MiF3 method: Modeling intermodal fluidity freight flows

Modern industrial systems have developed advanced supply systems going from just-in-time to just-in-sequence deliveries based on intermodal freight transport solutions. However, the increase of product variety, and multiple interfaces needed to deliver products have exposed them to vulnerability of variability. Thus, information on how fluid an intermodal freight transport solution is, becomes critical to private decision makers for knowing if supply chains are achieving their goals. Additionally, it is significant to public decision makers in determining if and where enhancements in infrastructure and/or in policy and regulations might improve economic development. Therefore, as a result of detailed analysis of the processes involved from a systems approach, this paper contributes to the body of knowledge by proposing a mathematical framework to model and forecast supply chain fluidity when using any intermodal freight transport combination. Its spatial and temporal flexibility lets expand the analysis to handle a wide range of intermodal paths. The proposed method contributes to demonstrate the key connection between improvements in supply chain performance and enhanced economic development. As a conclusion key issues for improving fluidity of intermodal freight flows are discussed, and future research is presented.