An Analysis of Inventory Distribution: Logistics Heat Map using Tableau
Open Access
- Author:
- Vruwink, Benjamin
- Area of Honors:
- Supply Chain and Information Systems
- Degree:
- Bachelor of Science
- Document Type:
- Thesis
- Thesis Supervisors:
- Dr. Robert Alexander Novack, Thesis Supervisor
Dr. John C. Spychalski, Thesis Honors Advisor - Keywords:
- Tableau
Heat Map
Visualization
Network Design Model
Inventory
Distribution - Abstract:
- Companies are now more than ever looking for ways to increase the efficiency of their supply chain networks, which in return usually leads to higher profit margins. To achieve the higher levels of efficiency, companies are turning to network design software programs to obtain insights into their networks by focusing on opportunities such as identifying bottleneck areas, inefficient shipments, and geographical locations that a company could pursue to construct a new distribution center. With the desire companies now have for finding the “ideal” network design software program to create stocking strategies, this thesis explored a new methodology that utilizes a software program called Tableau to create a network design model. The data used for this thesis to exhibit the steps necessary in creating a distribution heat map in Tableau was provided by a global Pharmaceutical Wholesaler. In addition, to showcase the steps required to create the visualization in Tableau, this thesis provided the steps taken to clean and format the data to ensure that Tableau accurately displayed the data points. To conclude, this thesis provided the findings of the Pharmaceutical Wholesaler that were obtained from the Tableau visualizations. The findings for the Pharmaceutical Wholesaler in this thesis identified inefficient stock transfers the company performed. In addition, on the outbound side, the major findings illustrated the Wholesaler was shipping to their customers across the entire U.S. versus utilizing their distribution centers located in the central part of the U.S. To this point, Tableau’s capability in creating customizable heat maps enables companies to address current issues in their supply chain networks and identify opportunities to improve current operations.