A systematic literature review on physical internet containers : Empirical evidence and research opportunities

The Physical Internet is an emerging concept that seeks to improve the efficiency and sustainability of global logistics by creating a network under a common structure. Containers are a key tool for implementing this concept, as they enable the efficient and secure transport of goods along standardized hubs. This systematic literature review aims to identify and analyze existing research on the use of containers in the Physical Internet and their contributions to the efficiency and sustainability of global logistics. This review emphasizes the growing significance and empirical evidence supporting the usefulness and benefits of adopting container systems, including improved cargo optimization, logistics operations, and the sustainability of the logistics network. To solve difficulties like standardization, cost implementation, privacy, and integration of technology, more study is required. Regarding the methodology used, first a qualitative study of the articles is made, which will allow us to have a vision of the evolution that has taken place in recent years. Next, a study of the findings and conclusions will be made, which will allow for the classification of the research approaches and contributions. By giving a thorough overview, it provides insightful information for supply chain management, logistics, and other professionals. Furthermore, limitations and unanswered questions will be discussed in order to guide future studies with the identified research opportunities, emphasizing areas that need attention to progress this field’s research. In the last instance, these gaps offer chances to improve our comprehension and use of containers in the supply chain networ

A Review of Big Data in Road Freight Transport Modeling: Gaps and Potentials

Road transport accounted for 20% of global total greenhouse gas emissions in 2020, of which 30% come from road freight transport (RFT). Modeling the modern challenges in RFT requires the integration of different freight modeling improvements in, e.g., traffic, demand, and energy modeling. Recent developments in \u27Big Data\u27 (i.e., vast quantities of structured and unstructured data) can provide useful information such as individual behaviors and activities in addition to aggregated patterns using conventional datasets. This paper summarizes the state of the art in analyzing Big Data sources concerning RFT by identifying key challenges and the current knowledge gaps. Various challenges, including organizational, privacy, technical expertise, and legal challenges, hinder the access and utilization of Big Data for RFT applications. We note that the environment for sharing data is still in its infancy. Improving access and use of Big Data will require political support to ensure all involved parties that their data will be safe and contribute positively toward a common goal, such as a more sustainable economy. We identify promising areas for future opportunities and research, including data collection and preparation, data analytics and utilization, and applications to support decision-making

Learning from incidents: A supply chain management perspective in military environments

Supply chain management (SCM) represents a crucial role in the military sector to ensure operation sustainability. Starting from the NATO handbook for military organizational learning, this paper aims at investigating the link between technical inconveniences and sustainable supply chain operations. Taking advantage of the learning from incidents (LFI) models traditionally used in the risk and safety management area, this paper proposes an information management system to support organizational learning from technical inconveniences in a military supply chain. The approach is discussed with reference to the Italian context, in line with international and national standards for technical inconvenience reporting. The results of the paper show the benefits of adopting a systematic LFI system for technical inconveniences, providing related exemplar business intelligence dashboards. Further implications for the generalization of the proposed information management system are presented to foster a healthy and effective reporting environment in military scenarios

Dynamics in Logistics

This open access book highlights the interdisciplinary aspects of logistics research. Featuring empirical, methodological, and practice-oriented articles, it addresses the modelling, planning, optimization and control of processes. Chiefly focusing on supply chains, logistics networks, production systems, and systems and facilities for material flows, the respective contributions combine research on classical supply chain management, digitalized business processes, production engineering, electrical engineering, computer science and mathematical optimization. To celebrate 25 years of interdisciplinary and collaborative research conducted at the Bremen Research Cluster for Dynamics in Logistics (LogDynamics), in this book hand-picked experts currently or formerly affiliated with the Cluster provide retrospectives, present cutting-edge research, and outline future research directions

Genetic Algorithm for Solving the Integrated Production-Distribution-Direct Transportation Planning

This paper proposes a model of integrated production, distribution and transportation planning for 4-echelon supply chain system that consists of a manufacturer using a continuous production process, a distribution center, distributors and retailers. By means of time-dependent demand at all retailers and direct transportation from one echelon to its successive echelons, the purpose of this paper is to determine production/replenishment and transportation policies at manufacturer, distribution center, distributors and retailers in order to minimize annually total system cost. Due to the proposed model is classified as a mixed integer non-linear programming so it is almost impossible to solve the model using the exact optimization methods and a lot of time is needed when the enumeration methods is applied to solve only a small scale problem. In this paper, we apply the genetic algorithm for solving the model. Using integer encoding for constructing the chromosome, the best solution is going to be searched. Compared with enumeration method, the difference of the result is only 0.0594% with the consumption time is only 0.5609% time that enumeration methods need

Integration of e-business strategy for multi-lifecycle production systems

Internet use has grown exponentially on the last few years becoming a global communication and business resource. Internet-based business, or e-Business will truly affect every sector of the economy in ways that today we can only imagine. The manufacturing sector will be at the forefront of this change. This doctoral dissertation provides a scientific framework and a set of novel decision support tools for evaluating, modeling, and optimizing the overall performance of e-Business integrated multi-lifecycle production systems. The characteristics of this framework include environmental lifecycle study, environmental performance metrics, hyper-network model of integrated e-supply chain networks, fuzzy multi-objective optimization method, discrete-event simulation approach, and scalable enterprise environmental management system design. The dissertation research reveals that integration of e-Business strategy into production systems can alter current industry practices along a pathway towards sustainability, enhancing resource productivity, improving cost efficiencies and reducing lifecycle environmental impacts. The following research challenges and scholarly accomplishments have been addressed in this dissertation: Identification and analysis of environmental impacts of e-Business. A pioneering environmental lifecycle study on the impact of e-Business is conducted, and fuzzy decision theory is further applied to evaluate e-Business scenarios in order to overcome data uncertainty and information gaps; Understanding, evaluation, and development of environmental performance metrics. Major environmental performance metrics are compared and evaluated. A universal target-based performance metric, developed jointly with a team of industry and university researchers, is evaluated, implemented, and utilized in the methodology framework; Generic framework of integrated e-supply chain network. The framework is based on the most recent research on large complex supply chain network model, but extended to integrate demanufacturers, recyclers, and resellers as supply chain partners. Moreover, The e-Business information network is modeled as a overlaid hypernetwork layer for the supply chain; Fuzzy multi-objective optimization theory and discrete-event simulation methods. The solution methods deal with overall system parameter trade-offs, partner selections, and sustainable decision-making; Architecture design for scalable enterprise environmental management system. This novel system is designed and deployed using knowledge-based ontology theory, and XML techniques within an agent-based structure. The implementation model and system prototype are also provided. The new methodology and framework have the potential of being widely used in system analysis, design and implementation of e-Business enabled engineering systems

Air Force Institute of Technology Research Report 2013

This report summarizes the research activities of the Air Force Institute of Technology’s Graduate School of Engineering and Management. It describes research interests and faculty expertise; lists student theses/dissertations; identifies research sponsors and contributions; and outlines the procedures for contacting the school. Included in the report are: faculty publications, conference presentations, consultations, and funded research projects. Research was conducted in the areas of Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering, Electrical Engineering and Electro-Optics, Computer Engineering and Computer Science, Systems Engineering and Management, Operational Sciences, Mathematics, Statistics and Engineering Physics