Review. Monitoring the intermodal, refrigerated transport of fruit using sensor networks

Most of the fruit in Europe is transported by road, but the saturation of the major arteries, the increased demand for freight transport, and environmental concerns all indicate there is a need to change this means of transport. A combination of transport modes using universal containers is one of the solutions proposed: this is known as intermodal transport. Tracking the transport of fruit in reefer containers along the supply chain is the means by which product quality can be guaranteed. The integration of emerging information technologies can now provide real-time status updates. This paper reviews the literature and the latest technologies in this area as part of a national project. Particular emphasis is placed on multiplexed digital communication technologies and wireless sensor networks

Radio Frequency Identification Based System Design For Logistics Application

Recently,RFID has been the focal point of technology in automatic information transfer mechanism to enhance product visibility throughout supply chain.In logistics and manufacturing,it is of utmost important to optimize utilization and control of material flow.This paper outlines the design approach for application of RFID technology in supply chain with focus on logistics process such as distribution,storage and delivery.The automatic device tracking system via RFID technology outlined in this paper is to be implemented in an actual manufacturing plant.The primary objective is to extend the benefits of RFID deployment in actual industrial application for cost reduction and improved efficiency. Conclusions and potential future advances are presented at the end of this paper

Radio Frequency Identification Based System Design for Logistics Application

Recently, RFID has been the focal point of technology in automatic information transfer mechanism to enhance product visibility throughout supply chain. In logistics and manufacturing, it is of utmost important to optimize utilization and control of material flow. This paper outlines the design approach for application of RFID technology in supply chain with focus on logistics process such as distribution, storage and delivery. The automatic device tracking system via RFID technology outlined in this paper is to be implemented in an actual manufacturing plant. The primary objective is to extend the benefits of RFID deployment in actual industrial application for cost reduction and improved efficiency. Conclusions and potential future advances are presented at the end of this paper

Port terminal congestion management. An integrated information systems approach for improving supply chain value

For technology to improve productivity, efficiency, and safety in healthcare setting, an essential prerequisite is utilization by its users. Existing theories about technology acceptance mostly deal with voluntary systems, but many systems used in healthcare settings are mandatory systems, so other outcomes rather than the usage or use itself need to be considered in applying existing models to mandatory health information systems. Thus, the focus is moving on user satisfaction. Also, there is a need to see if the technology acceptance leads to the organisational benefits because investments on the technology should show a return as other investments normally do. This research assumes that major constructs of UTAUT (Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology) increase user satisfaction and organisational benefits, and aims to integrate existing theoretical frameworks to explain user’s evaluation of mandatory information systems and its impacts in healthcare setting

An Analysis of Digital Transformation in the History and Future of Modern Ports

Digital transformation is of utmost importance in the business world with major impacts on any of its sectors. Here we consider ports and logistics within maritime shipping to exemplify those developments. That is, as actors in world-wide supply chains, seaports are particularly affected by technological change. Due to the high requirements in the logistics sector, e.g., regarding costs, efficiency, security, and sustainability, digital innovation is essential to stay competitive. Past developments show how digital innovation can shape the modernization of ports. In order to understand future challenges in this area, it is inevitable to review the outcomes of past developments and their impact on port operations. In this paper, we provide an extensive analysis of digital transformations in seaports. We identify three generations and analyze the stages of respective digital transformations using a well-known model from literature. Based on the observations, we identify important aspects and challenges

Traceability Research at Packaging Logistics

Research at the division of Packaging Logistics, Lund University, has been performed in numerous areas, ranging from organisational learning and sustainability to process integration and service development. One of these is the new and complex research area of traceability. When it comes to food scandals, from the mad cow disease at the end of the 90s to the more recent incident where glass has been found in chicken, this has increased focus on traceability research in food supply chains. A regulation within the European Union which came into force in February 2002 about procedures on food safety has articles (14-20) that treats traceability. The articles regarding traceability came into force January 2005 (EC regulation 178/2002). Article 3 defines traceability as “the ability to trace and follow a food, feed, food producing animal or substance intended to be or expected to incorporate through all stages of production, processing and distribution”. The sense of the regulation is that every actor in the food supply chain has to know from whom a product, ingredient etc. comes from, when it was delivered, what was delivered, what has been sold, when it was sold and to whom it was sold. However, even though much research has focused on traceability within food supply chains, it is not restricted just to this industry or issues regarding food quality and safety. This report presents research connected to the area of traceability which has been performed, as well as research currently being carried out at the division of Packaging Logistics in regard to research results, finished and ongoing projects as well as partner companies involved in research. Furthermore, this report will, based on problems with traceability pointed out in research and discussions with researchers at Packaging Logistics, present recommendations on where to continue or start focusing future traceability-connected research at the division. Research concerning traceability at Packaging Logistics has been versatile, allowing a comprehensive framework to be created. This framework includes components (necessary in order to achieve traceability), research/industry perspectives, tools and added values (showing the benefits achievable with traceability). In addition, traceability research at the Packaging Logistics has, to a great extent, focused on the food branch or food supply chain and external and not internal traceability. External traceability means the ability to trace a product/batch and its history back through the whole supply chain in contrast to internal traceability which is the ability to trace how ingredients and raw material within a certain actor in the supply chain is mixed, split and transported between different steps in the manufacturing process. Furthermore, this research has focused on finding and evaluating methods in order to ensure food safety and quality. This research has also pointed out the importance of collaboration between the actors in the supply chain and critical contexts, which is informational, relational and physical factors which together form contexts that are the weak points in the supply chain. These critical contexts should be in focus since it is these contexts where traceability is most likely to be lost. In other industries than food, focus has been of a more technical nature, mainly the implementation and evaluation of Auto-ID technology, thereby enhancing the possibilities of tracing goods. Suggestions for future traceability research studies include a larger project in, for example the pharmaceutical industry where traceability could be used to prevent counterfeit. The pharmaceutical industry is similar to the food industry in many ways as products need to be extremely safe since they greatly affect consumer health. Many of the tools developed in food industry-related research could be evaluated in such a project, making it possible to generalise results as well as transfer knowledge from one industry to another. Within the frame of a larger research project like the one proposed, it would be possible to collaborate between ongoing project borders, allowing different areas of traceability to be further examined as well as knowledge to be shared between research projects. Furthermore, traceability research at Packaging Logistics should continue to focus on external traceability and the critical contexts as well as information sharing, both from a “soft” perspective and a technical one. These issues are highlighted as obstacles to achieving the benefits of external traceability

Industry 4.0 technologies within the logistics sector: the key role of innovative start-ups

The goal of the study is to analyze the 4.0 innovation in the logistics sector. First, it is provided a view of Industry 4.0 technologies, followed by a focus on Logistics 4.0 technologies as theoretical background. Then, through a patent analysis, the study analyzes in details the logistics sector in order to pursue and to demonstrate where is the origin of innovation in the sector

A Decision Support System for Intermodal Logistics under Considerations for Costs of Security

Global supply chains have been challenged by the increased awareness of security risks, including those of terrorism, theft, and damage, and the potential in these risks for significant damages. Additionally, the pressure security initiatives and regulations, particularly at sea and air ports, threaten to add to congestion at these hubs in the international flow of goods and materials. Improving the efficiency of the flow of goods and materials, and therefore the stability and competitiveness of their supply chains, is the focus of this research. A decision support to combine strategic objectives with operational transport decision making is built to incorporate security considerations

Potential effects of RFID technology on internal RTIs' supply chain performance : a case study of "Swire Oilfield Services"

Confidential until 23 May 202