Air Freight Handling Optimization
Exploiting Secure Data Exchange
The EUROSKY project has developed the concept of a Single European Secure Air Cargo Space in which actors in the air freight supply chain can exchange data automatically and securely.
The increased use of standards such as the e-AWB, along with new standards developed in the EUROSKY initiative, significantly improves efficiency along the supply chain.
MJC²'s logistics planning software exploits this increased use of electronic data exchange to optimize ground operations, from the initial point of collection through to loading onto the aircraft.
End-to-End Optimization
Collection and Trunking
Multi-collect vehicle routing software optimizes the vehicle and driver movements needed to transport freight from the point of origin to the consolidation centre or hub.
Freight is consolidated and assigned to trunking movements to the air terminal, which will usually have been scheduled in advance based on forecast volumes. However the EUROSKY solution allows for dynamic replanning of movements based on actual volumes, to allow efficient response to unexpected demand.
In parallel, information captured in the air waybill is sent in advance (electronically) to the screening and cargo handling operations to provide pre-advice about anticipated volumes.
Screening Operations
Screening may take place at a number of points in the supply chain, depending on the nature of the cargo and the shippers and freight forwarders involved.
The EUROSKY model includes resource optimization software to plan the allocation of freight to screening equipment and personnel.
Using the pre-advice information made available through the automatic transmission of the e-AWB, the MJC² software dynamically balances and adjusts flows through busy terminals and facilities.
Real-time visibility of inbound freight and corresponding ETAs (please see below) allows the potential bottlenecks to be identified early, giving managers more time to respond e.g. by re-prioritising allocations of work to employees.
This enables cargo handling processes operate at maximum efficiency, ensuring good use of screening and handling equipment and corresponding personnel.
Secure Transport
Integration with GPS and smartphone tracking solutions means that the freight, vehicle and driver are tracked in real-time along the supply chain.
Prior to screening, this real-time information can be used, alongside the e-AWB data, for visibility of inbound volumes that will have to be screened in the next few hours, facilitating resource planning as described above.
Once the freight has been screened, subsequent movements are monitored by AI-based algorithms which detect potentially suspicious deviations from plan.
Information about the driver, freight, vehicle and corresponding seals is transmitted electronically, so that gatehouse or check-in personnel have advanced notice of inbound movements.