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Logistics, Volume 2, Issue 1 (March 2018) – 7 articles

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13 pages, 4120 KiB  
Article
Considering Materials Management in Construction: An Exploratory Study
by Zakaria Dakhli and Zoubeir Lafhaj
Logistics 2018, 2(1), 7; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/logistics2010007 - 05 Mar 2018
Cited by 12 | Viewed by 7373
Abstract
While materials count for a considerable amount of construction costs, the way materials are managed seems to be improvised rather than approached methodically. This study investigates the practice of novel techniques used to manage materials in the construction industry. Techniques that have already [...] Read more.
While materials count for a considerable amount of construction costs, the way materials are managed seems to be improvised rather than approached methodically. This study investigates the practice of novel techniques used to manage materials in the construction industry. Techniques that have already proven themselves to be efficient ways to manage the production pace within the industry include the pull system, Just-In-Time, Kitting and off-site fabrication. These are explained and assessed in the context of the French construction industry through an exploratory study, supported by a questionnaire completed by contractors. The results reveal that a clear plan to manage materials on-site is lacking among the respondents, creating common inventory problems. This research provides evidence to support the central role played by an efficient management of material flow on-site. It also highlights the obstacles that hinder the adoption of innovative techniques, such as sub-contractor coordination. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Supplier, Government and Procurement Logistics)
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16 pages, 1581 KiB  
Article
Assessing Port Governance, Devolution and Terminal Performance in Nigeria
by D. E. Onwuegbuchunam
Logistics 2018, 2(1), 6; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/logistics2010006 - 25 Feb 2018
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 6572
Abstract
Concerns about performance and efficiency in port terminals led many national governments to embark on port reforms. The Federal government of Nigeria, for example, adopted the Landlord port model which brought about concessioning of port terminals to private operators. Despite high investments in [...] Read more.
Concerns about performance and efficiency in port terminals led many national governments to embark on port reforms. The Federal government of Nigeria, for example, adopted the Landlord port model which brought about concessioning of port terminals to private operators. Despite high investments in terminal facilities by the private terminal operators, there are still complaints about level of service offered to port users. This paper applied key performance indicator metrics and parameters of queuing model in assessing performance of Nigeria’s concessioned port terminals. Data for the study were obtained from terminal level records of cargo and ship handling activities for years 2000 to 2015. Major findings indicate that cargo and vessel throughputs improved after the reforms in the six ports examined. However, much variability was observed in trends in ships’ turnround times across all ports after the concession policy implementation. Additional results from the queuing model analysis suggest that the high ships turnround times observed in some ports are associated to delays in ship operation at the berths. The paper recommends that policy interventions be focused on ship operations at the berths as a step in improving service level in the port terminals. Full article
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16 pages, 1940 KiB  
Article
Use of Bayesian Networks to Analyze Port Variables in Order to Make Sustainable Planning and Management Decision
by Beatriz Molina Serrano, Nicoleta González-Cancelas, Francisco Soler-Flores, Samir Awad-Nuñez and Alberto Camarero Orive
Logistics 2018, 2(1), 5; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/logistics2010005 - 11 Jan 2018
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 4125
Abstract
In the current economic, social and political environment, society demands a greater variety of outcomes from the public logistics sector, such as efficiency, efficiency of managed resources, greater transparency and business performance. All of them are an indispensable counterpart for its recognition and [...] Read more.
In the current economic, social and political environment, society demands a greater variety of outcomes from the public logistics sector, such as efficiency, efficiency of managed resources, greater transparency and business performance. All of them are an indispensable counterpart for its recognition and support. In case of port planning and management, many variables are included. Use of Bayesian Networks allows to classify, predict and diagnose these variables and even to estimate the subsequent probability of unknown variables, basing on the known ones. Research includes a data base with more than 40 variables, which have been classified as smart port studies in Spain. Then a network was generated using a non-cyclic conducted grafo, which shows port variable relationships. As conclusion, economic variables are cause of the rest of categories and they represent a parent role in the most of cases. Furthermore, if environmental variables are known, subsequent probability of social variables can be estimated. Full article
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1 pages, 275 KiB  
Editorial
Acknowledgement to Reviewers of Logistics in 2017
by Logistics Editorial Office
Logistics 2018, 2(1), 4; https://doi.org/10.3390/logistics2010004 - 09 Jan 2018
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2461
Abstract
Peer review is an essential part in the publication process, ensuring that Logistics maintains high quality standards for its published papers.[...] Full article
22 pages, 3886 KiB  
Article
Evaluation of Maintenance and EOL Operation Performance of Sensor-Embedded Laptops
by Mehmet Talha Dulman and Surendra M. Gupta
Logistics 2018, 2(1), 3; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/logistics2010003 - 08 Jan 2018
Cited by 8 | Viewed by 4623
Abstract
Sensors are commonly employed to monitor products during their life cycles and to remotely and continuously track their usage patterns. Installing sensors into products can help generate useful data related to the conditions of products and their components, and this information can subsequently [...] Read more.
Sensors are commonly employed to monitor products during their life cycles and to remotely and continuously track their usage patterns. Installing sensors into products can help generate useful data related to the conditions of products and their components, and this information can subsequently be used to inform EOL decision-making. As such, embedded sensors can enhance the performance of EOL product processing operations. The information collected by the sensors can also be used to estimate and predict product failures, thereby helping to improve maintenance operations. This paper describes a study in which system maintenance and EOL processes were combined and closed-loop supply chain systems were constructed to analyze the financial contribution that sensors can make to these procedures by using discrete event simulation to model and compare regular systems and sensor-embedded systems. The factors that had an impact on the performance measures, such as disassembly cost, maintenance cost, inspection cost, sales revenues, and profitability, were determined and a design of experiments study was carried out. The experiment results were compared, and pairwise t-tests were executed. The results reveal that sensor-embedded systems are significantly superior to regular systems in terms of the identified performance measures. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Artificial Intelligence, Logistics Analytics, and Automation)
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13 pages, 492 KiB  
Article
The Supply Chain Has No Clothes: Technology Adoption of Blockchain for Supply Chain Transparency
by Kristoffer Francisco and David Swanson
Logistics 2018, 2(1), 2; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/logistics2010002 - 05 Jan 2018
Cited by 400 | Viewed by 55526
Abstract
Blockchain technology, popularized by Bitcoin cryptocurrency, is characterized as an open-source, decentralized, distributed database for storing transaction information. Rather than relying on centralized intermediaries (e.g., banks) this technology allows two parties to transact directly using duplicate, linked ledgers called blockchains. This makes transactions [...] Read more.
Blockchain technology, popularized by Bitcoin cryptocurrency, is characterized as an open-source, decentralized, distributed database for storing transaction information. Rather than relying on centralized intermediaries (e.g., banks) this technology allows two parties to transact directly using duplicate, linked ledgers called blockchains. This makes transactions considerably more transparent than those provided by centralized systems. As a result, transactions are executed without relying on explicit trust [of a third party], but on the distributed trust based on the consensus of the network (i.e., other blockchain users). Applying this technology to improve supply chain transparency has many possibilities. Every product has a long and storied history. However, much of this history is presently obscured. Often, when negative practices are exposed, they quickly escalate to scandalous, and financially crippling proportions. There are many recent examples, such as the exposure of child labor upstream in the manufacturing process and the unethical use of rainforest resources. Blockchain may bring supply chain transparency to a new level, but presently academic and managerial adoption of blockchain technologies is limited by our understanding. To address this issue, this research uses the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT) and the concept of technology innovation adoption as a foundational framework for supply chain traceability. A conceptual model is developed and the research culminates with supply chain implications of blockchain that are inspired by theory and literature review. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Digital Logistics)
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8296 KiB  
Article
Impacts of Additive Manufacturing on Supply Chain Flow: A Simulation Approach in Healthcare Industry
by Eren Özceylan, Cihan Çetinkaya, Neslihan Demirel and Ozan Sabırlıoğlu
Logistics 2018, 2(1), 1; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/logistics2010001 - 29 Dec 2017
Cited by 32 | Viewed by 14184
Abstract
Additive manufacturing (AM) can lead to innovative solutions in traditional supply chain networks (TSCN), which contains very complicated and -hard to manage- chains. With 3D printing technology, a design file can transform directly to a product, skipping many traditional manufacturing steps. Thus, this [...] Read more.
Additive manufacturing (AM) can lead to innovative solutions in traditional supply chain networks (TSCN), which contains very complicated and -hard to manage- chains. With 3D printing technology, a design file can transform directly to a product, skipping many traditional manufacturing steps. Thus, this new application can affect all logistics and supply chain activities positively. The research problem of this paper is to search and assess supply chain changes associated with 3D printing technology adoption to identify the potential impact of AM. To do so, two different supply chain networks, which are TSCN and 3D printing supply chain network (3DPSCN) for healthcare industry are considered. A simulation model is developed to evaluate the potential impact of 3D printing improvements on the configuration of orthopedic insole supply chains. The main contribution of this paper is proposing a simulation model for a healthcare company to compare its 3DPSCN structure with its TSCN version. The results show the concrete benefits such as lead-time and number of customers that can be achieved by 3DPSCN compared to TSCN. Full article
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