Sustainable supply chain management in the digitalisation era: The impact of Automated Guided Vehicles

Internationalization of markets and climate change introduce multifaceted challenges for modern supply chain (SC) management in the today's digitalisation era. On the other hand, Automated Guided Vehicle (AGV) systems have reached an age of maturity that allows for their utilization towards tackling dynamic market conditions and aligning SC management focus with sustainability considerations. However, extant research only myopically tackles the sustainability potential of AGVs, focusing more on addressing network optimization problems and less on developing integrated and systematic methodological approaches for promoting economic, environmental and social sustainability. To that end, the present study provides a critical taxonomy of key decisions for facilitating the adoption of AGV systems into SC design and planning, as these are mapped on the relevant strategic, tactical and operational levels of the natural hierarchy. We then propose the Sustainable Supply Chain Cube (S2C2), a conceptual tool that integrates sustainable SC management with the proposed hierarchical decision-making framework for AGVs. Market opportunities and the potential of integrating AGVs into a SC context with the use of the S2C2 tool are further discussed

Strategic priorities, technologies and tools of neo-industrialization of Russia and Ukraine: sectoral and spatial aspects

In modern conditions, taking into account the development priorities of both Russia and Ukraine, one of the urgent tasks is to carry out neo-industrialization, which is especially important for ensuring their national security and leveling geopolitical threats. The purpose of the article is to substantiate the strategic priorities of the neo-industrialization of Russia and Ukraine in the context of sectoral and spatial aspects, as well as to systematize a set of technologies and tools for their implementation. The research methodology was based on the general and general scientific methods of cognition, as well as the concrete historical method, the comparative historical method, the method of the unity of the historical and the logical, the method of comparative analysis, statistical methods. As a result of the calculations (development coefficient), ratings of the priorities for the neoindustrialization of Russia and Ukraine by type of economic activity (in accordance with the Classification of Economic Activities) were compiled. Based on the study of foreign experience and comparison of the practice of neo-industrialization in Russia and in Ukraine, the general strategic priorities of the digital transformation of industry and the instrumental support of this process are formulated. The scientific novelty of the research lies in the development of methodological tools for substantiating the strategic priorities of neoindustrialization and systematization of classical, alternative instruments for its provision, including technological, financial, credit and institutional. The general strategic objectives of the neo-industrialization of Russia and Ukraine are formulated. It is substantiated that the formation of network integration structures in the most developed industries should be one of the priorities of its neo-industrialization. The practical significance of the research results is that within the framework of testing the developed scientific and methodological approaches, the diagnostics of the competitive advantages and weaknesses of the industry was carried out on the example of the two countries on the basis of a comparative analysis and strategic priorities were established, taking into account the sectorial and spatial aspects, which in the future may be accounting for the justification and implementation of strategic and operational decisions. Directions for further research will focus on quantifying the expected results of neo-industrialization in industry at the expense of the «digital» factor using econometric methods

Optimisation of off-highway truck fuel consumption through mine haul road design

This study aims to optimise the fuel consumption of Caterpillar 785D off-highway trucks as used by the project sponsor at an open cut coal mining operation in Queensland, Australia. This was achieved by: - Researching mine design and operational factors influencing fuel consumption of off-highway trucks - Identifying variables and haul road design scenarios relevant to the project sponsor’s particular operation - Creating a data collection program to obtain and combine relevant condition monitoring data from multiple sources - Analysing the data for variations in fuel consumption - Quantifying fuel consumption in different haul road scenarios Fuel consumption rates were found for three scenarios, ascending ramps, stop-start driving and idling. Mining engineers can use these quantities to predict fuel costs incurred by various ramp grades and lengths, truck queuing, intersections and other similar road features. Fuel costs can be compared to construction and production costs to determine optimal road designs. An additional tool was created to assist with the calculation of fuel costs over the life of a ramp. This tool demonstrates how these costs are affected by ramp grade. The methodology could be expanded to other truck models or operations in the future. In addition to optimising fuel consumption, condition monitoring data could also be used to optimise other production, design or maintenance tasks