Aplicação do método do centro de gravidade: estudo de caso em um centro de distribuição em Feira de Santana - BA

Abstract

This paper deals with a study on location analysis of a distribution center in Feira de Santana, using the center of gravity method. It is known that the location of a company is a determining factor for its survival, so location decisions should be based on potentially relevant criteria. From this perspective, such research was developed in order to identify whether Feira de Santana is the best place to install the distribution center studied, from the point of view of minimizing transportation costs, given the locations of the company's suppliers and customers and quantities distributed to each locality. The research was developed through a case study in a food distribution company located in Feira de Santana BA and was based on information produced and stored by scholars considered as reference in the themes supply chain management, physical distribution, strategies. of location and method of center of gravity. A visit was made to the distribution center to collect data relevant to the study and from this, 11 distribution scenarios were constructed to enable the application of the center of gravity method. Finally, these centers were compared with the company's current location in Feira de Santana. Regarding the results of the work, 11 centers of gravity were obtained for the distribution center according to each simulation scenario. All points were located in the state of Minas Gerais, in the cities of Salinas, Francisco Sá, Grão Mogol, Riacho dos Machados and Cristália; There was a tendency to obtain centers of gravity that are located among all the cities studied according to the quantity supplied or received by each one, being the supplier located in Machado-MG, responsible for sending the largest amount of merchandise, significant. on the results obtained. As a conclusion of the study, from the centers of gravity found and comparing these results with the current location of the distributing center, it was possible to identify that Feira de Santana is not the best place to install the unit, as it is not the distance. between suppliers and customers, but the regions cited by the study.