Building capacity in climate change policy analysis and negotiation: methods and technologies

Capacity building is often cited as the reason “we cannot just pour money into developing countries” and why so many development projects fail because their design does not address local conditions. It is therefore a key technical and political concept in international development. Some of the poorest countries in the world are also some of the most vulnerable to the impacts of climate change. Their vulnerability is in part due to a lack of capacity to plan and anticipate the effects of climate change on crops, water resources, urban electricity demand etc. What capacities do these countries lack to deal with climate change? How will they cope? What steps can they take to reduce their vulnerability? This innovative and high-profile research project was part of a larger project (called C3D) and conducted with non-governmental organisations in Senegal, South Africa and Sri Lanka. The research involved several participatory workshops and a questionnaire to all three research centres

Environmental impacts of reusable transport items: A case study of pallet pooling in a retailer supply chain

Manufacturing, storage, and transportation processes are typically facilitated by pallets, containers, and other reusable transport items (RTIs) designed to guarantee many cycles along a lifespan of several years. As a consequence, both supply and reverse transportation of RTIs need to be managed to avoid stockout along the supply chain and the unsustainable production of new tools from virgin materials. This paper focuses on the business of pallet management by analyzing the transport operations of a pallet pooling network serving a large-scale nationwide retailer. The pooler is responsible for supplying, collecting, and refurbishing pallets. The combination of the pooler's management strategies with different retailer network configurations results in different pooling scenarios, which are assessed and compared in this paper through a what-if analysis. The logistical and environmental impacts generated by the pallet distribution activities are quantified per each scenario through a tailored software incorporating Geographic Information System (GIS) and routing functionalities. Findings from this analysis suggest how to reduce vehicle distance traveled (vehicles-km) by 65% and pollutant emissions by 60% by combining network infrastructures and pooling management strategies-identifying an empirical best practice for managers of pallet businesses

Environmental impacts of reusable transport items: A case study of pallet pooling in a retailer supply chain

Manufacturing, storage, and transportation processes are typically facilitated by pallets, containers, and other reusable transport items (RTIs) designed to guarantee many cycles along a lifespan of several years. As a consequence, both supply and reverse transportation of RTIs need to be managed to avoid stockout along the supply chain and the unsustainable production of new tools from virgin materials. This paper focuses on the business of pallet management by analyzing the transport operations of a pallet pooling network serving a large-scale nationwide retailer. The pooler is responsible for supplying, collecting, and refurbishing pallets. The combination of the pooler's management strategies with different retailer network configurations results in different pooling scenarios, which are assessed and compared in this paper through a what-if analysis. The logistical and environmental impacts generated by the pallet distribution activities are quantified per each scenario through a tailored software incorporating Geographic Information System (GIS) and routing functionalities. Findings from this analysis suggest how to reduce vehicle distance traveled (vehicles-km) by 65% and pollutant emissions by 60% by combining network infrastructures and pooling management strategies-identifying an empirical best practice for managers of pallet businesses

A Review on Quantitative Models for Sustainable Food Logistics Management

The last two decades food logistics systems have seen the transition from a focus on traditional supply chain management to food supply chain management, and successively, to sustainable food supply chain management. The main aim of this study is to identify key logistical aims in these three phases and analyse currently available quantitative models to point out modelling challenges in sustainable food logistics management (SFLM). A literature review on quantitative studies is conducted and also qualitative studies are consulted to understand the key logistical aims more clearly and to identify relevant system scope issues. Results show that research on SFLM has been progressively developing according to the needs of the food industry. However, the intrinsic characteristics of food products and processes have not yet been handled properly in the identified studies. The majority of the works reviewed have not contemplated on sustainability problems, apart from a few recent studies. Therefore, the study concludes that new and advanced quantitative models are needed that take specific SFLM requirements from practice into consideration to support business decisions and capture food supply chain dynamics

ARCHITECTURE FOR A CBM+ AND PHM CENTRIC DIGITAL TWIN FOR WARFARE SYSTEMS

The Department of the Navy’s continued progression from time-based maintenance into condition-based maintenance plus (CBM+) shows the importance of increasing operational availability (Ao) across fleet weapon systems. This capstone uses the concept of digital efficiency from a digital twin (DT) combined with a three-dimensional (3D) direct metal laser melting printer as the physical host on board a surface vessel. The DT provides an agnostic conduit for combining model-based systems engineering with a digital analysis for real-time prognostic health monitoring while improving predictive maintenance. With the DT at the forefront of prioritized research and development, the 3D printer combines the value of additive manufacturing with complex systems in dynamic shipboard environments. To demonstrate that the DT possesses parallel abilities for improving both the physical host’s Ao and end-goal mission, this capstone develops a DT architecture and a high-level model. The model focuses on specific printer components (deionized [DI] water level, DI water conductivity, air filters, and laser motor drive system) to demonstrate the DT’s inherent effectiveness towards CBM+. To embody the system of systems analysis for printer suitability and performance, more components should be evaluated and combined with the ship’s environment data. Additionally, this capstone recommends the use of DTs as a nexus into more complex weapon systems while using a deeper level of design of experiment.Outstanding ThesisCivilian, Department of the NavyCommander, United States NavyCivilian, Department of the NavyCivilian, Department of the NavyCivilian, Department of the NavyCivilian, Department of the NavyCivilian, Department of the NavyCivilian, Department of the NavyApproved for public release. Distribution is unlimited

Production optimization using discrete simulation

Mestrado APNOR e Universidade de S. PetersburgoProduction and manufacturing setups involving lean solutions and customer driven “pull” logic (e.g. kanban systems) are more and more common. Usually, these systems allow companies to increase efficiency, quality levels, work force motivation and general productivity. Although these systems are not too difficult to plan and operate, in complex situations, even small adjustments can produce some unforeseen effects. In this scenario, discrete simulation can provide the tools to model the underlying systems and test the desired changes before implementation. In this work we modelled typical pull production systems with more or less complexity using a commercial discrete simulation software (SIMIO). Once the modelling phase was completed, different adjustments in the number of Kanban cards in the system were tested and evaluated, in order to optimize the system. Also, the final simulation model was built generic enough to be used in classroom environment to familiarize students with pull production concepts.As configurações de produção e fabricação envolvendo soluções lean e a lógica pull orientada ao cliente (por exemplo, sistemas kanban) são cada vez mais comuns. Normalmente, estes sistemas permitem que as empresas aumentem a eficiência, os níveis de qualidade, a motivação da força de trabalho e a produtividade geral. Embora esses sistemas não sejam muito difíceis de planear e operar, em situações complexas, mesmo pequenos ajustes podem produzir alguns efeitos imprevistos. Nesse cenário, a simulação discreta pode fornecer as ferramentas para modelar os sistemas subjacentes e testar as alterações desejadas antes da implementação. Neste trabalho modelamos sistemas típicos de produção puxada com maior ou menor complexidade usando um software comercial para simulação discreta (SIMIO). Uma vez concluída a fase de modelação, foram testados e avaliados diferentes ajustes no número de cartões kanban no sistema, a fim de otimizar o sistema. Além disso, o modelo de simulação final foi construído de forma suficientemente genérica para ser usado em ambiente de sala de aula para familiarizar os alunos com conceitos de produção puxada (pull).Организация производства и технологическая наладка с применением концепций «бережливого» и «вытягивающего» производства, ориентированных на нужды потребителя (например, система канбан) получают все более широкое распространение. Обычно, данные системы позволяют компаниям повышать эффективность, уровень качества, мотивацию сотрудников и производительность в целом. И хотя реализация данных подходов не является слишком трудоемкой, в сложных ситуациях даже малейшие корректировки могут привести к непредвиденным последствиям. В таком случае, дискретное моделирование может предоставить инструменты для создания базовых моделей и их тестирования, до внесения изменений в реальную систему. В данной работе было смоделировано типичное, более-менее сложное вытягивающее производство с применением коммерческого программного средства дискретного имитационного моделирования (SIMIO). После создания симуляции было протестировано и оценено использование разного количества канбан карт в системе с целью ее оптимизации. Также, финальная симуляция была создана достаточно общей, чтобы ее можно было использовать во время аудиторных занятий для ознакомления студентов с концепцией вытягивающего производства