Specific Site Determining Attributes

The determining factors for warehouse location problem for IHC were discussed in the panel meeting. The panels brought up what were important factors for the choice of alternative warehouses for their organisation during the meeting. Due to the busy schedules of the panel members, only one meeting was organised by the IHC to discuss the determining factors. The panels were briefed in advance about the important factors that the organisation should consider. During the meeting, the panels discussed the factors that were important to them for the location of a new warehouse. The factors were grouped into a hierarchical structure according to the related areas that arose while discussing the factors. The meeting was

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concluded when the panels all agreed with the factors and the hierarchical structure. They were in agreement that the final structure will be used for analysing the alternative warehouse sites. The final hierarchical structure of the factors will be illustrated in next sub-section, together with feedback.

Hierarchical Structure

After the warehouse location factors were determined and confirmed by the panel members, they also agreed with the structuring of the decision hierarchy of the factors. The factors were initially grouped into related attributes, which was done while conducting the determining factors. They all agreed that the attributes should be grouped and formed into a hierarchical structure. The decision hierarchical structure for warehouse location attributes for IHC is illustrated in Figure 6.5.

Distance (Ca)

The sub-criteria for the distance attributes were formed in: 1. Jebel Ali Seaport (SCa1);

2. Dubai Airport (SCa2);

3. Al Maktoum Airport (SCa3);

4. Sharjah Airport (SCa4);

5. Abu Dhabi Airport (SCa5); and,

6. Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) (SCa6).

Seaports are used to handle large quantities of replenishment goods; they are also used to deliver relief goods for post-disaster operations. The distance from the warehouse to Jebel Ali seaport is used in this case for the evaluation. Closeness to an airport is an essential factor for emergency operations because the goal of humanitarian relief is to get the relief goods to the beneficiaries as soon as possible after the disaster strikes (Respondent B1, B2). Dubai has four international airports (i.e. Dubai, Al Maktoum, Sharjah, and Abu Dhabi) that are suitable for use by humanitarian organisations (Respondent B2). In addition, the document handling process is another aspect that should not be overlooked. Even though humanitarian goods are normally exempted from tax and customs, some goods are very sensitive (e.g. armoured vehicles and medicines) and the whole relief process can be delayed without the proper exemption documents from the right authorities (Respondents B1, B2, and B8). In the IHC the customs related process is handled in Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA).

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Security and Safety (Cb)

Humanitarian warehouses store various valuable goods for humanitarian relief operations. The committee conclude that the sub-criteria for the security and safety attributes should include:

1. Warehouse (SCb1);

2. Fire Fighting Stations (SCb2);

3. Police Stations (SCb3);

4. Hospitals (SCb4); and,

5. Road Safety (SCb5).

Warehouse security includes security facilities equipped with CCTV cameras in the compound, a fire alarm system in the warehouse and offices, and the use of security guards. It is important that the warehouse has a secured perimeter around the facilities (Respondent B8). The warehouse should also be close to emergency facilities (such as fire fighting and police stations and hospitals) in case any incidents occur in the warehouse (Respondent B 4). The warehouse should be located in a safe traffic area where there is less likelihood of traffic accidents (Respondents B3 and B5). The warehouse location problem considering the security and safety factors are found in ACFID (2007) and Yang and Lee (1997)

Office facilities (Cc)

The panel agreed that the office facilities of the compound should be included in the evaluation list. The sub-criteria for the office facilities are:

1. Suitable for Diplomatic Work (SCc1) ;

2. IT/Communication Infrastructure (SCc2);

3. Warehouse Distance (SCc3); and,

4. Modular Space (SCc4).

One of the respondents added that the warehouse compound should not be isolated from the diplomatic work (Respondent B9). In addition, it should have a modular space with acceptable IT/communication infrastructure and it should be close to the warehouse (Respondent B7). ACFID (2007) and Chuang (2001) included the IT/communication factor for warehouse location selection problem.

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Warehouse facilities (Cd)

There are many aspects to be taken into account when considering exactly which warehouse facilities are required for the humanitarian relief operations. The warehouse facilities attributes consists of:

1. Floor Capacity(SCd1); 2. Open Storage (SCd2); 3. Office Facility (SCd3); 4. Spill-Over Area (SCd4); 5. Ceiling Height (SCd5); 6. Loading Bays (SCd6); 7. Flood Lights (SCd7); 8. Openings (SCd8); and,

9. Doors at Both Ends (SCd9).

Floor capacity and the height of the ceiling of the warehouse are important in determining the volumetric capacity of the warehouse. Meanwhile, the availability of open storage is also important to stock the vehicles for relief operations. For the effective loading of relief goods, the warehouse should have: a general spill-over area to store surplus items, loading bays that are suitable for forty-feet high cube containers and flatbed trucks, flood lights for night operations, and doors at both ends of the warehouse to speed up loading time (Respondents B2, B5, and B9). The office facility for warehouse staff should also have sanitation facilities and air-conditioners to combat the heat (Respondent B2). Warehouse facilities related attributes can also be found in the warehouse location selection problems in the literature (ACFID, 2007; Özcan et al. 2011; Rawls and Turnquist, 2010).

Convenience (Ce)

In the warehouse compound, the welfare of the staff is an important criterion. The attributes that the committee looked into for the convenience of the working environment were:

1. Cafeteria (SCe1);

2. Mini-mart (SCe2);

3. ATM (SCe3);

4. Main City (SCe4);

5. Residential Accommodation (SCe5); and,

6. Public Transportation (SCe6).

The compound should include, or should be near to, facilities such as the cafeteria, mini-mart, ATM, residential accommodation, and public transportation. The warehouse should also be

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near to the main city for easy access (Respondent B7). Warehouse location selection problem regarding the quality of living (Alberto, 2000; Min and Melachrinoudia, 1999), residential accommodation (Levine, 1991; Yang and Lee, 1997), proximity to bank (Sarkis and Sundarraj, 2002), and public transportation (Min and Melachrinoudia, 1999) are also found in commercial sector.

Figure 6.5 Decision hierarchical structure for specific site determining attributes for IHC

Source: Author

Jebel Ali Seaport (SCa1) Dubai Int‟l Airport (SCa2) Al Maktoum Airport (SCa3) Sharjah Airport (SCa4) Abu Dhabi Airport (SCa5) MOFA (SCa6)

Warehouse (SCb1) Fire Fighting Station (SC b2) Police Station (SCb3) Hospital (SCb4) Road Safety (SCb5) Diplomatic Work (SCc1) IT/Communication (SCc2) Warehouse Distance (SCc3) Modular Space (SCc4) Capacity (SCd1) Open Storage (SCd2) Office Facility (SCd3) General Spill-Over (SCd4) Ceiling Height (SCd5) Loading Bays (SCd6) Flood Lights (SCd7) Openings (SCd8) Door at Both Ends (SCd9)

Cafeteria (SCe1) Mini-mart (SCe2) ATM (SCe3) Main City (SCe4) Residential (SCe5) Transportation (SCe6) Distance (Ca) Wa rehous e Loc at ion A tt ri b ut es Convenience (Ce) Security (Cb) Office Facilities (Cc) Warehouse Facilities (Cd)

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6.3.4 Warehouse Locations

The IHC have provided four alternative warehouse locations in Dubai for the members of IHC for evaluation. The four alternative warehouse locations have been indicated as Location W, Location X, Location Y, and Location Z. The evaluation criteria of the current warehouse compound (IHC), Location V, are given to compare with the alternative warehouse locations. Location W is located in Dubai Industrial City, Location X and Location Y are located in Jebel Ali industrial area and Location Z is located in Dubai Logistics City. Appendix D.9 describes a comparison of the alternative warehouse locations using the evaluation criteria that the panel agreed for the movement from the current compound. It can be seen that the evaluation of the criteria is a mixture of tangibles and intangibles.

The decision hierarchy, structured with the determined alternatives locations and criteria, is provided in Figure 6.6.

Figure 6.6 Display of major criteria and sub-criteria for case study B

Source: Author

Optimal warehouse selection

Distance (Ca) Security (Cb) Office Facilities (Cc) Warehouse facilities (Cd) Convenience (Ce)

· Jebel Ali Seaport (SCa1) · Dubai Int‟l Airport (SCa2) · Al Maktoum Airport (SCa3)

· Sharjah Airport (SCa4) · Abu Dhabi Airport (SCa5) · Ministry of Foreign Affairs (SC a6) · Warehouse (SCb1) · Fire Fighting Station (SCb2) · Police Station (SCb3) · Hospital (SCb4) · Road Safety (SCb5)

· Suitability for Diplomatic Work (SCc1)

· IT/Communication (SCc2) · Warehouse Distance (SCc4) · Modular Office Space (SCc5)

· Capacity (SCd1) · Open Storage (SCd2) · Office Facility (SCd3) · General Spill-Over Area (SCd4)

· Height of Ceiling (SCd5) · Loading Bays (SCd6) · Flood Lights (SCd7) · Suitable Openings (SCd8) · Doors at Both Ends (SCd9)

· Cafeteria (SCe1) · Mini-mart (SCe2) · ATM (SCe3) · Main City (SCe4) · Residential (SCe5) · Transportation (SCe6)

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