Lights-Out Logistics

Dear Colleagues, 

We invite you to contribute to a Special Issue of Logistics entitled "Lights-Out Logistics".

As technology advances, fully automated production processes are becoming more and more feasible as the norm, as many manufacturers' advantages outweigh the disadvantages. Driven by the need to produce faster, better, and cheaper, manufacturers of all sizes embrace various forms of automation in their quest to reduce costs, increase productivity and reduce response times. Automation is changing the face of manufacturing in ways previously unimaginable, from extensive production facilities almost entirely driven by robots to small workshops looking to improve a few key manufacturing processes. Fully self-driving plants are still not viable for most manufacturers, but more and more people are embracing automation on a smaller scale that makes sense for their business. This trend towards automation introduced us to a new concept: "Lights-Out." Automation in production, in particular, led to the development of "Lights-Out" manufacturing, which could operate 24 hours a day with minimal staff in the second and third shifts, and the concept was often associated with manufacturing. Considering that the term "Lights-Out" refers to a digitized, automated process that does not involve any human intervention, it can have an impact beyond manufacturing throughout supply chains. Many studies emphasize, albeit indirectly, the necessity of maximizing the intelligent use of technology, from automation to data analytics, especially in logistics processes. Practitioners use automated systems to make warehouses and distribution centers more flexible, provide optimum space utilization, and have similar efficiency concerns. Instead of trying to build a complete lighting plant, they are focusing on areas best suited to "Lights-Out" automation, such as material handling tasks. For example, no staff commuting with forklifts, no-load carriers inspecting products and picking up items on pallets, not even an electric light—just self-navigation with laser guidance systems, where high shelves, shuttles, elevators, robots, conveyors, and autonomous vehicles choose their path in the dark. They set up warehouses where they build, perceive obstacles and pass silently. At this point, the concept of 'Lights-Out Logistics' emerges. Furthermore, Lights-Out Logistics can help supply chains become more resilient in times of great uncertainty and disruption, such as financial crises and pandemics like COVID-19.

Of course, some questions arise and need to be investigated:

- Is the current technological development sufficient for lights-out logistics operations?

- Is the technological infrastructure, digital culture, level of expertise, and management approach in businesses suitable for lights-out logistics operations?

- Where does Lights-out logistics stand in industry 4.0 applications, and what could be its effects on supply chain processes?

These questions and many more are the reason why we are organizing this Special Issue that aims to discuss Lights-Out Logistics processes.

The Special Issue is oriented toward (but not limited to) the following topics: 

• lights-out systems
• warehouse automation systems
• Industry 4.0
• logistics collaboration
• security aspects of logistics activities
• challenges of networking
• risk management
• quality management systems
• quality of customer service
• sustainable success of business
• changes in logistics structures
• modelling
• COVID-19 challenges

Prof. Dr. Ieva Meidutė-Kavaliauskienė
Dr. Şemsettin Çiğdem
Dr. Renata Činčikaitė
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Logistics is an international peer-reviewed open access quarterly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 1400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.