Design of regenerative supply networks

The strategy of environmental impact minimisation has not been effective enough to revert the damage caused to the environment by production systems; a shift is needed towards promoting environmental benefits. These production systems must also cope with disturbances, while ensuring that their function is fulfilled - a capability known as Resilience - to deploy environmental benefits in the long term. Initiatives in the field of Supply Network Design - a specific type of production system - have focused on improving eco-efficiency, proposing eco-effective networks, or enhancing their Resilience. However, it could not be found in the literature any initiative that merge these three approaches, with a focus on environmental regeneration. This thesis aims to contribute in this direction, proposing a procedure to design supply networks that regenerate the environment as it simultaneously fulfil its function. This procedure is approached as an artefact, and Design Science Research Methodology (DSRM) is used for its development. The scientific progress of Sustainable Design (SD) in the context of Operations Management (OM) is mapped through a holistic literature review, based in the ProKnow-C - a methodology to perform bibliometrics and systemic analysis. The Regenerative Supply Network is characterised through the concepts of transdisciplinarity, eco-effectiveness, eco-efficiency and resilience. A definition for the RSND process is proposed, and the RSND procedure is designed, consisting of four stages: (i) description of the network surroundings and identification of a regenerative purpose; (ii) redesign of outputs, inputs and transformation processes; (iii) system conceptualisation, where interactions are depicted using the SocioTechnical and the Socio-Ecological System views, and resilience principles are addressed. (iv), the network environmental and economic performance are optimised, and resilience is quantitatively checked using the Ecosystem Network Analysis. The activities of Demonstration and Evaluation are described in Chapter Four, where the RSND procedure is used to design a household waste management network which regenerates the environment. The regenerative purpose was identified after scrutiny of the Norte Pioneiro region. Twenty-three sites degraded from improper waste disposal were identified; the primary purpose of the waste management network is to regenerate these sites into solar farms, recreational parks or reforested areas. Inputs are identified and outputs are redefined, according to waste recovery options of recyclables sorting, aerobic composting, anaerobic digestion and gasification. Two models were developed: first, a system dynamics model to forecast waste generation, disposal and collection for a 21-year period (2018-2038). Second, a Multi-Scenario, Multi-Period, Multi-Objective, Mixed Integer Linear Programming (MS-MP-MO-MILP) model was developed to solve the capacitated facility location-allocation problem, producing network configurations through two optimisation strategies: maximisation of profit and maximisation of net greenhouse gas (GHG) savings. Economic, environmental and social performance of the solutions obtained for each of the four scenarios are presented and discussed. The main contribution of this research is to show the potential of supply networks to contribute with the regeneration of ecosystems inthe long term, with a sustainable performance in the three dimensions. Limitations and future research are also presented.Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)A estratégia de minimização de impactos ambientais não tem sido efetiva suficiente para reverter os danos causados ao meio ambiente por sistemas de produção. É necessário ir além, maximizando os benefícios e engajando-se ativamente na regeneração de ecossistemas degradados. Estes sistemas de produção também devem ser capazes de se adaptar a distúrbios, garantindo o cumprimento da sua função - habilidade denominada de Resiliência - e a manutenção destes benefícios ambientais no longo prazo. Iniciativas voltadas para o projeto de redes de fornecimento - um tipo específico de sistemas de produção - tem focado em melhorar sua eco eficiência, propor definições mais eco-efetivas para estas redes, ou melhorar sua Resiliência. No entanto, nenhuma iniciativa que conjugue estas três abordagens, com enfoque em regeneração ambiental, pode ser encontrada na literatura. Esta tese tem como objetivo contribuir nesta direção, propondo um procedimento para a realização de projeto de redes de fornecimento que promovam a regeneração do meio ambiente enquanto cumprem sua função operacional. Este procedimento foi elaborado utilizando a metodologia de Design Science Research (DSRM). O progresso científico do Projeto Sustentável no contexto da Gestão de Operações foi mapeado em uma revisão de literatura realizada utilizando-se a metodologia ProKnow-C. A Rede de Fornecimento Regenerativa é caracterizada, e o processo de Projeto de Redes de Fornecimento Regenerativas (PRFR) é definido a partir dos conceitos de Redes de Fornecimento Sustentáveis, Projeto de Cadeias de Fornecimento, Abordagem Sistêmica e Projeto Regenerativo. O procedimento PRFR é definido em quatro etapas: (i) descrever os entornos da rede e identificar um propósito regenerativo; (ii) reprojetar as saídas, entradas e processos de transformação; (iii) executar o projeto conceitual do sistema, onde as interações são decompostas, e princípios de resiliência são adotados. No quarto estágio, o desempenho da rede é otimizado, e a resiliência é quantificada e verificada por meio do Ecosystem Network Analysis. O procedimento PRFR é utilizado para projetar uma rede de gestão de resíduos domésticos, cuja função de dar disposição aos resíduos é cumprida, enquanto o meio ambiente é regenerado. O propósito de regeneração é identificado após escrutínio da região do Norte Pioneiro, Paraná. Vinte e três áreas degradadas por descarte inadequado de resíduos foram identificadas; o propósito regenerativo da rede é recuperar estas áreas. Entradas são identificadas e saídas redefinidas, de acordo com os processos de recuperação: seleção, compostagem aeróbica, digestão anaeróbica e gaseificação. Um modelo de sistema dinâmico que prevê o volume de resíduos gerados, descartados e coletados para um período de vinte e um anos (2018-2038) e um modelo de programação linear multi-cenário, multi-período, multiobjetivo, inteira mista (MC-MP-MO-PLIM) foram desenvolvidos, produzindo configurações para a rede por meio da maximização do lucro e da economia líquida na emissão de gases de efeito estufa. Os desempenhos econômico, ambiental e social das soluções obtidas para os quatro cenários são apresentados e discutidos. A principal contribuição desta pesquisa é demonstrar o potencial que redes de fornecimento possuem de regenerar ecossistemas no longoprazo, apresentando um desempenho sustentável nas dimensões econômica, ambiental e social. Limitações e pesquisas futuras também são apresentadas

Production Engineering and Management

It is our pleasure to introduce the 8th edition of the International Conference on Production Engineering and anagement (PEM), an event that is the result of the joint effort of the OWL University of Applied Sciences and the University of Trieste. The conference has been established as an annual meeting under the Double Degree Master Program “Production Engineering and Management” by the two partner universities. This year the conference is hosted at the university campus in Lemgo, Germany. The main goal of the conference is to offer students, researchers and professionals in Germany, Italy and abroad, an opportunity to meet and exchange information, discuss experiences, specific practices and technical solutions for planning, design, and management of manufacturing and service systems and processes. As always, the conference is a platform aimed at presenting research projects, introducing young academics to the tradition of symposiums and promoting the exchange of ideas between the industry and the academy. This year’s special focus is on Supply Chain Design and Management in the context of Industry 4.0, which are currently major topics of discussion among experts and professionals. In fact, the features and problems of Industry 4.0 have been widely discussed in the last editions of the PEM conference, in which sustainability and efficiency also emerged as key factors. With the further study and development of Direct Digital Manufacturing technologies in connection with new Management Practices and Supply Chain Designs, the 8th edition of the PEM conference aims to offer new and interesting scientific contributions. The conference program includes 25 speeches organized in seven sessions. Two are specifically dedicated to “Direct Digital Manufacturing in the context of Industry 4.0”. The other sessions are covering areas of great interest and importance to the participants of the conference, which are related to the main focus: “Supply Chai n Design and Management”, “Industrial Engineering and Lean Management”, “Wood Processing Technologies and Furniture Production”, and “Management Practices and Methodologies”. The proceedings of the conference include the articles submitted and accepted after a careful double-blind refereeing process

Implications of additive manufacturing on supply chain and logistics

Additive manufacturing (AM) technology has attracted the interest of industrial professionals and researchers in the last years. This interest lies primarily in understanding the trends, benefits, and implications of AM technology on supply chain (SC) and logistics, as it requires reconfiguring the supply chain based on a distributed manufacturing strategy, closer to the consumer market, with shorter lead times and less raw materials. It still is an emerging field, and needs further study. Therefore, a better understanding of main trends will contribute to the dissemination of knowledge about AM technology and its consolidation. This article seeks to investigate the implications of AM, as an advanced manufacturing model, on SC and logistics. A four-step research method was used to develop a systematic literature review and a bibliometric analysis on the AM implications in SC and logistics. The main implications of AM on SC and logistics were classified in seven key issues gathered as result of the literature review. Additionally, bibliometric study allowed understanding researches major trends in this field. The key aspects highlighted and characterized as major implications of AM on SC and logistic are: supply chain complexity reduction; more flexible logistics and inventory management; better spreading and popularization of mass customization; decentralization of manufacturing; greater design freedom and rapid prototyping; increasing of resource efficiency and sustainability, and the need to have clearly defined legal and safety aspects

Review of Quantitative Methods for Supply Chain Resilience Analysis

Supply chain resilience (SCR) manifests when the network is capable to withstand, adapt, and recover from disruptions to meet customer demand and ensure performance. This paper conceptualizes and comprehensively presents a systematic review of the recent literature on quantitative modeling the SCR while distinctively pertaining it to the original concept of resilience capacity. Decision-makers and researchers can benefit from our survey since it introduces a structured analysis and recommendations as to which quantitative methods can be used at different levels of capacity resilience. Finally, the gaps and limitations of existing SCR literature are identified and future research opportunities are suggested

Supply Chain

Traditionally supply chain management has meant factories, assembly lines, warehouses, transportation vehicles, and time sheets. Modern supply chain management is a highly complex, multidimensional problem set with virtually endless number of variables for optimization. An Internet enabled supply chain may have just-in-time delivery, precise inventory visibility, and up-to-the-minute distribution-tracking capabilities. Technology advances have enabled supply chains to become strategic weapons that can help avoid disasters, lower costs, and make money. From internal enterprise processes to external business transactions with suppliers, transporters, channels and end-users marks the wide range of challenges researchers have to handle. The aim of this book is at revealing and illustrating this diversity in terms of scientific and theoretical fundamentals, prevailing concepts as well as current practical applications

Collaborative Models for Supply Networks Coordination and Healthcare Consolidation

This work discusses the collaboration framework among different members of two complex systems: supply networks and consolidated healthcare systems. Although existing literature advocates the notion of strategic partnership/cooperation in both supply networks and healthcare systems, there is a dearth of studies quantitatively analyzing the scope of cooperation among the members and its benefit on the global performance. Hence, the first part of this dissertation discusses about two-echelon supply networks and studies the coordination of buyers and suppliers for multi-period procurement process. Viewing the issue from the same angel, the second part studies the coordination framework of hospitals for consolidated healthcare service delivery. Realizing the dynamic nature of information flow and the conflicting objectives of members in supply networks, a two-tier coordination mechanism among buyers and suppliers is modeled. The process begins with the intelligent matching of buyers and suppliers based on the similarity of users profiles. Then, a coordination mechanism for long-term agreements among buyers and suppliers is proposed. The proposed mechanism introduces the importance of strategic buyers for suppliers in modeling and decision making process. To enhance the network utilization, we examine a further collaboration among suppliers where cooperation incurs both cost and benefit. Coalitional game theory is utilized to model suppliers\u27 coalition formation. The efficiency of the proposed approaches is evaluated through simulation studies. We then revisit the common issue, the co-existence of partnership and conflict objectives of members, for consolidated healthcare systems and study the coordination of hospitals such that there is a central referral system to facilitate patients transfer. We consider three main players including physicians, hospitals managers, and the referral system. As a consequence, the interaction within these players will shape the coordinating scheme to improve the overall system performance. To come up with the incentive scheme for physicians and aligning hospitals activities, we define a multi-objective mathematical model and obtain optimal transfer pattern. Using optimal solutions as a baseline, a cooperative game between physicians and the central referral system is defined to coordinate decisions toward system optimality. The efficiency of the proposed approach is examined via a case study

On green routing and scheduling problem

The vehicle routing and scheduling problem has been studied with much interest within the last four decades. In this paper, some of the existing literature dealing with routing and scheduling problems with environmental issues is reviewed, and a description is provided of the problems that have been investigated and how they are treated using combinatorial optimization tools

Air Force Institute of Technology Research Report 2017

This Research Report presents the FY18 research statistics and contributions of the Graduate School of Engineering and Management (EN) at AFIT. AFIT research interests and faculty expertise cover a broad spectrum of technical areas related to USAF needs, as reflected by the range of topics addressed in the faculty and student publications listed in this report. In most cases, the research work reported herein is directly sponsored by one or more USAF or DOD agencies. AFIT welcomes the opportunity to conduct research on additional topics of interest to the USAF, DOD, and other federal organizations when adequate manpower and financial resources are available and/or provided by a sponsor. In addition, AFIT provides research collaboration and technology transfer benefits to the public through Cooperative Research and Development Agreements (CRADAs)