Logistics businesses that handle containerized googd are forced to reduce their costs, by becoming more and more efficient. Nowhere is this more important that in the growing volumes of fast moving consumer goods (FMCG). Our research investigated various design related aspects for a subset of FMCG: fresh food (branded and packaged), pharmaceutical materials with special requirements, spirits and beverages that can be spoiled dureing transport. The case studies done for this design science research are specifically selected from logistics cases for diary products like milk and specialy cheeses. These cases are already exhibiing some of the characteristics envisaged for the future Physiscal Internet. These extensions are directly derived from the data accumulated dureing the case studies and pertain to the autonomous and decentralized activities necessary to achieve the high level of automation desired for the Physical Internet. The functional and physical extensions of the architecture take into account the global narute of the flow of perishable foods, the complexity of cross-bprder actitities, the heterogeneous regulations that are in formce and it assumed that will persist in the future.
The Physical Internet (PI) concept is going to bring a disruptive change in the world of logistics, enabling effective and efficient supply-chain operation management. A key building block of the PI is the smart container, the physical dual of the Digital Internet packet which will provide unprecedented real-time visibility over the goods flowing in the supply-chain. Internet of Things (IoT) systems are expected to play a crucial role in the implementation of smart containers, providing the needed pervasive and hyperconnected sensing infrastructure. While IoT sensor networks have always been used as an effective means to collect and transmit information in a wide range of operational systems, the modularity and dynamicity of the PI scenario introduce a number of new challenges to be addressed in terms of system architecture and interoperability. The paper discusses the solutions that are being developed in the context of the EU H2020 ICONET project to tackle those challenges, paving the way to future developments of the PI.
This paper outlines the approach followed by the H2020 COG-LO project to realize ad-hoc logistics collaborations. The main goal of COG-LO project is to introduce the concept of Cognitive Logistics Object (CLO): a virtualized entity that participates in the logistics process, represents different actors such as parcel, truck, traffic light, supporting systems, etc. (depending on the case) and has a different capabilities (from basic functionalities up to autonomous decision making and actuation), which are configured per case. In the context of COG-LO, a CLO will have different cognition capabilities, will be able to form ad-hoc collaborations by communicating with other CLOs using Social Networks of CLOs and negotiate optimal solutions in response to a particular event. The project will offer the necessary ICT services and demonstrate different collaborative models in both the Post Industry and Logistics Operators.
Major maritime carriers are globally demanding improvements in the efficiency of port operations. Cargo carried by ships must be loaded and unloaded quickly with minimal stopover time in the port. This is driving the implementation of more efficient processes and the reorganization of technologies at the terminals: connected platforms, cloud-based services, service-oriented architectures (SOA), sensors and other IoT technologies (M2M), augmented/virtual reality (AR/VR), autonomous transportation, next generation mobile networks (5G) and blockchain-based technology. RTPORT, the 5G-based Model-Driven Real Time Module, will allow a better management of general cargo resulting in faster throughput compared to traditional human-driven communications. A full reorganized mobile network (5G), connecting smart sensors with cloud resources will be used in order decrease environmental impacts by optimizing trucks movements in the port area as well as improving workers’ safety and enhance their skills with digital tools. The effectiveness of RTPORT will be evaluated in the Port of Livorno for EU Horizon 2020-funded Capacity with a Positive Environmental and Societal Footprint - Ports in the Future (COREALIS) project and it represents the starting point for the deployment of the Physical Internet.
Supply Chain Management (SCM) is of crucial importance for organisational success. In the era of Digitalization, several implications and improvement potentials for SCM arise, which at the same time could lead to decreased competitiveness and could endanger long-term company success if ignored or neglected. From a practitioner’s point of view, several key capabilities are becoming necessary at the nexus of SCM and Digitalization. This paper applies a mixed method approach of practitioner interviews and focus group workshops to elaborate these key capabilities. The main results of the paper indicate that the relevance of Digitalization for SCM is realized in practice. In the form of four key capability groups, a set of fourteen concrete capabilities is condensed: 1) creation of visibility and transparency, 2) advanced data exploitation, 3) strategic consideration of exogenous trends and 4) acceleration of technological transformation. The main contribution of this paper is an empirically grounded basis for future research projects focusing on Digitalization in SCM and an overview of the capabilities required at the nexus of SCM and Digitalization from practitioners’ point of view.