Metro Wheels

.pdf

School

Lamar University *

*We aren’t endorsed by this school

Course

5310

Subject

Industrial Engineering

Date

Dec 6, 2023

Type

pdf

Pages

1

Uploaded by Ren2vikky

Report
Metro Meals on Wheels Treasure Valley, an Idaho branch of Meals on Wheels America, sought to optimize its meal delivery system spanning 21 routes over 2,745 square kilometers. Addressing the questions based on the information provided: 1. What were the challenges faced by Metro Meals on Wheels Treasure Valley related to meal delivery before adoption of the spreadsheet-based tool? The Main Challenges faced by Metro Meals on Wheels Treasure Valley before the adoption of the spreadsheet-based tool: Food Sensitivity & Delivery Time: The cooked food was temperature sensitive and could perish easily. They aimed to deliver the food within 90 minutes after a driver left for the delivery. This time constraint put pressure on the e ffi ciency of delivery routes. Time-consuming Route Planning: Two employees spent significant time developing scheduled routes for delivery. The manual process involved determining stops, creating sequences to minimize travel time, and entering this data into an online tool for driving instructions. This process was laborious and time-intensive. 2. Explain the design of the spreadsheet-based model. To address these challenges, a spreadsheet-based tool designed to optimize meal delivery routes using Excel's Visual Basic for Applications (VBA) to access the MapQuest API was implemented. Here’s how it worked: Input Interface : The tool had an interface allowing easy input of recipient information such as names, meal requirements, and delivery addresses for each stop in the route. This data was filled in the spreadsheet. Integration with MapQuest API: The MapQuest API was used to create a travel matrix, calculating time and distance for delivery between stops. It validated addresses, retrieved driving distance, estimated driving time, and provided turn-by-turn instructions for each route. Optimization and Routing: The tool could find the optimal route for up to 30 stops within a feasible time limit. It automated the route planning process, reducing the time spent on manual planning. 3. What are the intangible benefits of using the Excel-based model to Metro Meals on Wheels? The Intangible benefits of using the Excel-based model to Metro Meals on Wheels include: Increased Volunteer Satisfaction: With more e ffi cient routes and reduced driving time, volunteers likely experienced less stress and more satisfaction due to improved delivery processes. Improved Volunteer Retention: By making the delivery process more streamlined and e ffi cient, the organization might have seen better retention of volunteers who were more content with their roles. Cost Savings and E ffi ciency: The tool led to savings of $5,800 in 2015 by reducing the annual driving distance and travel time. This not only saved costs but also increased the overall e ffi ciency of the organization's operations. In summary, the spreadsheet-based tool not only addressed the logistical challenges but also contributed to saving costs, improving volunteer satisfaction, and streamlining the overall meal delivery system for Metro Meals on Wheels Treasure Valley.
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