ALBERT

Description: Background: The new demands of the current market including for space should be satisfied by designing modern material flow systems. Designing warehouses using effective material handling equipment significantly supports cost reduction and efficient space utilization. Sequencing of items is an important process that leads to enhanced logistics operations. Current approaches are not capable of fully fulfilling dynamic changes. Methods: In this paper, a puzzle-based sequencing system with a high density and highly efficient floor space utilization was successfully developed. Accordingly, two solving methods were investigated: game tree and pathfinding algorithms. A-star was chosen based on pathfinding algorithms in order to find the shortest solution of the puzzle in which the sequencing time was decreased. The pre-sorting strategy was proposed to overcome the unsolvable configuration issue that cannot be solved by the aforementioned methods. Moreover, the shape of the puzzle was considered. Results: Based on numerical calculations, we found that a square shape was better than a rectangle in terms of solution steps, and we confirmed the direct relationship between the aspect ratio and rectilinear distance, which directly affects the pre-sorting steps. Conclusions: Our results prove that the puzzle-based sequencing system should be highly preferred for effective floor space utilization compared to the current systems.

Description: Background: The use of blockchain technology for tracking and tracing (T&T) in supply chains is the subject of lively debate in scientific literature. However, distributed ledger technology (DLT) does not have to have the characteristic blockchain structure and often performs better without such a structure. Generalized DLT for T&T in supply chains has rarely been discussed in the existing literature. Methods: This article presents an exploratory case study research of eight companies to identify the main goals, and problems that the companies have when they engage in T&T. This practical perspective is complemented by a theoretical systems thinking perspective. Based on these two foundations, we discuss the usefulness of blockchain technology and, more generally, DLT for T&T in supply chains. Results: Based on our analysis, DLT is only necessary in special cases, e.g., when the owners of the data have an interest in deleting the data, but the data stakeholders do not. In the other cases examined, DLT competes with other technologies, such as conventional, centralized databases in combination with digital signatures. Furthermore, it became evident that DLT can only be useful for supply chain tracing. The technological features of DLT do not provide any benefit for supply chain tracking, i.e., the timely communication of the status of a physical good. Conclusions: Distributed ledgers often have a disadvantage in that they are very complex and, therefore, expensive. DLT should preferably only be used when it is technologically necessary or the simplest/cheapest choice, which is probably not all that often. Finally, the usefulness of distributed ledger technology and its integrated smart contract technology is highly dependent on how easy it is to link the real physical world to a digital record/contract in an error-free and tamper-proof way. Currently, such a definite link exists only in very few cases and is often impossible.

Description: Background: In response to calls for actionable research that considers ongoing pandemic risk dynamics, we explore how risks experienced and risk mitigation techniques used have changed during the first year of the pandemic. Methods: We used a survey and studied six cases; data were collected both at the start of the pandemic and one year into the pandemic. This paper offers the first empirical exploration of the first full year of the pandemic and provides data points from both early and one year into the pandemic. Results: Our findings indicate that not only are pandemic risks far from mitigated, several types of risks have also increased in severity. Multifaceted and multidirectional approaches have been adopted, going well beyond demand and supply risks (the risks most widely considered in the literature) and much more work remains for supply chain managers to mitigate risks and improve supply chain resilience. Conclusions: We find that in addition to the risk management techniques, considering behavioral aspects is key for navigating a pathway towards risk mitigation.

Description: Selecting appropriate and resilient suppliers is an important issue in supply chain management (SCM) literature. Making an effective decision on this issue can decrease external risks and disruptions, purchase costs, and delay times and also guarantees business continuity in the event of disruptions and, consequently, increases company competitiveness and customer satisfaction. This paper aims to provide a model based on identifying and investigating related criteria to evaluate suppliers’ resilience and select the most resilient suppliers in Iran’s electronic industry. To this purpose, the screening technique, the best-worst methodology (BWM), and goal programming (GP) have been applied in the fuzzy environment. The proposed model has been implemented and demonstrated by a case study of the electronic industry, as a real-life example. The results show that agility (0.227), compatibility (0.153), and vulnerability (0.102) are the most important factors for a resilient supplier.

Description: Background: A site layout plan is one of the important decisions to be made in the planning phase of each construction project as it can significantly impact on-site transportation, construction logistics, and safety. This decision could be complicated owing to the uncertainties inherent in construction projects and the complex relationships between the influencing factors and decision variables. Methods: To improve site layout planning, this study aims to develop a simulation-based decision support tool (DST) that enables planners to consider the following: (1) construction uncertainties, (2) construction resources (i.e., material, equipment, and workers), (3) site layout constraints, and (4) mutual impacts between site layout and construction plan variables, for site layout planning of construction projects. Results: The developed DST visualizes the site layout plan within a simulation environment and provides seamless interactions between the site layout model and the simulation model. These capabilities facilitate planning construction site layout using simulation by establishing two-way information flows between the site layout and simulation components, which can further promote application of simulation in construction site layout planning. Usefulness and practicality of the proposed DST is demonstrated in site layout planning of a steel erection project. Conclusions: Using this DST can reduce some common wastes in construction projects and the cost associated with them, including on-site transportation, material handling and storage, and waiting time for the material arrival.

Description: The COVID-19 pandemic has severely affected the world’s manufacturing industry, particularly in terms of the continued increase in logistics costs that has led to an increase in business operating costs. This study proposes a two-stage model for evaluating the most appropriate outsourcing logistics companies for a manufacturing factory. In the first stage, a modified Delphi method was used to recruit experienced experts to determine criteria for evaluating outsourcing logistics vendors and establish a hierarchical structure. In the second stage, the analytic hierarchy process (AHP) was used to evaluate suitable logistics companies based on the hierarchical structure. Finally, a case study was conducted to demonstrate the suitability of the two-stage model for evaluating outsourcing logistics companies for reducing logistics costs while maintaining service quality. The proposed model can be used as a basis for evaluating outsourcing logistics companies.

Description: In the recent era, the rapidly increasing trend of e-commerce business creates opportunities for logistics service providers to grow globally. With this growth, the concern regarding the implementation of sustainability in logistic networks has received attention in recent years. Thus, in this work, we have focused on the vehicle routing problem (VRP) to deliver the products in a lesser time horizon with driver safety concern considerations in business (B2B) e-commerce platforms. We proposed a sustainable logistics network that captures the complexities of suppliers, retailers, and logistics service providers. A mixed-integer nonlinear programming (MINLP) approach is applied to formulate a model to minimize total time associated with order processing, handling, packaging, shipping, and vehicle maintenance. Branch-and-bound algorithms in the LINGO optimization tool and genetic algorithm (GA) are used to solve the formulated mathematical model. The computational experiments are performed in eight different case scenarios (small-sized problem to large-sized problem) to validate the model.

Description: Background: Traceability systems and carbon emissions are two important factors involved in production and distribution activities. The involvement of these two factors in production and distribution activities along the supply chain will ensure the safety and quality of food through the manufacture, packaging and distribution of products with minimal costs and in an environmentally friendly way. Objective: This study aimed to develop a model of canned fish food production and distribution integration by considering traceability and carbon emissions to minimize total costs. Method: A mixed-integer linear programming (MILP) approach was used to develop mathematical models and the optimal solution of the model created was obtained using an open-source spreadsheet solver program. Results: The results show that the proposed models produce the minimum total production and distribution cost with high traceability and low carbon emissions. Conclusions: The sensitivity analysis from this study shows that there is a significant relationship between production, carbon emissions, and the total cost of production-distribution. Moreover, it was concluded that the production level, carbon emission level, and emission threshold can have a significant influence in the generation of the total carbon emissions.

Description: Background: Considering the global concern in balancing economic growth with environmental sustainability, the study proposes a model to support multicriteria decision-making. From the systematic literature review and bibliometric analysis, there was an increasing trend in studies on electronic waste due to governments, stakeholders, and the population to better address the management of this waste; Methods: We propose a decision model considering some aspects and phases that help from collecting information to support decision making, based on the FITradeoff ordering method, to support policy decisions for managing Waste from Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) collection systems.; Results: After applying the proposed model, validated based on the perception of a decision-maker working in a federal public agency, we obtained the final classification with ten positions of alternatives; Conclusions: This outcome can assist in decision making and management of the collection of WEEE. In addition, we made recommendations to manufacturers have more responsibility in the design and traceability of the product to guarantee its recovery after disposal effectively.

Description: Background: Although agri-food supply chains have become fundamental for food security throughout the world, some are associated with negative environmental and socioeconomic impacts. This study explores the possibilities of transforming the governance in Brazil’s soybean supply chain based on stakeholders’ accountability. Methods: We used secondary data from companies’ reports and statistical yearbooks to identify key stakeholders in the soybean supply chain as well as to explore trade-offs between reducing farming expansion into new agricultural frontiers and increasing investments in agro-industrial sectors. Results: The results reveal that at the global level, multinational corporations along with domestic groups should be held accountable for improving the governance of the soybean supply chain in Brazil since foreign multinationals control 65.4% of it. At the domestic level, losses in Brazil’s farming sector can either be offset by an 11% or 5.2% market share increase in the trading segment or in the whole supply chain, respectively, since Brazilian groups control 93.4% of the farming sector but only 7.1% of the agro-industrial sectors. Conclusions: Global accountability and domestic trade-offs are fundamental for transforming governance in global agri-food supply chains. They serve as a means for overcoming the current strategy of expansion into new farming frontiers.