Logistics

Supply chain companies have merits and demerits regarding operational and economic transactional policies. The effectiveness of supply chain companies corresponds to a cumulative score on a multi-criteria and perspectives-based evaluation. In this paper, we analyze the performances and challenges of several celebrated e-commerce companies to perceive their overall impression of supply chain management. A mathematical model is framed as multi-criteria decision-making problem with challenges as criteria and companies as alternatives. The criteria importance through inter-criteria correlation (CRITIC) method is used in this paper to adjust weights representing the available data. The ranking of e-commerce companies is evaluated using multi-objective optimization by ratio analysis plus the full multiplicative form (MULTIMOORA) method. Furthermore, the sensitivity of several optimal phenomena is analyzed based on distinctive combinations of challenges in the ranking arena. Full article

Background: Milkrun-based material supply plays an important role in the automotive industry, as it is a material supply concept where high efficiency can be achieved. When implementing milkrun-based material supply, the milkrun supply of the production plant often has to be integrated with an existing warehouse material handling system, which frequently leads to a less efficient solution. Methods: In this paper, the author investigates the impact of a hub-based milkrun supply, where the collection processes in the component’s warehouse and the distribution processes in the assembly plant are connected to a hub, which is responsible for the sequencing of component demands. After a systematic literature review, the paper introduces a novel mathematical model, which makes it possible to describe the conventional milkrun-based solutions, the hub-based milkrun solutions, and to compare them in terms of the length of transportation routes, transportation time, total service time, and virtual emission points of view. Results: The scenario analysis demonstrates that the hub-based solution can lead to an efficiency improvement of about 13% in total service time, 23% savings in transportation time, and 45% savings in transportation time in the component’s warehouse. Conclusions: The article’s findings suggest that implementing a hub-based milkrun system in automotive material supply can significantly enhance efficiency. The described approach could lead to more streamlined operations in production plants by optimizing the integration of milkrun systems. Full article

Background: Sustainability in food supply chains is desired for production, logistics, and waste management. However, food supply chains (SCs) have complex systems that differ from other SCs. Managing such complexities is challenging for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) due to their heightened constraints, such as limited resources and inadequate awareness. Despite the challenges, there is fragmented research, understanding, and approaches to assist SMEs. SC designs need to be adapted so that SMEs can navigate the challenges and avert high wastage. The main objective of this research was to identify the practices influencing sustainable SC designs in a developing country and create a simulation model to illustrate the potential benefits and challenges of promoting sustainability in the banana SC in Malawi. Methods: Mixed-methods research was utilised, employing a literature review, participant interviews, observations, and survey data collected from 353 participants from three districts in Malawi to gain insight into the banana SC problem, establish objectives, and develop a simulation model complemented by design science research. Results: The research identified awareness, collaboration, efficiency, governance, knowledge sharing, and resilience as sustainability practices in the case study banana SC, thus forming a sustainability model. Simulation results showed improvements in key performance indicators like shelf-life, lead-time, quality, throughput, and waste through SC operation reorganisation. Conclusions: Sustainable models must be tailored to the specific challenges inherent in developing food supply chains in developing nations. The development of the models has significant managerial implications, notably enhancing strategic planning, operational efficiency, risk management, alignment of sustainability goals, performance monitoring, stakeholder engagement, and resource optimisation. Full article

Background: The global pharmaceutical industry is crucial for providing medications but faces challenges in distributing products safely, especially in tropical and remote areas. Pharmaceuticals require careful transport control to maintain quality; therefore, manufacturers must adopt optimal distribution strategies to ensure product quality throughout the supply chain. The current research focused on creating a model to assess risk levels and predict risk categorization (low, moderate, and high) associated with thermal mapping across pharmaceutical transportation pathways. Methods: Data from a company for pharmaceutical logistics in Brazil were used. The data had 85,261 instances and six attributes (season, origin, destination, route, temperature, and temperature excursion). The dataset consisted of critical destinations, including the shipment time, cargo temperature, and route information. The classification algorithms (CART-Decision Tree, NB-Naive Bayes, and MP-Multilayer Perceptron) were used to build up a model of rules for predicting risk levels in thermal mapping routes; Results: The MP model presented the best performance, indicating a better application probability. The machine learning model is the basis for an automated risk prediction for routes of pharmaceutical transportation; Conclusions: the developed MP model might automatically predict risk during the distribution of pharmaceutical products, which might lead to optimizing time and costs. Full article

Background: The automotive industry is pivotal in advancing sustainability, with electric vehicles (EVs) essential for reducing emissions and promoting cleaner transport. This study examines the determinants of EV adoption intentions in Thailand, integrating demographic and psychographic factors from Environmental psychology and innovation diffusion theory; Methods: Data from a structured questionnaire, administered to 4003 respondents at gas stations with EV charging facilities across Thailand, were analyzed using a Correlated Mixed-Ordered Probit Model with Heterogeneity in Means (CMOPMHM); Results: Findings indicate that younger adults, particularly those aged 25–34 years old and 45–54 years old, are more likely to adopt EVs, whereas conventional or hybrid vehicle owners are less inclined. Rural residency or travel also hinders adoption. Individuals with strong environmental values and openness to new technologies are more likely to adopt EVs; Conclusions: The proposed model quantified the relative importance of these factors and uncovered heterogeneity in user preferences, offering reliable and valuable insights for policymakers, EV manufacturers, and researchers. The study suggests targeted policies and enhanced charging infrastructure, especially in rural areas, and recommends leveraging environmental values and trialability through communication campaigns and test drive events. These insights can guide the development of targeted incentives, infrastructure expansion, communication strategies, and trialability programs to effectively promote wider EV adoption in Thailand and similar markets. Full article

Background: The systematic literature review with additional descriptive analysis at hand focuses on analysing returns management in e-commerce, which is an increasingly critical issue as the volume of online shopping is rising. Methods: Drawing from a comprehensive search of academic databases and a manual review of Google Scholar, 54 articles dating from 2007 onwards were collected and fully read. Results: The review reveals a main research effort emerging mainly from Germany and other countries, with a notable focus on fashion retail. The bulk of these studies aim to understand and reduce the frequency of customer returns, addressing a substantial operational challenge for online retailers. The findings provide multiple research streams extracted from the collected literature and combined to an overview. Conclusions: Through this, there are tendencies which can be interpreted to derive the evolution of the research field. The illustrated results in this review paint a detailed picture of the existing research landscape. This highlights the importance of ongoing research, which, e.g., holds potential benefits for customer satisfaction and environmental sustainability. The review also lists future research directions, recommending the continued investigation of areas such as predictive analytics and customer behaviour to further refine returns management practices. Full article

Background: An alternative to unsustainable urban developments, rural living is on the rise, but it already has its challenges. To that end, rural logistics and transportation (RLT) calls for a comprehensive analysis of its context, especially in a climate-changed and socially turbulent world. Unlike urban logistics, there is limited focus on RLT in academic literature. However, rural areas’ lack of transportation and limited logistics operations negatively affect rural residents’ daily lives, especially socially disadvantaged groups such as older people, children, women, and low-income households. Methods: This study first identifies the key literature on RLT and sustainability using a systematic literature review. Then, it synthesizes from the extant literature the challenges in RLT and proposed solutions to understand how to improve accessibility and address some barriers to implementation, all through the perspective of quadruple bottom line (QBL) sustainability pillars. Results: The lack of opportunities presented to rural residents due to limited RLT leads to inequality between rural and urban populations, requiring academic attention. Moreover, despite the growing emphasis on sustainability in academic literature, there is a noticeable lack of attention to sustainability in RLT. Conclusions: This study leads policymakers toward a better understanding of rural communities’ complexities, directs practitioners to adopt the QBL perspective in decision-making, and aims to stipulate innovative RLT topics for further research for academicians. Full article

Background: Container terminals (CTs) have constantly administered truck appointment systems (TASs) to effectively accomplish the planning and scheduling of drayage operations. However, since the operations in the gate and yard area of a CT are stochastic, there is a need to incorporate uncertainty during the development and execution of appointment schedules. Further, the situation is complicated by disruptions in the arrival of external trucks (ETs) during transport, which results in congestion at the port due to unbalanced arrivals. In the wake of Industry 4.0, simulation can be used to test and investigate the present CT configurations for possible improvements. Methods: This paper presents a simulation optimization (SO) and simulation-based optimization (SBO) iteration framework which adopts a dual transactions approach to minimize the gate operation costs and establish the relationship between productivity and service time while considering congestion in the yard area. It integrates the use of both the developed discrete event simulation (DES) and a mixed integer programming (MIP) model from the literature to iteratively generate an improved schedule. The key performance indicators considered include the truck turnaround time (TTT) and the average time the trucks spend at each yard block (YB). The proposed approach was verified using input parameters from the literature. Results: The findings from the SO experiments indicate that, at most, two gates were required to be opened at each time window (TW), yielding an average minimum operating cost of USD 335.31. Meanwhile, results from the SBO iteration experiment indicate an inverse relationship between productivity factor (PF) values and yard crane (YC) service time. Conclusions: Overall, the findings provided an informed understanding of the need for dynamic scheduling of available resources in the yard to cut down on the gate operating costs. Further, the presented two methodologies can be incorporated with Industry 4.0 technologies to design digital twins for use in conventional CT by planners at an operational level as a decision-support tool. Full article

Background: This work is part of the regional research project PIPER—Intelligent Platform for the Optimization of Recycling Operations, which aims to develop a network design model for waste collection in the metropolitan city of Rome, Italy. The goal is to enhance the strategic planning of treatment and disposal facilities by incorporating transshipment locations to improve the efficiency of waste collection. The motivation for this study stems from the stringent targets set by the European Green Deal to achieve near-zero emissions and the critical role of waste management in realizing circular economy practices. Methods: The problem is formulated as a mixed integer linear program (MILP) that includes constraints on vehicle allocation to shifts and driver requirements. An additional feature of the model is its ability to account for vehicle maintenance issues when deployed on consecutive shifts. Results: The model was tested against a real-world case study in Rome and demonstrated significant potential savings, with a reduction in total traveled distance exceeding 10%. The mathematical model was also used for evaluating strategic scenarios in a “what-if” analysis, allowing the municipal collection company to assess location options for depots, waste treatment facilities, and transshipment points, as well as to optimize the fleet composition and driver allocation during work shifts. Conclusions: This study presents a robust tool for strategic planning in waste collection operations, highlighting the benefits of using transshipment locations to improve efficiency. The findings indicate substantial potential for cost savings and operational improvements, making the model a valuable asset for municipal waste management planning. Full article

Background: The corn supply chain is vital for food security and economic stability regionally and globally. This study integrates sustainable supply chain management with location optimization to address trade-offs from climate change, economic viability, and environmental impact while assuming the constant social obligation inherent in the supply chain structure. Methods: This study employs a mixed-integer programming (MIP) framework to optimize facility locations in North Dakota, including corn production zones as suppliers and ethanol plants as consumers. Primary objectives include cost minimization and greenhouse gas reduction, enabling the prioritization of economic or environmental goals as per organizational strategies and regulations. This approach ultimately maximizes resource utilization by ensuring efficient production and distribution practices. Results: The case study results highlight the optimal selection of 20 out of 30 corn production zones to meet statewide ethanol plant demand efficiently. Using compressed natural gas (CNG) instead of diesel could potentially save USD 2 million annually and cut carbon emissions by up to 1148 thousand tons per year, demonstrating meaningful progress toward economic and environmental sustainability within the supply network. Conclusions: The presented work offers a systematic methodology for designing sustainable supply chains for various agricultural products, aligning with the broader goal of promoting sustainability and resilience for efficient agricultural production and distribution systems. Full article

Background: Various innovations have been proposed to improve the efficiency and sustainability of last-mile delivery in urban and rural environments. Notable examples of innovative delivery solutions are parcel lockers, cargo bicycles, crowdsourced delivery, and so on. Methods: This study contributes to the ongoing research by developing a large-scale digital model of England and Wales to evaluate a new generation of solutions for last-mile delivery challenges being faced in both rural areas and cities. The two innovations chosen for comparison in this study are (i) carrier consolidation and (ii) alternative delivery locations (i.e., delivery to the workplace instead of the home). As well as the effect on any individual locations, the digital model evaluates both the benefits for England and Wales as a whole. Furthermore, the influence of the market share on the results, as well as the effect of changing the number of depots, is assessed. Results: By delivering to the customer’s workplace instead of the home, the vehicle kilometres travelled (VKT) reduce slightly (less than 10%). Carrier consolidation shows significant potential in reducing the overall VKT (up to 53%). When looking at individual areas in isolation, the consolidation option reduces the VKT or changes it up and down all within tolerance. Naturally, the first option causes a significant shift in delivery activity across England and Wales. Areas of central London would see in-excess of a 10-fold increase in the number of parcels delivered, whereas the demand for parcels in rural areas is further, and significantly reduced. Conclusions: This study highlights the importance of large-scale and detailed digital models that not only calculate the overall benefits of an innovation but also their effect on each individual area. Full article

Background: The freight forwarding industry is undergoing digital transformation through the implementation of online platforms designed to enhance operational efficiency and transparency. Despite these benefits, the adoption of these platforms has been slower than anticipated due to customer concerns and industry-specific challenges. Methods: This study investigates the factors influencing the intention to adopt and the actual use of online platforms for freight forwarding services among business customers in Thailand. A modified Unified Theory for Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT) model, incorporating perceived risk, serves as the theoretical framework. Survey data were collected from 400 respondents in managerial or higher-level positions involved in freight shipping within Thai firms and analyzed using a structural equation model (SEM). Results: The analysis reveals that performance expectancy, effort expectancy, social influence, and facilitating conditions positively influence adoption intention, while perceived risk negatively impacts it. Firm size moderates the effect of social influence, with a stronger impact observed in larger enterprises. Conclusions: The findings offer practical insights for Thai freight forwarders, suggesting strategies to improve customer acceptance and encourage the adoption of online platforms. Addressing the identified factors could lead to improved efficiency and greater integration of digital technologies in the logistics industry. Full article

Background: This research aims to solve a home healthcare vehicle routing problem (HHCVRP) model that considers the social aspect of sustainability and will be implemented in smart cities. In addition to the dynamism and uncertainty caused by variations in the patient’s condition, the proposed model considers parameters and variables that enhance its practicability, such as assuming different levels of patient importance (priority). Methods: The model was solved using a metaheuristic algorithm approach via the Ant Colony Optimization algorithm and the Non-Dominated Sorting technique due to the ability of such a combination to work out with dynamic models with uncertainties and multi-objectives. Results: This study proposes a novel mathematical model by integrating body sensors on patients to keep updating their conditions and prioritizing critical conditions in service. The sensitivity analysis demonstrates that using a heart rate sensor improves service quality and patient satisfaction without affecting the energy consumed. In addition, quality costs are increased if the importance levels of patients increase. Conclusions: The suggested model can assist healthcare practitioners in tracking patients’ health conditions to improve the quality of service and manage workload effectively. A trade-off between patient satisfaction and service provider satisfaction should be maintained. Full article

Background: This research endeavors to enhance supplier selection processes by combining the Analytic Network Process (ANP) and Technique for Order of Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (TOPSIS) methodologies, with a specific focus on sustainability criteria. Method: Initially comprising 21 sub-criteria derived from prior research, the selection criteria are refined to 17, eliminating redundant elements. The core principle guiding this refinement is the comprehensive coverage of economic, social, and environmental dimensions, essential for sustainable supplier evaluation. Results: The study’s outcomes underscore the paramount importance of economic criteria (0.0652) in supplier selection, followed by environmental (0.0343) and social dimensions (0.0503). Key sub-criteria contributing significantly to this evaluation encompassed consistent product quality, competitive raw material pricing, proficient labor capabilities, recycling potential, punctual delivery performance, and effective waste management practices. Conclusions: These sub-criteria are thoughtfully integrated into the sustainable assessment framework, aligning seamlessly with the economic, environmental, and social criteria. Full article

Background: In the current global market, supply chains are increasingly complex, necessitating agile and sustainable management strategies. Traditional analytical methods often fall short in addressing these challenges, creating a need for more advanced approaches. Methods: This study leverages advanced machine learning (ML) techniques to enhance logistics and inventory man-agement. Using historical data from a multinational retail corporation, including sales, inventory levels, order fulfillment rates, and operational costs, we applied a variety of ML algorithms, in-cluding regression, classification, clustering, and time series analysis. Results: The application of these ML models resulted in significant improvements across key operational areas. We achieved a 15% increase in demand forecasting accuracy, a 10% reduction in overstock and stockouts, and a 95% accuracy in predicting order fulfillment timelines. Additionally, the approach identified at-risk shipments and enabled customer segmentation based on delivery preferences, leading to more personalized service offerings. Conclusions: Our evaluation demonstrates the transforma-tive potential of ML in making supply chain operations more responsive and data-driven. The study underscores the importance of adopting advanced technologies to enhance deci-sion-making, evidenced by a 12% improvement in lead time efficiency, a silhouette coefficient of 0.75 for clustering, and an 8% reduction in replenishment errors. Full article

Background: One of several logistics contexts in which pricing decisions are made involves truckload carriers using reverse auctions to bid for prices they want for their transportation services while operating under uncertainty about factors such as their (i) operations costs and (ii) rivals’ bids. This study’s main purpose is to explore humans’ use of fast and frugal heuristics (FFHs) to navigate those uncertainties. In particular, the study clarifies the logic, theoretical underpinnings, and performance of human FFHs. Methods: The study uses behavior experiments as its core research method. Results: The study’s key findings are that humans use rational FFHs, yet, despite the rationality, human decisions yield average profits that are 35% below profits from price optimization models. The study also found that human FFHs yield very unstable outcomes: the FFH coefficient of variation in profit is twice as large as price optimization. Novel contributions inherent in these findings include (a) clarifying connections between spot market auction pricing and behavioral theories and (b) adding truckload spot markets to the literature’s contexts for measuring performance gaps between human FFHs and optimization models. Conclusions: The contributions have implications for practical purposes that include gauging spot pricing decisions made under constraints such as limited access to price optimization tools. Full article

The logistics landscape in e-commerce is undergoing a profound transformation toward sustainability and autonomy. This paper explores the implementation of autonomous maritime and last-mile transportation solutions to optimize the entire logistics chain from factory to customer. Building on the lessons learned from the maritime industry’s digital transformation, the study identifies key features and proposes a forward-looking autonomous maritime and last-mile transportation system. Emphasizing the role of geospatial technologies, the proposed system employs GIS-based electronic route optimization for efficient goods delivery, integrating onboard and ashore GIS-based sensors for enhanced location precision. A case study was built to analyze the implementation of autonomous means of transport along the route of a product from factory to customer. The integration of autonomous systems shows substantial improvements in logistics performance. Synchromodal logistics and smart steaming techniques can be utilized to optimize transportation routes, resulting in reduced fuel consumption and emissions. The findings reveal that autonomous maritime and last-mile transport systems can significantly enhance the efficiency, flexibility and sustainability of e-commerce logistics. The study emphasizes the need for advanced technological integration and provides a comprehensive framework for future research and practical applications in the logistics industry. Full article

Background: This research examines the direct influence of green supply chain management (GSCM) on hotel competitiveness and the indirect impact through environmental performance (EP). The competition between enterprises in today’s changing marketplace has significantly heightened. Therefore, identifying the factors that contribute to an enterprises’ competitiveness has become more essential than it was previously. Methods: We adopted a pre-tested scale drawn from previous related studies and we were able to collect 430 forms from managers and department heads in Saudi Arabian hotels. Results: The study findings of the structural model by PLS-SEM revealed that environmental and economic GSCM had a considerable beneficial influence on hotel competitiveness. However, the social aspect of GSCM failed to have an extensive effect on hotel competitiveness. All three dimensions of GSCM have a substantial indirect influence on hotel competitiveness via EP. Conclusion: The study developed a complete model that integrates the elements of GSCM with EP and hotel competitiveness. The study presents numerous implications for hoteliers and academics. Full article

Background: This review addresses the emerging field of automated packing cells, which lies at the intersection of robotics and packing problems. Integrating these two fields is critical for optimizing logistics and e-commerce operations. The current literature focuses on packing problems or specific robotic applications without addressing their integration. Methods: To bridge this gap, we conducted a comprehensive review of 46 relevant studies, analyzing various dimensions, including the components of robotic packing cells, the types of packing problems, the solution approaches, and performance comparisons. Results: Our review reveals a significant trend towards addressing online packing problems, which reflects the dynamic nature of logistics operations where item information is often incomplete. We also identify several research gaps, such as the need for standardized terminologies, comprehensive methodologies, and the consideration of real-world constraints in robotic algorithms. Conclusions: This review uniquely integrates insights from robotics and packing problems, providing a structured framework for future research. It highlights the importance of considering practical robotic constraints. It proposes a research structure that enhances the reproducibility and comparability of results in real-world scenarios. By doing so, we aim to guide future research efforts and facilitate the development of more robust and practical automated packing systems. Full article