Giovanni Mirabelli

Inventory policies analysis under demand patterns and lead times constraints in a real supply chain

This paper reports a study on a real three-echelon supply chain operating in the beverage sector. The authors, starting from the actual supply chain configuration, propose a detailed study of the inventory systems. The test of a comprehensive set of different operative scenarios, in terms of customers’ demand intensity, customers’ demand variability and lead times, becomes a powerful tool for inventory systems analysis along the supply chain. The main objective is the comparison of the actual supply chain configuration with optimistic and pessimistic scenarios for studying the behaviour of different inventory control policies and optimizing the inventory system of each supply chain node. Due to the dynamically changing and stochastic behaviour of the supply chain variables as well as the complex interactions among its actors, the authors have been pushed to implement an advanced simulation model supported by a ‘well-planned’ experimental design. In addition the paper aims to underline the research effort for conceptualizing, modelling, validating and simulating a real stochastic supply chain.

Detection of the eye blinks for human's fatigue monitoring

This paper presents a non-intrusive vision based system for eye blinks detection and fatigue level monitoring. It uses a web camera positioned in front of the face. A cascade of boosted classifiers based on Haar-like features is used for fast detection of the eyes region. The frames differencing in combination with the thresholding are applied to detect the eyes closure and opening. The frame processing algorithm is pointed out in order to distinguish the involuntary blinks from the voluntary ones. Experimental tests are shown that validate the proposed system.

Material Flow Analysis and Plant Lay-Out Optimization of a Manufacturing System

The paper proposes the results of a project developed by the authors in collaboration with a production system working in the field of manufacturing wood products. The first step of the project was an accurate analysis of the system together with the design of new production documents in order to collect data about the system itself. The collected data has been used to propose an initial solution of plant lay-out. The second step of the project was the realization of a simulation model. The model has been used to find an optimal plant layout configuration by means of genetic algorithms with the goal of material handling cost minimization.

Passengers’ Flow Analysis And Security Issues In Airport Terminals Using Modeling & Simulation

The focus of this paper is to deal with passengers flow and security issues of an Italian airport terminal, the International airport of Lamezia Terme in Calabria (Italy). The objective is to analyze system performance under different scenarios through a simulation model implemented in AnylogicTM. After the modeling phase, the simulation model has been validated comparing simulation results with real system results. The authors use the simulation model for investigating system behavior under the effect different scenarios obtaining varying critical input parameters. The passengers average wait time for reaching the gate area measures system performance.

Developing data fusion systems devoted to security control in port facilities

The paper presents an innovative approach to seaport security problems. In particular the authors propose the modelling & simulation and data fusion integration to provide an efficient tool to test and improve the container inspection reliability taking into consideration - at the same time - the impact of different security levels on system performances. In this context the opportunity given by new standards and normative, in terms of sharing information, highlights the possibility to use simulation as well as data fusion for analyzing different aspects (related to security) enhancing the container selection approach based on container risk evaluation (as strongly required, for instance, by Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism, C-TPAT).

FTTO: An example of Food Ontology for traceability purpose

This paper describes our experience in the development of the Food Track&Trace Ontology (FTTO), an ontology oriented to the domain of food traceability. FTTO is used to share knowledge between agents involved in the Food Supply Chain and intends to be a reference that permits to work with information obtained through the matching and merging of different controlled vocabularies. As part of a bigger research project, the FTTO has been designed to be connected with a Global Traceability Information Systems obtained through the modelling of the food Supply Chain and of data required for internal and chain traceability. The paper presents the project milestones and the creation of the core ontology emphasizing on the development of the main classes.

Manufacturing process management using a flexible modeling and simulation approach

The focus of this paper is a manufacturing system placed in Calabria (Italy) which produces high pressure hydraulic hoses. The objective is to implement a simulator to be used both for carrying out specific analysis devoted to increase system efficiency and for supporting the manufacturing process management (implementation of all the features required for using real time the simulator). After the modeling phase, the simulation model has been validated comparing simulation results with real system performances. In this paper the authors test tool potentials investigating system behavior under different scenarios obtained varying manufacturing departments configuration. The utilization degree of each manufacturing department and its daily production measure system performance.

Empty containers repositioning: a state of the art overview

Since the beginning of containerization, empty containers repositioning has been an on-going issue in the maritime transportation industry. Over the years several research works have been developed in order to face the reposition of empty containers. This paper provides the readers with an accurate overview on methodologies and scientific approaches proposed (during the last decades) by researchers and scientists working in this specific area. The paper passes through the description of several research works, as they run through the literature, according to the methodology or scientific approach they propose. The initial search identifies a large number of references which were reduced to about 30 articles based on contents and quality. The descriptive analysis of the literature reveals heterogeneity among the scientific approaches due to the different models, techniques and methods used for facing the empty containers reposition problem.

Adaptation of the multi-layer allocation problem for warehouse layout optimization: A case study

This paper deals with the implementation of the mathematical model for the Products Allocation Problem in a multi-layer warehouse. The model has been applied to identify the optimal warehouse configuration for a company operating in the sector of production and distribution of sports equipment and sportswear, with the main goal of minimizing the material handling costs. Cost analysis have been carried out in order to evaluate the cost saving that could be obtained implementing the new layout configuration. Different scenarios have been considered to evaluate the consistency of the obtained solution. Numerical cost results show a good quality solution.

Scientific Approaches For The Industrial Workstations Ergonomic Design: A Review.

Over the last years ergonomic problems have received growing attention due to their effects on industrial plants efficiency and productivity. Many theories, principles, methods and data relevant to the workstation design have been generated through ergonomics research. However, no general frameworks have been suggested, yet. The time seems to be right for presenting a review paper on the scientific studies whose aim is to achieve the ergonomic design of industrial workstations. To this end, it is the intent of the authors to provide the readers with an accurate overview on the main scientific approaches proposed (during the last two decades) by researchers and scientists working in this specific area. In particular, two main scientific approaches have been identified. The first approach is based on the direct analysis of the real workstations, while the second one uses computerized models to design workstations ergonomically. Each scientific approach will be presented through a detailed description of the research works it involves. The initial search identifies a huge number of articles which were reduced to about 60 studies based on content and quality. Note that the research works description represents the core part of this literature review.