M&A : Deutsche Post DHL and Austrian Post

The goal of this thesis is to assess how would a potential deal between Deutsche Post DHL (also referred to as DPDHL or simply DHL) and Austrian Post (also referred to as Österreichische Post or simply OP) result in terms of value creation for both companies. In an era of abrupt economical and technological changes, the Transportation and Logistics sector is one of the more affected, and thus the urge to constantly adapt. The top capabilities of DHL as well as geographic proximity with OP could leverage very important efficiencies of many kinds. Common practices on valuations are used to assess the individual value of both companies, which serve as basis to project future trends based in case a merger would take place. Decreasing traditional Mail volume and opportunities in Express deliveries due to e-commerce are found to be the main factors affecting the value of these companies. Following the cautious estimation of resulting synergies, an all-cash offer of €39.2 per share was proposed, resulting in a premium on average share price of 25.1% to OP’s shareholders

Hyperconnected parcel logistic hubs

Hyperconnected Parcel Logistic Hubs Shannon Buckley 144 Pages Advised By Dr. Benoit Montreuil This thesis focuses on the design of a new era of hub in the parcel logistics industry. Parcel logistics hubs (hubs) are the connective tissue in parcel logistics networks, sorting and transferring parcels from one vehicle to another as quickly as possible. However, as the demand for eCommerce surges, customer expectations for delivery speed rise and as the COVID pandemic creates disruptions throughout supply chains, new solutions are needed to ease the strain on the system. Current parcel logistics hubs are massive facilities filled to the brim with miles of fixed conveyor systems and expensive sorting machines. These hubs were built to handle large volumes of parcels at extremely fast speeds. However, with their fixed resources, they must have all operations finely scheduled and are not able to respond dynamically to disruptions such as an unexpected wave of parcels, resulting in backlogs and unhappy customers. In this thesis we help the transition away from this old, outdated hub design towards, dynamic, flexible hyperconnected parcel logistics hubs. In Chapter 2 we introduce a method for dynamically updating forecasts of the demand that hubs will face in the near future. We describe the new method and then compare it to existing methods with computational experiments. In Chapter 3 we present a pilot design for a new hyperconnected parcel logistics hub called the robotic logistics hub. We introduce designs for the layout as well as the operations and control of the hub, and finish with a comparative study of our hub’s performance against an existing hub from our industry partner. In Chapter 4 we present our novel simulation platform built to enable the analysis of new technology such as the robotic logistics hub. The simulator uses a hybrid discrete event / agent based modelling approach as well as a unique modular construction to allow for a highly flexible tool capable of providing deep insight into many facets of the proposed robotic logistics hub.Ph.D

Heuristics for Truck Scheduling at Cross Docking Terminals

Cross-docking is a logistics management concept that has been gaining global recognition in less-than-truckload logistics industries and retail firms. In cross-docking terminals, shipments are unloaded from inbound trucks at strip doors, consolidated insider cross-docks according to their destinations, and then, loaded into outbound tucks at stack doors. The goal of cross-docking is to reduce inventory and order picking which are the two most costly functions of traditional warehousing management. The sequence in which the inbound and outbound trucks have to be processed at the cross-dock is crucial for improving the efficiency of cross-docking systems. In this thesis we introduce an integer programming formulation and apply four heuristic algorithms: a local search, a simulated annealing, a large neighborhood search and a beam search, to schedule the trucks in a cross-docking terminal so as to minimize the total operational time

Warehouse design: a systematic literature review

Abstract: This study proposes improving the understanding of the main aspects involved in the design of warehouses by the construction of a framework that reveals the state-of-art.  The initial research bibliography generated a framework, which was structured in three dimensions: inputs; design and implementation; and outputs. The validation of framework was accomplished through a systematic review of the literature, covering 68 articles published in the period 1999- 2015. This study covered the main aspects highlighted in the academic literature that influence the design of warehouses. Additionally, an overview of the publications based on a theoretical/empirical and a quantitative/qualitative approach was pointed out. This paper aims to contribute to both industry and academic. On the one hand, the framework aggregates value for professionals by permitting the rapid identification of variables, which must be considered in warehouse design. On the other hand, by systematizing the warehouse design area, researchers are able to identify gaps that may generate future studies.

Application of Tabu Search to Scheduling Trucks in Multiple Doors Cross-Docking Systems

RÉSUMÉ : Cette recherche focus sur l’amélioration des cross-dockings en vue d’augmenter les niveaux de performance du service et de réduire les coûts. l’algorithme de la recherche avec tabous est étudiée pour trouver la séquence optimale d’entrée et sortie des remorques au cross-docking. L’objectif de cette recherche est de maximiser le nombre total de transferts directs entre le fournisseur et une destination finale commune de livraison. Dans les stratégies de distribution actuelles, l’objectif est de synchroniser les chaines du fabricant et du client. Le cross-docking implique de recevoir les produits d’un fournisseur pour plusieurs clients et d’occasionnellement consolider cela avec les produits d’autres fournisseurs pour des destinations finales de livraison communes. En résumé, l’approche examinée dans cette recherche donne une occasion significative pour l’amélioration des opérations au Cross-docking par la réduction du stockage des produits.----------ABSTRACT : Today’s supply chain management performance has been affected by continuously increasing pressure of market forces. The pressure of market includes demands on increased flow of products and throughput with less amount of storage, also customers demand for more products with lower operational costs and more value-added services provided to customers. Supply chain is responsible in cost reduction and service levels increase by providing transshipments across its members. However supply chain has to face fluctuations of demands with the short available lead times. Physical problem of warehouse limitations and also inventory costs and shipping affect the performance of supply chain. In today’s distribution strategies, the main goal is to provide a synchronization of customer chains and the suppliers. The objective is to reduce the inventory buffering between customers and suppliers. The idea of cross-docking is to receive different goods from a manufacturer for several end destinations and possibly consolidate the goods with other manufacturer’s items for common final customers; then ship them in the earliest possible time. The focus of this research effort is to improve cross-dock operations with the goal of increasing the service performance levels and reducing costs. Specifically, metaheuristics algorithm of Tabu search is investigated for finding optimal sequence of incoming and outgoing trailers at cross-docks. This thesis reviews available research literature on cross-dock operations. Tabu search for the truck scheduling problem is presented along with results. Tabu search algorithm is investigated for the truck scheduling problem in the multiple doors cross-docking with unknown incoming and outgoing sequences. The objective of this research is to maximize the total direct transfer of products from a supplier to common final delivery destinations. The algorithm is implemented in C++ and analyzed using different problem instances. The results gained from algorithm of Tabu search are compared with other iterative heuristic descent method. The results indicate that the Tabu search performs significantly better than the descent method for large problem instances. In general, the results present that a metaheuristic algorithm of Tabu search for multiple or single door cross-docking offers thelargest potential for improvement. In summary, the approach explored in this research offers significant opportunity to improve cross-dock operations through reducing storage of products

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

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

The future of the logistics industry in the European Union : an outlook to 2032 supported by current and upcoming market trends

This work project develops an outlook for the future of the logistics industry in the EU until 2032 and provides strategic recommendations for logistics managers. An analysis of the transactional and contextual environment is conducted based on primary and secondary research to generate future scenarios. The stability of the geopolitical and economic landscape and the density of the technology network are identified as critical uncertainties. Based on that, future scenarios are developed. Strategic short- and long-term options are recommended for different scenarios. Finally, early indicators are developed, helping industry stakeholders to monitor the environment and anticipate which scenario unfolds

iCity. Transformative Research for the Livable, Intelligent, and Sustainable City

This open access book presents the exciting research results of the BMBF funded project iCity carried out at University of Applied Science Stuttgart to help cities to become more liveable, intelligent and sustainable, to become a LIScity. The research has been pursued with industry partners and NGOs from 2017 to 2020. A LIScity is increasingly digitally networked, uses resources efficiently, and implements intelligent mobility concepts. It guarantees the supply of its grid-bound infrastructure with a high proportion of renewable energy. Intelligent cities are increasingly human-centered, integrative, and flexible, thus placing the well-being of the citizens at the center of developments to increase the quality of life. The articles in this book cover research aimed to meet these criteria. The book covers research in the fields of energy (i.e. algorithms for heating and energy storage systems, simulation programs for thermal local heating supply, runtime optimization of combined heat and power (CHP), natural ventilation), mobility (i.e. charging distribution and deep learning, innovative emission-friendly mobility, routing apps, zero-emission urban logistics, augmented reality, artificial intelligence for individual route planning, mobility behavior), information platforms (i.e. 3DCity models in city planning: sunny places visualization, augmented reality for windy cities, internet of things (IoT) monitoring to visualize device performance, storing and visualizing dynamic energy data of smart cities), and buildings and city planning (i.e. sound insulation of sustainable facades and balconies, multi-camera mobile systems for inspection of tunnels, building-integrated photovoltaics (BIPV) as active façade elements, common space, the building envelopes potential in smart sustainable cities)

Robust optimization of internal transports at a parcel sorting center operated by Deutsche Post World Net

Competitiveness in global markets requires the ongoing identification and full utilization of improvement potential. To cut costs by means of process optimization, logistics service providers need to focus on efficient planning -- not only for external but also for internal transports. This contribution will demonstrate that significant reductions in internal transports at one of the Deutsche Post World Net's main parcel sorting centers can be achieved by applying the robust solution of a modified three-dimensional linear assignment model. The proposed MILP model minimizes necessary manual transportation effort by layout modifications. Additionally, it takes into account the specific characteristics and requirements of the parcel sorting center. The large-scale model is hierarchically decomposed and all resulting models are solved using MILP software. Uncertain data concerning the structure and quantities of transportation demand over time are considered adequately by applying robustness criteria. The transportation effort of the robust solution is close to every scenario-optimal objective value. The achieved reduction of manual transportation effort leads to a significant increase in runtime quality, to a decrease in costs and to a balanced utilization of the sorting and distribution unit. The approach proposed is not only valuable for parcel sorting centers operated by Deutsche Post World Net; it can also be generally applied to develop robust solutions in an uncertain dynamic decision situation.Robustness Facilities planning and design Internal transportation Application