken by the government to increase the intermodal and recommendations to face the issues of the company.

INTERNATIONAL INTERMODALS / HUBS
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Executive Summary
The project report focuses on the international intermodal that deals with the shipping of
products. Qube Holding Ltd has been taken in this study to analyse the shipping process. The
company is running well but according to the revenue, it has found to face some issues in mining
as well as food processing. The products have found to get damage during transportation and the
quality of food has been losing. The report also provides the steps that have been taken by the
government to increase the intermodal. Some recommendation also has been provided to face the
issues of the company.
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Table of Contents
Introduction......................................................................................................................................4
Findings...........................................................................................................................................4
Problems in Logistics of Qube Holding Ltd..............................................................................4
Analysis...........................................................................................................................................5
Features of Intermodal Transportation.........................................................................................5
Logistic Management Strategies..................................................................................................6
Solution of the problems faced by Qube......................................................................................7
Involvement of NSW Government for resolution of issues.........................................................8
Sustainability maintained through intermodal transportation......................................................8
Recommendation.............................................................................................................................9
Conclusion.......................................................................................................................................9
References......................................................................................................................................11
Appendix 1: Sustainable Transport...............................................................................................13
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Introduction
International intermodal basically deals with the shipping in the various transportation modes.
International intermodal includes the shipping of various products such as electronics products,
apparel, refrigerated products and many others. International intermodal helps to ship the
products all over the world with its advanced logistics. Intermodal transportation is some of the
means of moving the cargo.
This transportation can be done via barge or rail. The main feature of this transportation system
is to ensure the safety of the products as well as the humans. As the NSW government,
intermodal transportation ensures the connection between inland commercial department and
other parts of the world. They are many companies that are providing such kind of facility to ship
the products all around the world such as Qube Holding Ltd, UP (Union Pacific) and many
others. The company that has been taken here for analysis is Qube Holding Ltd. Qube Holding
Ltd is an infrastructure as well as diversified logistic company of Australia. The way of operation
of Qube Holding Ltd is rail as well as road. The company also uses the services of rail freight in
Victoria and NSW (New South Wales) and also to ship the products in between Adelaide and
Melbourne.
Findings
Problems in Logistics of Qube Holding Ltd
Qube Holding Ltd is the company that provides logistics services in integrated way of exporting
as well as importing and also use freight to import from the ports of Australia and to export to
the ports of Australia. The logistics segment of Qube Holding Ltd is to provide services of
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import and export with the cargo of primarily containerized. This logistic segment includes
various services such as the physical; as well as documentation processes and also does some
tasks that are related to the chain of import and export. The Company also provides
transportation of containers through road as well rail to the ports or from the ports, services of
custom as well as quantitative. Qube Holding Ltd is facing some issues in revenue. As the
revenue of the company it is found to face some issues in mining as well as in food processing
section.
 Mining
The revenue of the company in mining is 3.9 % which is very less (QUBE HOLDING LIMITED
2018). The company is not taking proper care for mining. The company is using traditional
infrastructure for mining purpose and sometimes it has been found to damage the products by
using that infrastructure. The company is not thinking to change the traditional infrastructure.
The products are also getting damaged on the way.
 Food Processing
The revenue of the company in food processing section is 9.6 % which is also not good (QUBE
HOLDING LIMITED 2018). The company is not thinking to improve the safety of foods on the
way of delivery. As foods is required care on the way. The problem of food processing is also
because of the warehouse condition. The warehouse needs to be managed according to the
products. The products are found to lose the quality on the way because of not well warehouse
management.
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Analysis
Features of Intermodal Transportation
International intermodal is the way of transportation of products all around the world. There are
various companies that are doing business in this sector such as UP (Union Pacific), Qube
Holding Ltd and many other companies. Intermodal has the following features that help the
organisation as well as the people to deliver their products all around the world.
● Lower costs
As stated by Monios and Bergqvist (2017), intermodal helps the organization as well as the
people to deliver the products at lower costs because they are providing the services to many
organisations so it is affordable to use the services of international intermodal.
● Flexibility
International intermodal provides the facility for transporting the products anytime. People, as
well as organisation, use the services of intermodal when they need. The service is open for the
whole day and night to help the organisation as well as people for delivery purpose.
● Environmentally Friendly
International intermodal thinks about the environment while doing the services. In accordance
with Monios (2016), shippers reduce the footprint of carbon. Using the sheep for international
intermodal is friendly with the environment than trains or roads because trains while using the
road or train for the service, more carbon dioxide are released on the way than using the sheep.
● Reliability
As stated by Szyliowicz, Zamparini, Reniers, and Rhoades., (2015), international intermodal is
reliable because it is faster and convenient to provide the services.
● Safety and Security
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Intermodal delivers the products with security and safety as there is security that protects the
products on the way of delivery. In accordance to Chen and Lai (2016), as intermodal provides
the service of delivery all around the world so they also take the responsibility to protect
products from the weather as well as from the outside world.
● Fast Delivery
As stated by Colicchia et al. (2017), international intermodal helps to deliver the products of the
organisation faster than any other way of transportation.
Logistic Management Strategies
There are various strategies that are required to manage the logistics strategy.
● Proper Planning
The first thing that is important for the logistics management is proper planning. It includes the
processing of goods, thinking about the storage facility and about the delivery location. Time,
cost and transportation are the parameters in which whole planning should be done. In
accordance with Correia (2017), a back plan should also be there for an emergency situation such
as products related issues, transportation-related issues and any other internal issues of the
organisation. An emergency plan helps to reduce the risk of failure of the logistics.
● Adopting Automation
The use of software for business process helps to know about the update of the delivery process.
As stated by Karimi et al. (2016), as both the supplier as well as receiver is waiting for the
products to be received on time. So by using the software, they can know the update of the goods
when the goods are dispatched when the goods are at warehouse and about the destination of the
goods.
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● Give value to the relation
Training of the employees is required to keep them updated about the latest technology or the
latest change in logistics. As stated by Mutalibet al. (2016), everyone should be great at their
work either he is the delivery boy or he is the manager of the warehouse. The most important
things are to give values to the customers.
● Warehouse Management
Logistic management cannot be proper without the proper warehouse. Ware house should be
managed according to the type of products. For example, if there are dairy products, then in
Warehouse there should be the facility of refrigerator. In accordance with Vlasov and Kozlov
(2018), if they are products like grains, then there should be environment that is moisture free to
keep the grains. The warehouse should have maximum capacity to store many products.
● Efficient Transportation
The logistics management should be aware of the route which should be safe as well as short for
fast and secure delivery. The product's packaging should be also cost-effective as well as safe to
protect the products in the way. As stated by Zhenget al. (2017), there should be optimised
packaging so that the products occupy less space and it will not become heavy at the same time.
● Improvise and Measure
The management of logistics cannot be said completed if there is not the feedback from the
customers. As stated by Kahaget al. (2018), there should be proper measurement of the
processes. It a new system is introduced then it should be noticed that what is the results of using
that system. There should be proper measurement of time, money as well as satisfaction to
improve the way of services in the future.
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Solution of the problems faced by Qube
Qube is found to face some issues like using traditional infrastructure for mining and facing
challenges in food processing. The issues can be solved by using intermodal as it is safest,
fastest, reliable, secure way that delivers the products all around the world. The security of the
intermodal protects the products on the way and keeps them safe until the products will reach the
destination. As stated by SteadieSeifi et al. (2014), the cost of operation in using intermodal is
affordable and it is also based on modern era. By using intermodal company can get rid of issues
that the company is facing in food processing section. In intermodal, there is less chance of
damaging the products as the packaging are made in such a way that occupy less space as well as
not increase the weight of the products. The company can also stop the damaging of products
that the company was facing if it starts using intermodal.
Involvement of NSW Government for resolution of issues
NSW government can be involved and make actions program for network efficiency, capacity as
well as sustainability. The government can develop some indicators of performance at the level
of micro as well as micro to measure the effectiveness as well as efficiency of freight network.
There should be maintenance of single agency for collecting the data of streamline and for
analysis of strategy. There should proposal for the new design of movement of cargo. The road
freight should be generally promoted by the government inefficient way. The government should
support the freight movement of off-peak through policy development of industry informed. The
government should understand and identify the requirements of regulatory and infrastructure for
freight handling of off-peak. The government should think about the freight network which will
be seamless interstate.
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Sustainability maintained through intermodal transportation
Sustainable transportation advantages Sustainable transports
NMT usage Sky Trains
Modal Shift Subways
More integrated and advanced logistics Vehicle sharing system
Table 1: Sustainable Transportation System
(Source: Created by Author)
Some of the sustainability issues which are mainly faced due to transpiration are unable to meet
market demands, increasing rate of energy consumption, and emission of GHG, increasing
number of road deaths and increasing percentage of air pollution. As stated by Zhao et al.
(2018), the inability of meeting market demand restricted the country's economic growth.
Approximately 2800 road deaths have registered in 2013 in Australia. The transportation system
of Qube must focus on meeting the present demands with neglecting requirements of future for
maintaining sustainability. Sustainable transport determines reduction of the demands of
transports, usage of environment-friendly transportation, and involvement of new technology in
transportation system. In order to maintain sustainability, internal intermodal logistic and
transport system can be used. Intermodal transportation ensures some of the economic, social
and environmental factors. Economic factors that it considers are reliability, flexibility, speed
and cost which improves the logistic and entire transportation system. As a social benefit, it
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minimises number of accidents and congestion. This particular model of transportation ensures
the reduction pollution rate and increases energy intensity. [Refer to Appendix 1]
Recommendation
The company should keep focus on mining to get better revenue. The company has to change the
traditional way of mining and use new infrastructure there so that the products will not damage
during transportation. By using intermodal, the company can protect the products from damage.
The company has to focus to manage the warehouse to keep the products safe and secure. The
warehouse should be managed according to the category of products. By using intermodal, the
company can get the facility to protect the foods while transportation. The security of the
intermodal protects the products on the way and keeps them safe and secure until the products
will reach their destination. The packaging of intermodal is in such a way that it occupies less
space and also make the packet lighter so there is less chance to lose the quality of food.
Conclusion
The project report is about the international intermodal that provides the services for shipping of
various products all around the world. There are many companies that are providing such kind of
facilities such as Qube Holding Ltd and UP (Union Pacific). In this study, Qube Holding Ltd has
been taken for the analysis of international intermodal. Qube is doing good business but
according to the revenue it is found to face some issues in mining, food processing. It has been
found to face issue in using the old infrastructure for mining purpose also some products have
found to get damage by using that infrastructure of mining. For food processing, there is no
proper management of warehouse to keep all kinds of foods safe there. Some foods are losing the
quality before reaching to the proper destination. The company has to think to change the
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infrastructure of mining to protect the products from damage. The company has also thought to
manage the warehouse to protect the quality of the products. To provide best services to the
customers, the company has to use intermodal so that the company can improve the services.
Intermodal is best way that can help the company to get rid of the issues.
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References
Books
Monios, J. and Bergqvist, R., 2017. Intermodal Freight Transport and Logistics. Florida: CRC
Press.
Monios, J., 2016. Institutional challenges to intermodal transport and logistics: governance in
port regionalisation and hinterland integration. Abingdon: Routledge.
Szyliowicz, J.S., Zamparini, L., Reniers, G.L. and Rhoades, D.L. eds., 2016. Multimodal
transport security: frameworks and policy applications in freight and passenger transport.
Cheltenham: Edward Elgar Publishing.
Journals
Chen, C.C.F. and Lai, Y.J.J., 2015. Modeling and Optimizing Intermodal Logistics Route across
the Taiwan Straits. Journal of the Eastern Asia Society for Transportation Studies, 11, pp.666-
677.
Colicchia, C., Creazza, A. and Dallari, F., 2017. Lean and green supply chain management
through intermodal transport: insights from the fast moving consumer goods
industry. Production Planning & Control, 28(4), pp.321-334.
Correia, J., 2017. Information for Urban Intermodal Transport: Brief Literature Review. U. Porto
Journal of Engineering, 3(1), pp.61-71.
Karimi, H., Bashiri, M. and Nickel, S., 2016. Capacitated single allocation p-hub covering
problem in multi-modal network using tabu search. International Journal of Engineering-
Transactions C: Aspects, 29(6), pp.797-808.
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Mutalib, A.R.A., Bakar, M.A.A., Nasir, S. and Muhammad, A., 2016. Determinant of Preferred
Export Logistics Gateway in Malaysia Halal Product Industry: A Review. Journal of Applied
Environmental and Biological Sciences, 6, pp.22-26.
Vlasov, D. and Kozlov, P., 2018, August. Methodology for generating a comprehensive
assessment criterion for passenger traffic conditions in the space of roofed communication
elements of intermodal transport hubs. In IOP Conference Series: Earth and Environmental
Science (Vol. 177, No. 1, p. 012016). IOP Publishing.
Zheng, J., Fu, C. and Kuang, H., 2017. Location of regional and international hub ports in liner
shipping. Maritime Business Review, 2(2), pp.114-125.
Online articles
Kahag, M.R., Niaki, S.T.A., Seifbarghy, M. and Zabihi, S., 2018. Bi-objective optimization of
multi-server intermodal hub-location-allocation problem in congested systems: modeling and
solution. Journal of Industrial Engineering International, pp.1-28. Retrieved from:
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s40092-018-0288-0
SteadieSeifi, M., Dellaert, N.P., Nuijten, W., Van Woensel, T. and Raoufi, R., 2014. Multimodal
freight transportation planning: A literature review. European journal of operational
research, [Online] 233(1), pp.1-15. Retrieved from:
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0377221713005638
Zhao, Y., Liu, R., Zhang, X. and Whiteing, A., 2018. A chance-constrained stochastic approach
to intermodal container routing problems. PloS one, [Online] 13(2), p.e0192275. Retrieved from:
https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0192275
Website
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QUBE HOLDING LIMITED (2018), About us, 28th july, 2018, Available on <
https://qube.com.au/about/>
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Appendix 1: Sustainable Transport
(Source: https://www.unescap.org/sites/default/files/2_Concept%20of%20Sustainable
%20Transport_ESCAP.pdf)
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