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The Science of Santa: The Tech
Behind Holiday Shipping & Logistics

Scott J. Mason, PhD (mason@clemson.edu)
Fluor Endowed Chair in Supply Chain Optimization and Logistics
Professor of Industrial Engineering

Brief Speaker Bio
• Navy brat of a retired Supply Officer (retired O-6, 26
years)
• The University of Texas at Austin (BS 1993, MS 1995)
• Semiconductor industry
• Arizona State University (PhD 2000)
• Faculty at Arkansas (2000-2010)
• Joined Clemson July 2010 as inaugural Fluor
Endowed Chair in SmartState program
• Married to Andrea (15 years), blessed with three
children
– Matthew (8th), Rebecca (5th), Jessica (4th)

EngenuitySC Science Cafe, December 2012 2

EngenuitySC’s Code
• Interrupt and ask questions at any time
• We love opinions and open discussion
– Challenge the speaker
• There are no dumb questions
– We don't judge either
• Eat, drink, and be merry


Executive Summary
• Epsom salt worked into soil a few times per year
yields better roses
• Perfect queso dip = 1 lb Velveeta®, 1 can Rotel®, 1 can
cream of mushroom soup
• To square numbers that end in 5…
– Multiply everything in front of the 5 by one bigger than
itself, then add “25” to the end
– (15)2 = 1(1+1) “25” = 225
– (65)2 = ??


Executive Summary
• Epsom salt worked into soil a few times per year
yields better roses
• Perfect queso dip = 1 lb Velveeta®, 1 can Rotel®, 1 can
cream of mushroom soup
• To square numbers that end in 5…
– Multiply everything in front of the 5 by one bigger than
itself, then add “25” to the end
– (15)2 = 1(1+1) “25” = 225
– (65)2 = 6(7) “25” = 4225


Some Lyrics from the Songbook
• Transportation
– Trucking (TL and LTL), railroads, planes, ships
• Distribution
– Warehouses and distribution centers
• Supply chain
– Network or web of people, activities, information, and
resources involved in moving a product from it’s supplier
to it’s customer
• Logistics
– Coordinating transportation and distribution along the
supply chain


Given our location… Liquid Logistics!


Today’s Talk (What I Plan to Talk About)
• Black Friday, Cyber Monday, and the holiday season:
what do they have in common?
– Shipping, logistics, and a whole lot of science to make it
happen

• Science-free big picture view of the process
– How the world's biggest shippers use incredible math,
science, and technology to deliver over 125 million gifts in
5 days


12,000 Twenty Ft Equivalent Units (TEUs)


A Sea of Cargo


On to the Distribution Center (DC)

Stuff made in the USA is also
moved via truck and rail to the DC!


Distribution Center: >1 million ft2 of stuff


Wal-Mart’s Laurens Distribution Center

53’
trailer


Intra-Facility Logistics


DC Flow from Above


A Fairly Full Distribution Center


Floor and Rack Storage


Stocking and Retrieval


Hands Free Movement and Sortation


Not Everything is Automated


The Average Warehouse


Outbound Freight Transportation


An Example Distribution Network

• Routing decisions, anyone?


Example Modal Choices: UPS

Long Haul Short Haul/Local Delivery


Why South Carolina is a Major Player

Source: SC Dept of Commerce


South Carolina’s Ace: Port of Charleston

• BMW exports 75% of all X3/X5/X6 production from
Plant Spartanburg to the world via rail to the port
– $7.4 BILLION in 2011

The Bottom Line
• South Carolina is rapidly becoming one of THE places
to be for effective supply chain and logistics
operations
– Competitors are nearby
– But they don’t have the Port of Charleston or our
transportation networks… we’re getting ready for the
Panama Canal deepening in 2014
• Faculty at Clemson, USC, and College of Charleston
are all working to enhance our state’s capabilities
• SmartState COEE in Supply Chain Optimization &
Logistics is working with industry to promote
economic development and a better South Carolina

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Scott Mason - The Science of Santa

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