Stumbling blocks of PPC: Towards the holistic configuration of PPC systems

Manufacturing companies often complain about the difficulties they face in meeting their customers' logistic requirements. Many blame the perceived inadequacies of their production planning and control (PPC) software for their performance deficits. The paper illustrates why this is only a partial view of the causes of the shortcomings. PPC software is just one of six configuration aspects of the entire PPC system. The authors argue that the configuration of the PPC aspects objectives, processes, objects, functions, responsibilities and tools has to be carried out methodically and consistently in order for the PPC system to function properly. The analysis of examples of so-called "stumbling blocks" of PPC, inadequate configurations of one or several of the aspects, supports this claim. The paper closes with the proposal of a checklist that the authors suggest as a first approach to ensure the consistent configuration of PPC systems

Using Serious Gaming to Discover and Understand Distributed Ledger Technology in Distributed Energy Systems

This paper provides an extension to a family of games that are in the theme of distributed energy systems. This extension of the family of games is a direct result of developing a derived type of game, that is, an energy trading and investing game that involves the infrastructural usage of a new technology, in this particular case, blockchain (a type of distributed ledger technology). The game’s novel architecture is explained succinctly, and some results are discussed. Shortly, the extensions of the generic architecture are listed, and special emphasis is put on the idea that such a game must have a two-phased play – one with the novel technology not active and one with it activated. Finally, some insights in game architecture development and the necessary next steps are posited

Autonomization and Digitalization: Index of Last Mile 4.0 Inclusive Transition

While autonomization and digitalization solutions appear beneficial within last mile delivery process, the literature on these solutions remain fragmented and distributed across different themes among various research papers. This paper aims to assemble some of the prominent solutions and outline their key characteristics to guide our researchers in future studies. To do so, this paper first extensively investigates the available literature and presents the most prominent solutions in a prioritization and categorization method (PCM) approach. Where these solutions currently stand in the perspective of inclusive last mile 4.0 transition is then discussed in our findings