Emilio Larrodé

Decision model for siting transport and logistic facilities in urban environments

In this study, based on the use of a geographic information system (GIS), we define a decision model for determining the possible optimal locations of various facilities in an urban setting, which can be used by the transport infrastructure or logistics sector. The proposed methodology is based on the superposition of layers in GIS software, thereby enabling the prioritization or exclusion of certain areas depending on whether they meet specific requirements defined in each of the layers. This formulation assigns one degree of decision to each area of the map and it then classifies all of the areas to obtain the best solution according to the Jenks optimization method. We provide five case studies of transport-related facilities, including an example where the location of a hydrogen refueling station is determined using the proposed methodology.

An AHP-multicriteria suitability evaluation of technological diversification in the automotive industry

This paper advances a methodological framework for analysing the process of technological diversification in the automotive industry and presents a multicriteria procedure, based on the analytic hierarchy process (AHP), to evaluate, in a simple and user-friendly manner, the suitability of technological diversification for any company in the automotive sector. The AHP-multicriteria procedure associated with the initial stage of the methodology and the decision support systems developed to evaluate suitability have been applied to 22 Spanish automotive companies. The multicriteria procedure classifies the companies into three different groups: (i) those that are suitable for diversification; (ii) those for which product development (innovation) or market development (internationalisation) is more appropriate; (iii) those that are not suitable for any diversification process. The true value added in this initial stage of the technological diversification process is not, despite its importance, the final classification of the firms, but the learning procedure derived from the multicriteria analysis and the evaluation of diversification suitability. From this learning procedure, a set of recommendations related to the diversification of the automotive companies is extracted.

The multicriteria selection of products in technological diversification strategies: an application to the Spanish automotive industry based on AHP

The economic recession, the dynamism and complexity of the markets and the generalised globalisation of the world economy have forced many companies to rethink and reorganise their industrial strategies. Through identifying and taking advantage of the key technologies of a company, this work presents a new and original methodology for dealing with a general technological diversification process. The methodology, which includes an innovative cognitive perspective and its corresponding decisional tool (decision support system) has been used to select the best product in a process of technological diversification that, along with the key technologies, identifies the sub-levels consonant to the sub-technologies and applications to sectors and products. The multicriteria selection tool employed in the proposed methodology, based on the analytic hierarchy process, allows the integration of multiple scenarios, actors and criteria, both tangible and intangible. The methodology has been applied to a case study in the Spanish automotive auxiliary sector.

A Hybrid Algorithm for Solving the General Vehicle Routing Problem in the Case of the Urban Freight Distribution

This chapter presents a hybrid algorithm based on metaheuristic methods (Variable Neighbourhood Search and Tabu Search) and local improvements to solve the problem of the distribution of goods in large urban areas taking into account the characteristics encountered in real life. The logistics of the short distance transport of goods has an essentially urban dimension so that distribution requires efficient algorithms and the process between warehouses and customers must be effective and clean. Therefore, it is necessary to efficiently optimize urban logistics and improve connections between urban and interurban freight transport in order to ensure effective distribution. Due to the great variety of constraints and complexities of the problem, known as the General Vehicle Routing Problem, the algorithm proposes feasible solutions in order to achieve the main objective of reducing costs based on minimizing distances and reducing the number of vehicles used as long as the service quality to customers is optimum and a load balance between vehicles is maintained. This article arises from a research project carried out for a large Spanish distribution company aiming to optimally manage its resources in urban areas by reducing as much as possible costs caused by inefficiency and ineffectiveness.

Route planning for a mixed delivery system in long distance transportation and comparison with pure delivery systems

The long distance routing problems are divided into three kinds of pure delivery systems where every order is allocated the same distribution strategy. Pure delivery systems have been generally, independently and widely studied. This research provides a solution to help pallet and package delivery companies in decision making, considering a mixed delivery system to improve the use of resources. It returns the route planning after allocating to each order the distribution strategy that best fits to the global scene and proves if a mixed delivery system achieves best results than a pure one and under which circumstances.

Efficient Allocation of Recharging Stations for Electric Vehicles in Urban Environments

With the aim of decreasing today‘s dependency on oil, a growing interest in vehicles powered by alternative fuels, such as electric vehicles, has been generated. However, the successful incorporation of electric vehicles in the actual transportation system depends on overcoming of two main barriers: the low range of the electric vehicles in comparison with traditional internal combustion vehicles, and the low number of electric recharging stations. By increasing the number of recharging points it is possible to compensate the range limitations of electric vehicles, nevertheless, creating this infrastructure causes high costs. Therefore, the objetive of this study has been to develop an optimization methodology that allows planning of the recharging infrastructure for electric vehicles in an urban environment that minimizes the cost.

Identification and selection of ICTs for freight transport in product service supply chain diversification

Purpose Following the methodology designed for selecting the best industrial and technological diversification strategy, one of the best methods for achieving the long-term sustainability of companies, the purpose of this paper is to describe its application in the service supply chains (SSCs) sector, specifically, in freight transport in product service supply chains. Design/methodology/approach The methodology used in diversification processes comprises four stages: evaluation of the technological diversification suitability; selection of the technological diversification strategy; implementation of the diversification strategy; and evaluation of the process. Findings The main contributions of the paper are: the proposal of a taxonomy or functional inventory for information and communication technologies (ICTs) in the freight transport industry (FTI); the introduction of a new concept, the technological shrub, a variant of the technological tree that allows interdependencies between the functionality systems; the construction of a technological shrub for ICTs in a standard FTI firm; and the multicriteria selection, based on the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP), of the best diversification strategy that can be incorporated by this standard firm for improving competitiveness. This selection utilises a “bottom-up” approach. Originality/value The paper deals with the long-term sustainability of companies by means of technological diversification strategies. Based on the taxonomy constructed for ICTs in the SSC sector and the identification of key technologies for a particular firm, a technological shrub is constructed and a multicriteria procedure is developed in order to select the best diversification strategy.

Integrated System for Combining Decisional Problems in a Distribution Centre

The efficiency in distribution centres is conditioned by the management in the storage and picking process. To achieve this efficiency different coupled decisions have to be made for problems like storage, picking, truck-dock assignment and task assignment. The information of the activities, inside the facility and in the supply chain, is a key point to adapt the status of the process to the conditions of a changing environment. This paper describes a system to integrate information and decisions dynamically and validates it with a detailed simulation model. We show the results of the application in two case studies in actual facilities.

New Hybrid Bus Prototype for Clean Urban Transportation

The objective of this paper is to show the design and definition of a clean electric bus prototype for the urban transportation in the city of Zaragoza (Spain). For this aim we have used, as general initial data, the bodywork of the HABIT City Class from the bus maker company HISPANO and a double energy source (fuel cell as a primary energy source and flywheels as auxiliary one) which feeds two permanent magnet synchronous electric motors inserted and directly coupled with the rear wheels (hub electric motors). We have selected as well all necessary components that should be included in this prototype and we have integrated therp at the prototype bodywork.

Designing Sustainable Systems for Urban Freight Distribution through techniques of Multicriteria Decision Analysis

This paper focuses on the analysis and selection of the parameters that have a major influence on the optimization of the urban freight distribution system by using sustainable means of transport, such as electric vehicles. In addition, a procedure has been be studied to identify the alternatives that may exist to establish the best system for urban freight distribution, which suits the stage that is considered using the most appropriate means of transportation available. To do this, it has been used the Analytic Hierarchy Process, one of the tools of multicriteria decision analysis. In order to establish an adequate planning of an urban freight distribution system using electric vehicles three hypotheses are necessary: (i) it is necessary to establish the strategic planning of the distribution process by defining the relative importance of the strategic objectives of the process of distribution of goods in the urban environment, both economically and technically and in social and environmental terms; (ii) it must be established the operational planning that allows the achievement of the strategic objectives with the most optimized allocation of available resources; and (iii) to determine the optimal architecture of the vehicle that best suits the operating conditions in which it will work and ensures optimum energy efficiency in operation. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.4995/CIT2016.2016.3304