Béla Illés

Optimization of Consignment-Store-Based Supply Chain with Black Hole Algorithm

The globalization of economy and market led to increased networking in the field of manufacturing and services. These manufacturing and service processes including supply chain became more and more complex. The supply chain includes in many cases consignment stores. The design and operation of these complex supply chain processes can be described as NP-hard optimization problems. These problems can be solved using sophisticated models and methods based on metaheuristic algorithms. This research proposes an integrated supply model based on consignment stores. After a careful literature review, this paper introduces a mathematical model to formulate the problem of consignment-store-based supply chain optimization. The integrated model includes facility location and assignment problems to be solved. Next, an enhanced black hole algorithm dealing with multiobjective supply chain model is presented. The sensitivity analysis of the heuristic black hole optimization method is also described to check the efficiency of new operators to increase the convergence of the algorithm. Numerical results with different datasets demonstrate how the proposed model supports the efficiency, flexibility, and reliability of the consignment-store-based supply chain.

Optimization of In-Plant Production Supply with Black Hole Algorithm

Logistic process is a basic factor in the success of manufacturing plants’ operation and has a direct impact on its efficiency, flexibility and reliability. Today’s successful operation of manufacturing processes views logistics as a high priority to ensure maximum utilization of resources. The material supply of manufacturing processes in the automotive industry is usually based on supermarkets and milk runs. This paper proposes an integrated supply model of manufacturing processes, which includes facility location and assignment. After a careful literature review, this paper introduces a mathematical model to formulate the problem of supermarkets and milk run based supply of machines. The model seeks the optimal location of buffers as well as the optimal assignment of buffers and machines so as to minimize the material handling costs while taking into account order limits of machines and capacities of resources. Next, we demonstrate an enhanced black hole algorithm dealing with multi-objective supply chain model to find the optimal structure of the system. Numerical results demonstrate how the proposed model supports the efficiency, flexibility and reliability of the manufacturing process.

New Challenges for Quality Assurance of Manufacturing Processes in Industry 4.0

Nowadays the flexibility and specific cost of manufacturing have a relevant role in the competitiveness of the companies. In our opinion the most important objective of Industry 4.0 is the realization of intermittent manufacturing at mass production’s productivity and specific cost. This aim can be only reached by creating more complex manufacturing systems. The increase in manufacturing complexity results in new challenges in the quality assurance of manufacturing processes. We can collect new types of data that enable the improvement of product and process service quality. This paper introduces the essence of Industry 4.0, as well as the new challenges for the quality assurance of manufacturing processes. Possible research directions for overcoming challenges are also presented.

Intelligent Transportation Systems to Support Production Logistics

Intelligent transportation systems (ITS) include both the traffic stream control and the intelligent vehicles. Cell phone networks and global positioning systems (GPS) enable the use of geographical information (GI) so that individual vehicles can locate themselves and global transportation systems can be enhanced taking advantages of new information technology solutions and algorithms. One of the major parts of ITS research is the assignment, routing and scheduling of vehicles in global transportation processes. This paper proposes an integrated engineering optimization algorithm to support the solution of assignment and scheduling problems of vehicles in intelligent transportation systems. This novel approach combines the available hardware and software components of an ITS with an algorithm to optimize the transportation processes of a global supply chain. To gain insight into the complexity of the logistic problem, the new model of supply chain including ITS is also described.

Supply Chain Design of Manufacturing Processes with Blending Technologies

Blending technologies play an important role in manufacturing. The design and operation of manufacturing processes using blending technologies represent a special range of manufacturing related logistics because the integrated approach of technological and logistic parameters is very significant. This research proposes an integrated model of supply of manufacturing processes using blending technologies. After a careful literature review, this paper introduces a mathematical model to formulate the problem of supply chain design for blending technologies. The integrated model includes the optimal purchasing strategy depending on the characteristics of components to be mixed in the desired proportion and the costs of supply. The integrated model will be described as a linear programming problem. Numerical results with different datasets demonstrate how the proposed model takes technological and logistic aspects into consideration.

On the Multi-Level Unit Load Formation Model

One of the most important issues in storage and transport processes is the formation of unit loads. Our main goal is to investigate the homogeneous and multi-level unit load formation cases. We give a model involving the major factors and parameters of the unit load formations. The optimization process is introduced using the formulated objective functions and constraints related to the basic tasks. The aim of the optimization process is to maximize the volume of goods that can fit into the unit load formation equipment.

Mathematical Modeling of the Unit Load Formation

A fast and efficient way of handling and storing components, raw materials, semi-finished and finished products play a significant role in the development of transport, storage and distribution design within the supply chain. One of the most important issues in storage and transport processes is the formation of unit loads. Our main goal is to give a mathematical description of a model involving the major factors of the unit load formation. The optimization process is exhibited applying the determined objective functions and constraints related to the basic tasks.

Analysis of Supply Chain Efficiency in Blending Technologies

In an increasingly intense competition only companies recognizing the importance of cooperation among supply chain members can keep their market position in the long term. The aim of the study was to examine how to improve the competitiveness of automotive manufacturing companies through the network-based operation and optimum design of the procurement system in the case of blending technologies. During the analyzes, we will present a practical example of how to optimize the procurement system of network-based production companies using blending technology.

Context of the inventory management expenses in the case of planned shortages

Abstract The main purpose of the paper is to present the relations between the different cost factors of the inventory management systems, and the context between the order quantities and the cost level. The theoretical approach of the model assumes a deterministic operational environment with planned shortages. We make the examination of the contexts by applying the ceteris paribus principle; we change only one cost factor from among the initial conditions at once and examine its effect on the cost level. By using the economic order quantity with the planned shortage model, we can define the optimal order quantity, along which our stock management can be guaranteed by the most favourable cost level. The optimisation of the inventory level and the inventory management expenses together means an important factor in the competitiveness of the company. During the definition of the optimal inventory level of purchased parts, the purchasing and stock holding costs, and also the consequence of shortages play an important role. The presentation of the specific expense factors in each other’s function, and the representation of the onetime order expenses show their proportion compared to each other and the effect of their change on the total cost, and define the opportunities of the optimisation. The significance of the model is that it represents the level line of costs, the movement of the different cost factors in relation to others and their operating mechanism. Thus, it facilitates the representation of costs and the definition of the direction of optimisation.

Presenting a Logistics Oriented Research Project in the Field of E-marketplace Integrated Virtual Enterprises

The aim of the chapter is to present an ongoing research project in the field of virtual (or extended) enterprises, focusing mainly on perspectives of logistics (especially freight transport) and e-commerce. The novelty of the research lies in the introduction of certain quality-management methods into the field, which so far have not been implemented for electronic-commerce based logistics services. In addition to the presentation of the above mentioned concepts, the chapter also gives a practical overview of the utilization of e-marketplaces in the logistics industry, supplemented by certain practical examples.