A transdisciplinary approach to reducing transportation costs and enhancing production planning in industrial chemical services Chapter in Scopus uri icon

abstract

  • This paper describes a project conducted in a company that provides chemical water treatment services for industrial cooling systems across Mexico. The project addresses the challenge of rising transportation costs and inefficient production planning in a dynamic service environment. Key stakeholders, including the company's General Director and Plant and Logistics Manager, identified transportation expenses as the fastest-growing operational cost, with increases more than double the inflation rate in Mexico over the past five years. Compounding this issue, the company currently operates with reactive production planning, relying on monthly client estimates and lacking effective control over shipment management, resulting in demand imbalances. The project utilizes a transdisciplinary approach, combining strategic planning and statistical analysis to determine the priorities of the company and establish a framework for demand planning and transportation management. The proposed approach is founded in methodologies such as Hoshin Kanri, project management, time series analysis and control charts. The main results of the project include: (1) a cost-reduction strategy for transportation, achieving a 20-25% decrease in associated expenses; and (2) a set of rules for proactive production planning and shipment management, which enable earlier procurement and help identify demand fluctuations. By integrating quantitative analysis with business management practices, this work proposes a sustainable solution to logistical challenges, aligning production planning with demand patterns and reducing costs. This research aligns with the transdisciplinary engineering methodology by bridging statistical analysis with operational strategies to create value across business and logistics processes. © 2025 The Authors.

publication date

  • October 14, 2025