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The Improvement of Baggage Handling System
Ken Chang 103034542 Department of Industrial Engineering and Engineering Management,
National Tsing Hua University, 101, Sec. 2, Kuang-Fu Road, Hsinchu,
30013, Taiwan
Abstract
This project is committed to deal with the problem of baggage
handling system. This project uses INCOME model to compare the
effectiveness of new baggage handling system and original one. In the
future, this improvement will help to reduce processing time and save
transportation cost.
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1. Background
Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport is the most important airport in
Taiwan. The amount of passengers is about 15 millions for one year. As
shown in figure 1 . Furthermore, it stills increases year by year. As a
result, the loading of baggage handling system is too heavy. It may leads
to jam of system or the baggages can not board plane on time.
Figure 1. population for departuring Taiwan over the years
2. Overview of whole baggage handling system
2.1 Introduction of whole baggage handling system
The overall structure of baggage handling system is divided into
north area, south area, A area, and B area. It schematic diagram is shown
as figure 2. North area and south area handle the baggage entering from
3F check in counter. A area will handle the baggage related to MRT in the
future. B area is a new-build buffer in order to release the amount the
baggage in north area and south area.
The baggage of baggage handling system primarily comes from
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2,000,000
4,000,000
6,000,000
8,000,000
10,000,000
12,000,000
14,000,000
16,000,000
1992
1993
1994
1995
1996
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
population for departuring Taiwan over the years
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check in counter. When passenger is in check in counter, ground service
checks the validity of passenger’s tour archive and records the baggage
information on claim tag. After checking in, each baggage needs to pass
through X-Ray machine to check if there is any contraband hidden in the
baggage. Then it would be transported to barcode scanner to differentiate
this baggage should be transported to buffer or unload from claim tag.
After differentiating, the baggage would be classified to go to buffer or
unload. If it is classified to buffer, it will backflow according to the
condition of reflux. And the baggage would be transported to unload. In
contrast, If it is classified to unload, the baggage would be transported to
unload directly.
Figure 2. baggage handling system layout
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2.2 Baggage handling system detailed description
2.2.1 Check in counter
After arriving at airport, passengers check in at different counter in
light of their flight. Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport Terminal 2 has
eight check in areas. Each check in area has two sides.( total 16 check in
counters). As shown in figure 3.
Figure 3. check in counter
2.2.2 X-ray machine
After finishing the check in procedures, their baggages would be put on
the conveyor and transported to X-ray machine for security check. Each
check in area has one X-ray machine. As shown in figure 4.
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Figure 4. X-ray machine
2.2.3 Barcode scanner
Before baggage entering sorter, it needs to pass through barcode
scanner. Scanning the claim tag to read baggage information and flight
information. As shown in figure 5.
Figure 4. barcode scanner
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2.2.4 Sorter
In terms of the scan result, baggage handling system uses sorter to
transport every baggage to buffer or unload according to its flight
information. As shown in figure 5.
Figure 5. sorter
2.2.5 Buffer
Buffer is usually used to deposit the baggages arrived too early. As
shown in figure 6.
Figure 6. buffer
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2.2.6Unload
Unload is used to transport the baggage to the ground and ground
service can start to pick up to the plane. As shown in figure 7and 8.
Figure 7.8. unload
2.2.7 Big loop
If there is any problem during the process, for instance, baggage can
not be read by the barcode scanner or buffers are filled to capacity. Then
the baggage would be transported to this area for manual inspection. As
shown in figure 9.
Figure 9. big loop
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2. INCOME model
An INCOME model can be used by users to construct process from
activities, this paper’s INCOME model includes the AS-IS behavior
model, TO-BE behavior model, drill down of behavior models,
organization model and objective model. We utilized the INCOME model
to analyzed activities process (kind of flow chart) to observe redundant
process or motion. INCOME models will be shown as following.
2.1 As-Is behavior Model
In the past, the steps of original model are as follows. First, passenger
comes to airport and searches where the counter is. Then, passenger
begins to check in. Ground service would check the validity of
passenger’s tour archive and records the baggage information on claim
tag. Every passenger’s baggage would be transported to plane. And the
procedure. The structure of as-is behavior model is shown as figure 10.
Figure 10. as-is behavior model
Fig 11 is the drill down of “transport to plane”. In the process of
“transport to plane”, it contains a lot of detailed processes. After entering
the baggage handling system, each baggage needs to pass through X-Ray
machine to check if there is any contraband hidden in the baggage. Then
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it would be transported to barcode scanner to differentiate this baggage
should be transported to buffer or unload from claim tag. Then it would
enter to sorter.
Because of previous differentiation, the baggage would be classified
to go to buffer, unload, or big loop by sorter. If the baggage information
on the claim tag shows that the flight time just right coincide with the
open period of unload, the baggage would be transported to unload
directly. On the contrary, if the baggage information shows that the
unload it supposed to go originally is not open, the baggage would be
transported to buffer first.
After the time this baggage could be transported to unload
successfully , it would backflow to sorter and be distributed to unload.
But if there is any problem during the process, for instance, baggage can
not be read by the barcode scanner or buffers are filled to capacity. Then
the baggage would be transported to this area for manual inspection.
However, manual inspection is not a good treatment. Because of the fact
that if there is a large number of baggages on the big loop, it is easy for
ground service to differentiate baggages mistakenly so that these
baggages may not be transported to plane on time.
When baggages get away from unload or big loop, baggages would
be transported by a car. Finally, the baggages board plane and end the
whole process.
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Figure 11. drill down of “transport to plane “
2.2 To-Be behavior Model
After improvement of baggage handling system, the new steps of
to-be model are as follows. In common with original process, passenger
comes to airport and searches where the counter is. Then, passenger
begins to check in. Ground service would check the validity of
passenger’s tour archive and records the baggage information on claim
tag.
Nonetheless, when ground service deals with passenger’s baggages,
ground service can put baggages into X-Ray machine for inspection at the
same time. Therefore, some time can be reduced in this procedure.
Then baggage would be transported to plane. The structure of to-be
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behavior model is shown as figure 12.
Figure 12. to-be behavior model
Fig.13 is the drill down of “transport to plane”. In the process of
“transport to plane”, it contains a lot of detailed processes. After entering
the baggage handling system, each baggage would be transported to
barcode scanner directly to differentiate this baggage should be
transported to buffer or unload from claim tag. Then it would enter to
sorter. Because of previous differentiation, the baggage would be
classified to go to buffer, unload, or big loop by sorter. If the baggage
information on the claim tag shows that the flight time just right coincide
with the open period of unload, the baggage would be transported to
unload directly.
However, an unload can only handle one flight, in contrast, a loop
can handle two flight at the same time. For this reason, in the
green-colored process, it is better for airport to reconstruct the unload to
instead of old unload. The loop mentioned here is different from big loop.
The loop just looks like big loop, but it is automatic instead manual
handling.
On the contrary, if the baggage information shows that the unload it
supposed to go originally is not open, the baggage would be transported
to buffer first. In the light blue-colored process, after the time this
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baggage could be transported to unload successfully , it would be
transported to unload by conveyor directly. Hence, it need not to
backflow to sorter again. Thus, it can save some processing time.
If there is any problem during the process, for instance, baggage can
not be read by the barcode scanner or buffers are filled to capacity. Then
the baggage would be transported to this area for manual inspection.
However, manual inspection is not a good treatment. Because of the fact
that if there is a large number of baggages on the big loop, it is easy for
ground service to differentiate baggages mistakenly so that these
baggages may not be transported to plane on time.
When baggages get away from unload or big loop, in order to reduce
the shipping cost, the airport would build a distribution to consolidate
baggages so that shipping car can transport more baggages even fully
loaded to the same flight. Finally, the baggages board plane and end the
whole process.
Figure 13. drill down of “transport to plane “
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2.3 Comparison between As-is and To-be behavior model
1.Intergrate check in & verify info. and X-ray screening at the same time (reduce transportation costs)
2.Baggage in buffer are transported to unload directly (don’t need to pass through reflux and redistribute) (reduce transportation costs)
3.Transfer unload to the type of big loop(loop can handle more baggages) (increase efficiency)
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4.Consolidate baggages from unload and big loop (reduce transportation an labor costs)
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2 4
Between as-is and to-be behavior model, there are 4 points that airport can improve :
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2.4 Organization Model
In the part of organization model, BHS is composed of four departments,
including management department, maintenance department, service
department and ground crew department. And they have individual roles.
As shown in figure 14.
Management department is responsible for managing maintenance
department, service department and ground crew department.
Service department is an integral component to business success.
Service starts with the first interaction with customers, it needs to takes
charge of all the service and problem relate to the customer.
Maintenance department is responsible for monitoring the operation
of baggage handling system at any time. If there is any problem in the
process, maintenance department staffs needs to deal with problems on
the moment.
Ground crew department is responsible for manual inspection in big
loop and move the baggages from big loop or unload to plane.
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Figure 14. organization model
2.5 Object Model
In figure 15, there are 4 objects in the process of baggage handling
system. It includes the information of flight, baggage, staff, and
passenger.
The flight data contains flight information such as flight ID, flight
name, departure time, number of baggages, and sinknum.
The staff data contains staff information such as staff ID, staff
name, gender age, address, telephone and baggage ID.
The baggage data contains baggage information such as baggage
ID, flight ID, flight name, arrival time, sinknum, passenger ID,
passenger name, and staff ID.
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The passenger data contains passenger information such as
passenger ID, passenger name, nation, address and telephone.
Figure 15. object model
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3. Conclusion
For airport, the improvement of baggage handling system is very
important. The advantages of new system are as follows:
1. Simplify the process
2. Shorten processing time
3. Reduce transportation cost
4. Reduce labor cost
5. Release the loading of system
As a consequence, improving the efficiency of baggage handling system
not only decreases processing time obviously but also reduces
transportation and labor cost. As a consequence, it really brings lots of
benefits to airport.
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