Issues of transport service in a single-echelon distribution system

The article characterizes the issues of optimizing transport service in a single-echelon distribution system. The structure of a single-echelon distribution system was defined, and the characteristics of the elements of this structure were determined. The task of determining optimal transport plans between suppliers and recipients using a transshipment terminal was formulated. The transport time function was adopted as the minimization criterion. Optimal transport plans for a selected example were obtained through the use of a proprietary computer application.INTRODUCTION
The concept of distribution originates from the Latin word “distributio”, which means division or separation. There are many different definitions of distribution in the literature, and all these definitions are very similar to each other. Thus, according to E. Gołembska [3], distribution means the process and structure of moving goods from producers to final recipients from a macroeconomic point of view. On the other hand, from a microeconomic point of view, distribution is often identified with the process of selling and delivering products of a specific enterprise to final buyers.
In turn, M. Jacyna [5] defines distribution as an activity dealing with the planning, organization, and control of the method of placing products on the market in order to make them available for sale.
Distribution is defined very similarly in work [7], where the author defines distribution as an economic activity related to moving products from their places of manufacture to places of purchase by final buyers.
An analysis of the above definitions suggests that the task of distribution is to ensure that goods from the producer are delivered to their recipients at a set place, at a specified time, and at a previously agreed price. Hence, it is gaining increasing importance in delivering goods to the user in accordance with their requirements. Thus, a distribution system should be understood as the space in which the repeated movement of products from the producer to the recipient takes place [1].
When characterizing a distribution system, attention should be paid to the specificity of the distribution system structure, which depends to a large extent on the location of both demand and supply of goods. For this reason, single-echelon and multi-echelon distribution system structures are distinguished [8]. (…)

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