Antonio C. Caputo

Disposal of by-products in olive oil industry: waste-to-energy solutions

Abstract Olive oil production industry is characterized by relevant amounts of liquid and solid by-products [olive mill wastewater (OMW) and olive husk (OH)], and by economical, technical and organizational constraints that make difficult the adoption of environmentally sustainable waste disposal approaches. In this context, waste treatment technologies aimed at energy recovery represent an interesting alternative. In the paper, a technical and economical analysis of thermal disposal plant solutions with energy recovery has been carried out. The considered plants enable the combined treatment of OMW and OH which, although penalizes the energy recovery, proves to be feasible and profitable in a future legislative scenario when stricter limitation on OMW disposal will force oil producers to bear high disposal costs. Results are compared by using economic performance measures, including revenues from produced energy and avoided disposal costs. A sensitivity and risk analysis is also performed in order to assess the economic profitability of the proposed solutions.

RDF production plants: I Design and costs

Abstract Municipal solid waste (MSW) management calls for the integration of different recovery, recycling and disposal technologies. Among these possible options, MSW may be treated in order to obtain a fuel to be sold to third party users or directly utilized to generate electricity provided it is of sufficient quality to be employed instead of traditional fuels. In this two-part paper the problem of producing refuse derived fuel (RDF) having a high heating value (LHV>4000 kcal/kg) has been examined from a technical and economic viewpoint. In the first part article a technical assessment of production plants is carried out. Different production lines have been thus compared in terms of mass efficiency, heating value of produced RDF and treatment cost highlighting how the choice of process equipment affects the system performances. As a result the process plant configurations enabling to meet the required product specifications are identified. The influence of mixing a high calorific waste such as scrap tires with the stream of household waste, in the limits allowed by current regulation, has been also analyzed and found to be a prerequisite to meet the prescribed heating value target. Economic feasibility and financial risk of RDF production plants have been successively evaluated in the second part article over a capacity range of 25–200 t/h considering also integrated facilities including compost production and/or electricity generation. The analysis has been carried out with reference to the current Italian market scenario even if it has a general applicability and its relevance is wider geographically.

A methodological framework for innovation transfer to SMEs

The paper deals with technological and managerial innovation transfer to small and medium sized enterprises. A comprehensive framework is presented, identifying a networked architecture in which different actors (universities, other R&D centers, consulting companies, the European Union, national government, local public administration) interact. In so doing, the need of a specific promoting role is pointed out. Consequently, introduction of an innovation center (IC) responsible for the whole transfer process is proposed. Within this organizational unit, the role of innovation promoter (IP), that is the interface with the specific SME, is analyzed and discussed. Finally, a general scheme of IC and IP actions and competences is presented.

Analysis and evaluation of e‐supply chain performances

This study proposes a model for the analysis and performance evaluation of e‐supply chains (e‐SCs), that are supply chains (SCs) in which actors are connected by Internet technologies. It is assumed that e‐SC performances are influenced by the network ol structures, by the criteria adopted to manage relationships among involved actors, and by the critical activities that the leading company performs. At first, the variables influencing such factors are identified and the interdependencies among them are analysed to establish existing correlations. This, in turn, enables one to group the values of the influencing factors in four coherent sets which are consistent with different business environments, thus assuring the effectiveness and efficiency to the e‐SC. The obtained reference model is then tested by applying it to literature‐based case studies. The output of this model may be used to design totally new e‐SCs or to redesign the existing ones, in both manufacturing and services industries.

Analysis of heat recovery in gas-solid moving beds using a simulation approach

This work represents a first contribution to a research programme directed towards the optimization of heat recovery from moving beds running under unsteady-state conditions. A simulation model able to represent the gas-solid bed behaviour for different operating parameters and design choices has been presented. The approach has been detailed with reference to the air-cooled bed of a sintering plant for blast furnace feeding. The sintering cooler of the Taranto Ilva steel plant, in particular, has been examined. The results of the model provide useful indications for the design and management of the heat recovery system.

A framework for analysing long‐range direct shipping logistics

Purpose – To present a decision support system (DSS) enabling the analysis of the cost‐effectiveness of direct‐shipping long‐haul road transport policies, including full truck load (FTL) and less than truck load (LTL) modes, and to select the optimal carrier.Design/methodology/approach – Analytical estimation of transportation costs is provided in a framework including an interactive computer procedure and a dedicated database structure capable of characterizing the logistics system.Findings – Main criticalities of manual logistic planning are: sub‐optimal selection of carrier and excessive use of LTL transport, while the optimal FTL vs LTL trade‐off is not fully explored in practice.Research limitations/implications – This is an analysis tool of user‐defined scenarios and does not provide the automatic synthesis of shipments planning. Admittedly, this model does not attempt to optimize the shipping strategy, but to quantitatively assess the effects of the adopted decisions.Practical implications – Altern...

Manufacturing re‐insourcing in the textile industry: A case study

Purpose – This article aims to suggest to managers involved in re‐engineering projects a method to assess the feasibility of manufacturing re‐insourcing.Design/methodology/approach – At first, an analysis of the textile sector is carried out. Subsequently, a methodology is described, able to assess the feasibility of manufacturing re‐insourcing. As a case study, a high production shop is then proposed and sized for the quick response requirements of a company producing young apparel lines on behalf of third parties. Finally, an economic evaluation is carried out in order to assess the profitability of the re‐insourcing strategy.Findings – A methodology which can aid managers to assess the feasibility of manufacturing re‐insourcing in re‐engineering programs is proposed.Originality/value – The proposed methodology is original.

Integrating transport systems in supply chain management software tools

Logistic strategies represent a key factor to increase supply chain (SC) effectiveness, as the optimization of logistics networks enables transport and storage costs reduction as well as quick response leading to higher customer satisfaction. A useful approach for SC performance improvement may be pursued by resorting to advanced software tools able to analyze complex production scenarios, performing concurrent, synchronized and distributed simulations. Support to the logistics planning phase is offered by geographical information system technology, included in the simulation environment in order to manage related geographical data (i.e. warehouse location, choice of vehicle routeings, etc.). In the paper the main characteristics of the proposed hardware and software architecture have been illustrated, focusing attention on the logic phases for implementation by the transport federate. Furthermore, a preliminary functionality validation of the developed tool is presented with reference to simplified test cases.

Management criteria of automated order picking systems in high‐rotation high‐volume distribution centers

Purpose – To develop a decision support system (DSS) and improved management criteria for operating dispenser‐based single‐piece automatic order picking systems (AOPS) in distribution centers, able to reduce the need for manual decision making based on personal experience or subjective judgement.Design/methodology/approach – Simulation was utilized to analyze the relationships between stochastic demand, setup parameters and performances of an AOPS. A set of rules was then defined to cost‐effectively select the values of setup parameters. A DSS was built incorporating the heuristic rules to dynamically update the equipment setup.Findings – Manual management of an AOPS can be poorly efficient even if largely practiced. Significant economic benefits may result from rule‐based equipment setup instead of the traditional manual decision approach. This was verified resorting to a case study referring to the distribution center of a leading pharmaceuticals distributor in Italy. Major performances improvements res...

A genetic approach for freight transportation planning

Purpose – This purpose of this paper is to present a methodology for optimally planning long‐haul road transport activities through proper aggregation of customer orders in separate full‐truckload or less‐than‐truckload shipments in order to minimize total transportation costs.Design/methodology/approach – The model is applied to a specific Italian multi‐plant firm operating in the plastic film for packaging sector. The method, given the order quantities to be shipped and the location of customers, aggregates shipments in subgroups of compatible orders resorting to a heuristic procedure and successively consolidates them in optimized full truck load and less than truck load shipments resorting to a Genetic Algorithm in order to minimize total shipping costs respecting delivery due dates and proper geographical and truck capacity constraints.Findings – The paper demonstrates that evolutionary computation techniques may be effective in tactical planning of transportation activities. The model shows that sub...