Analysis of the effects of automation of warehouse processes : building the concept of simulation tests

PURPOSE: The purpose of this article is to develop a research concept for business process simulation models that take into account all possible automation scenarios activated depending on the tested configuration of their implementation.DESIGN/METHODOLOGY/APPROACH: As part of the research, warehouse processes were identified in one of the key Polish e-commerce companies. These processes were modeled in the next step using BPMN notation and simulated taking into account all model parameters. Thanks to the calibration of the models, it was possible to confirm their correctness. In the next step, the models were modified in order to implement automatic solutions, correct parameters.FINDINGS: The developed scenario models allow for a comparative analysis of automation scenarios by activating or deactivating individual variants of the model. The simulation results obtained for various scenario models which enabled to distinguish the potential of using the simulation, i.e. a set of process parameters that should be subject to comparative analysis in subsequent stages of the research so that it was possible to verify the results of the implemented automatic solutions.PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS: The changes taking place in modern logistics and warehouse processes are mainly caused by the increase in the requirements of final recipients in terms of the quality of services provided and the time of their implementation. The growing importance of online sales and the very intensively developing COVID-19 pandemic have made this distribution channel one of the key forms of obtaining and delivering products to end recipients. One of the essential elements of development is shortening process cycles, elimination of human errors or effective use of the resources involved through automation.ORIGINALITY/VALUE: As a result of the analyzes, a research concept that allows the use of multi-scenario simulation models taking into account automatic solutions in warehouse processes, implemented in the e-commerce industry, was developed. This model will be used in further research on the results of automation implementation.This paper was implemented with the funds of the project „Opracowanie metodyki wdrożenia rozwiązań zautomatyzowanych w procesach magazynowych w branży ecommerce uwzględniających postulaty 3 RIS - Innowacyjny przemysł - Zrównoważony rozwój”. Project no.: RPLB.01.01.00-08-0016/19peer-reviewe

Implementing digital, intelligent and sustainable logistics (DISL) to SMEs and large companies : identification and significance of drivers and barriers

PURPOSE: The purpose of this article is to identify and analyse the significance of the existing drivers and barriers in the implementation of solutions in the field of Digital, Intelligent and Sustainable Logistics (DISL) to SMEs and Large Companies.DESIGN/METHODOLOGY/APPROACH: As part of this article, the survey conducted among Polish entrepreneurs was used. The results of the survey were analysed as part of the statistical analysis. The ANOVA analysis of variance was used for the gradation in terms of the significance level of both drivers and barriers, while the non-parametric Mann-Witney test was used to verify the differences in the perception of the drivers and barriers of DISL implementation for the variable: the size of the company.FINDINGS: The performed statistical analysis allowed to verify the hypotheses relating to the identification of statistically significant differences in the perception of drivers and barriers to DISL implementation. As a result, it was possible to indicate differences for both variables in terms of their level of importance, which turned out to be true.PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS: The area related to the analysis of the results of the conducted research in terms of identification and examination of the significance level of individual drivers and barriers to DISL implementation is particularly important from the point of view of the need for digitalisation and reducing the carbon footprint by modern supply chains.ORIGINALITY/VALUE: This paper primarily analyses the results of surveys completed by managers of micro, SMEs and large companies in terms of drivers and barriers for the DISL implementation as a key aspect of the development of current supply chains.peer-reviewe

Phase Analysis and Thermoelectric Properties of Cu-Rich Tetrahedrite Prepared by Solvothermal Synthesis

Because of the large Seebeck coefficient, low thermal conductivity, and earth-abundant nature of components, tetrahedrites are promising thermoelectric materials. DFT calculations reveal that the additional copper atoms in Cu-rich Cu14Sb4S13 tetrahedrite can effectively engineer the chemical potential towards high thermoelectric performance. Here, the Cu-rich tetrahedrite phase was prepared using a novel approach, which is based on the solvothermal method and piperazine serving both as solvent and reagent. As only pure elements were used for the synthesis, the offered method allows us to avoid the typically observed inorganic salt contaminations in products. Prepared in such a way, Cu14Sb4S13 tetrahedrite materials possess a very high Seebeck coefficient (above 400 μVK−1) and low thermal conductivity (below 0.3 Wm−1K−1), yielding to an excellent dimensionless thermoelectric figure of merit ZT ≈ 0.65 at 723 K. The further enhancement of the thermoelectric performance is expected after attuning the carrier concentration to the optimal value for achieving the highest possible power factor in this system