1.1 Introduction
Maritime Logistics Warehouse is a means of providing functions of temporary storage, protection of goods, fulfillment of individual customer orders, packaging of goods, after sales services, repairs, testing and inspection. Warehouse performance evaluation has been explored in different ways by researchers. Some of them focus on one specific area while others try to cover all warehouse activities. Warehouse performance evaluation has been explored in different ways by researchers. Some of them focus on one specific area while others try to cover all warehouse activities. The performance measurement is commonly assessed by the use of indicators, present in the majority of works. However, in literature there does not exist a common understanding on the definition of these indicators and on how to measure them (Frazelle, 2002a).
As a prelude to other parts of this study, this chapter will discuss the background upon which this study was initiated, the statement of problems that led to this study, the Aim and Objectives of the study. Others are Significance of the study, Scope of work, Research hypothesis and questions, Limitations of the Study and Definition of technical terms.
1.2 Background of Study
Logistics performance has undergone a massive transformation where organizations not only focusing on the disruptions, timeliness of the delivery, cost of delivery but organizations focus more on the ability of organization to manage its resources to ensure the effectiveness of the operation been achieved (Lummus et al., 2007).
According to Heragu et al. (2005), warehouse is a means of providing functions of temporary storage, protection of goods, fulfillment of individual customer orders, packaging of goods, after sales services, repairs, testing, inspection, Just in Time (JIT) sequencing and assembly. Major warehouse operations are classified into receiving, picking, storage and shipping (Gu et al. 2007). The storing function includes various sub functions like department or locations assignment and zoning. Further, the batching, routing and sorting have been considered as part of the picking process.
The objective of a seaport warehouse is to satisfy customers with effective resource utilization and delivering the right product, at the right place and at the right time in good condition (Frazelle, 2002a). Logistics performance has been acknowledged as an important element in making sure an organization achieving its competitiveness and effectiveness and as the globalization impact towards how organization should operate, maximizing the logistics performance will not only enhance the performance of as the organization will able to deal with uncertainty in the supply chain (Sahay et al., 2003; Womack et al., 2005).
Uncertainty in customers demand has become challenges for organization to fulfil the logistics requirement in ensuring the organization performance be greater as the needs of customers are segmented with options, styles and the short time features. Therefore, organization can improve its logistics performance by ensuring a great management towards its logistics system that involves the management of inventory, warehousing and transportation that can cater the logistics industry (Wang, 2012).
Historically, however, the initial attempt to define maritime logistics was made by Panayides (2006), who suggests that, for a better understanding and ultimate definition of the term, the starting point should be to consider the underlying scope and characteristics of the two areas making up the term (ie ‘maritime transport’ and ‘logistics and supply chain management’). On the one hand, maritime transport (ie shipping and ports) is clearly concerned with the transportation of goods and/or passengers between two or more seaports by sea; on the other hand, logistics is the function responsible for the flow of materials from suppliers into an organization, through operations within the organization and then out to customers (Harrison and van Hoek, 2011). Based on this clean-cut understanding, Panayides (2006) further elaborates on the issue of convergence of maritime transport and logistics. These two terms are largely attributed to the physical integration of modes of transport facilitated by containerization and the evolving demands of end users that require the application of logistics concepts and the achievement of logistics goals. At the centre of maritime logistics is, therefore, the concept of integration, be it physical, economic/strategic or organizational as an ongoing attempt to create a greater value for shareholders (Lee and Song, 2015).
Therefore, in Nigeria where the research was carried out, the activities that was conducted is to know the Evaluation of Warehouse Logistics Performance in Onne Seaport
1.3 Statement of Problems
Investigation revealed that the problem of small, non-serialized jewellry parts where multiple orders can be picked up simultaneously without sorting in order to reduce cost and time. The authors have further identified the application of artificial intelligence (AI) and software agents overriding the intelligence of the human labour force for future research. Some of the literature on routing policy is discussed here. Mainly all routing optimization or improvement solutions are developed on the basis of Travelling Salesperson Problem (TSP).
1.4 Aim and Objectives of Study
The aim of the study is to evaluate the Warehouse logistics performance in Onne Seaport. In achieving this aim, the following specific objectives were laid out as follows:
- To ascertain the role of ports warehouse in the context of supply and logistics chains in Onne Seaport
- To ascertain whether maritime logistics warehouse have an encouraging performance in Onne Seaport
- To find out whether there is effective and efficient integration of transport and logistics systems in Onne Seaports warehouse
1.5 Research Questions
The study came up with research questions so as to be able to ascertain the above stated objectives. The specific research questions for the study are stated below as follows:
- Does maritime logistics warehouse have an encouraging performance in Onne Seaport warehouse?
- Is the integration of transport and logistics systems seaports warehouse effective and efficient?
- What are the roles played by ports warehouse in the context of supply and logistics chains in Onne Seaport?
1.6 Research Hypothesis
In order to pursue the objective of this study, the following generalized statements have been designed to guide and aids in obtaining the result for the experiment to be conducted. For this work, the null hypothesis will be represented with H0 while the alternative hypothesis will be represented with hypothesis H1.
Hypothesis One
- H0: Maritime logistics warehouse does not have an encouraging performance in Onne Seaport warehouse
- H1: Maritime logistics warehouse has an encouraging performance in Onne Seaport warehouse
1.7 Significance of Study
The study will be very significant to students and Onne Seaports. The study will give insight on Logistics Performance in Onne Seaport. The study will also serve as a reference to other research that will embark on the related topic.
1.8 Scope of Study
The scope of the research is focused on the Evaluation of Warehouse Logistics Performance in Onne Seaport, Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
1.9 Limitations of the Study
During the course of this study, many things militated against its completion, some of which are:
- Time Constraint: The time frame given to accomplish this project was very short due to school academic calendar and it was carried out under pressure which made the researcher not to implement some necessary features.
- Research material: availability of research material is a major setback to the scope of the study.
- Frequent power failure: This made the researcher append more money on fuel to ensure sustainable power.
- Financial Constraint: Insufficient fund tends to impede the efficiency of the researcher in sourcing for the relevant materials, literature or information and in the process of data collection (internet, questionnaire and interview).
1.10 Definition of Terms
Maritime Logistic: More broadly speaking, maritime transport logistics in Texas can be defined as anything that encompasses the processes of moving goods from one place to another utilizing cargo ships.
Maritime Transport: Maritime transport, fluvial transport, or more generally waterborne transport is the transport of people or goods via waterways. Freight transport by sea has been widely used throughout recorded history.
