Christian Landschützer

Containers for the Physical Internet: requirements and engineering design related to FMCG logistics

One of the main key enablers for a successful realization of the Physical Internet (PI) scenario is a modular box that meets all requirements of an interconnected logistical network. To address all these requirements, a holistic approach including all needs of the shipping network is integrated in the methodical development process that leads to the modular box prototypes. This paper describes the methodological engineering process for the first approach to develop a modular and multifunctional load unit to implement a first real PI scenario in the fast-moving consumer goods industry. From the identified research questions, three different layers to point out in detail arise. Following the presentation of the sizing approach, engineering design is the main part. A technical view on loading PI unit loads completes this work. Several methods are applied on these different layers, and final results are presented. By highlighting the significance of technical aspects and introducing a methodological approach, the reader can pick out additional benefit from this work to use in familiar topics from engineering design in logistics.

Milkrun Based In-plant Supply – An Automotive Approach

The material supply of workplaces in a manufacturing system can be realized in many ways. In the last few years, the milkrun-based in-plant supply is widely spread, especially in the field of the automotive industry. Milkrun supply makes it possible to feed manufacturing and assembly workstations keeping on the 9R rule. The lean approach is a framework for reducing costs and enhancing the quality of products and processes in automotive domain. The design and operation of milkrun based in-plant supply includes a wide range of optimization problems, like location, routing, scheduling, assignment or queuing problems. After a careful literature review, the authors describe the typical milkrun solutions of in-plant supply. The description of milkrun morphology makes it possible to define the most important aspects of milkrun supply solutions. Next, typical milkrun based supply processes are presented and their evaluation method is also described to analyze the efficiency of various solutions.

Supply Chain Optimization in Automotive Industry: A Comparative Analysis of Evolutionary and Swarming Heuristics

In every manufacturing, assembly or forwarder systems there are problems determined by a wide range and number of parameters. The increased number of variables and parameters leads to the increased number of required computational time for the exact solution. In this situation, heuristic and metaheuristic algorithms are useful tools to find the optimal or near optimal solutions of the problem. These methods are often combined parallel or sequencial and choosing the best algorithm is a quite complex question. There are two very important factors in computing: computational time and accuracy. In addition, there are secondary aspects, such as robustness or alternative solutions. Within the scope of this paper authors compare one of the best-known algorithms; the genetic algorithm with a relatively new swarming algorithm; the black hole algorithm. The efficiency of both algorithms will be demonstrated with a supply chain optimization problem in automotive industry, where more design tasks of logistic processes will be solved, like location and assignment of resources.

Innovationen in der Technischen Logistik

ZusammenfassungDer vorliegende Beitrag stellt Entwicklungen und Innovationen der Technischen Logistik dar. Fortgeschrittene Simulationstechniken ermöglichen eine virtuelle (Vor-)Beurteilung des Geräteverhaltens und unterstützen die Geräteentwicklung. Integrierte Messtechnik und ein Kennzahlenwerk stellen ein Instrumentarium zur Beurteilung der Energieeffizienz beim Fördern dar.AbstractThis paper introduces technical innovations in logistics engineering. Advanced simulation methods provide virtual insights in machinery behavior and support engineering development. Lab tests leading to efficiency indices help to seriously describe energy efficiency in conveying processes.