Logistics Facilities Research Articles

Numerical Study on the Effects of Horizontal Barriers on Fire Behavior in Logistics Facility Racks

In this study, a numerical analysis was conducted to derive the optimal installation conditions for flame-spread barriers within racks, to reduce the damage caused by recurrent fire accidents in logistics facilities. The effectiveness of the fire extinguishing system according to domestic regulations was reviewed to ensure the feasibility of installation of the horizontal barrier. This review revealed that sprinkler systems were ineffective in delaying or preventing the initial spread of fire under certain fire conditions, confirming the need for horizontal barriers. Furthermore, although the installation of horizontal barriers was effective in delaying the initial fire spread, it led to an increase in fire size by blocking the extinguishing water and altering the fire spread path. It was confirmed that deriving the optimal installation conditions for barriers requires the consideration of the interactions between the in-rack sprinkler heads and the surrounding fire extinguishing systems.

Levels of Effectiveness of Water Curtain Equipment Applied When Mitigating Fire Compartment Installation of Logistics Facilities

Mock-up tests and fire simulations were performed to verify the effectiveness of water curtain equipment in mitigating fire compartment installation of logistics facilities. The radiant-heat-blocking effect of the water curtain equipment differed significantly based on the type of drencher head, and a blocking effect was observed. Additionally, the radiant temperature and heat flux were significantly reduced when the installation intervals of the drencher heads of the water curtain equipment were reduced. Therefore, improving the standards related to the water curtain equipment of logistics facilities, e.g., providing drencher head specifications, restricting the sizes of the openings, and narrowing the installation intervals of the drencher heads, is necessary to ensure the fire safety of water curtain equipment.

Locations of LTL-logistics service providers as urban consolidation centers – the Dusseldorf case and its possible transferability

ABSTRACT Proximity logistics represent a counter movement to logistics sprawl – the return of logistics to urban areas. In the case presented, a logistics service provider in the groupage and less-than-truckload (LTL) segment runs an urban consolidation center (UCC), offers receiver-led consolidation and additional service like stockholding to inner-city businesses in the city of Dusseldorf. The case shows that for the development of a UCC or a proximity logistics facility to succeed, no expensive space is necessarily required in immediate inner-city areas. The transfer to other locations of logistics service providers of the same segment shows that these could serve as possible locations for UCC in terms of cargo-bike relevant distances. We, therefore, conclude that the relevant locations of logistics infrastructure like ports and centrally located logistics facilities should be seen as crucial for the transformation to sustainable freight transport and its initiation by municipal governments.

Spatial participatory planning for urban logistics: A GIS-enhanced Real-Time Spatial Delphi approach

Effective urban logistics planning plays a crucial role in effectively managing infrastructure and transportation networks, contributing to the mitigation of negative externalities associated with last-mile deliveries and fostering city sustainability. Among the various facets of supply chain management, selecting appropriate locations in urban areas for logistics facilities, such as automated parcel lockers and smart loading bays, stands out. However, the complexity of decision-making in this context, involving diverse stakeholders with potential conflicting objectives, poses a significant challenge in reaching a common consensus. This paper proposes an innovative approach to address this issue by adopting a spatial participatory process that combines GIS models and Real-Time Spatial Delphi to identify suitable locations for two logistic facilities. The case study is the city of Dublin (Ireland), where an Urban Living Lab of the H2020 project SENATOR is based. A modified Delphi is used, first gathering expert opinions on preferences and objectives. These insights are then used to develop a spatial analysis using GIS, ranking areas according to the expert preferences. These outcomes form the basis for the Real-Time Spatial Delphi, where stakeholders and experts working on the project collaboratively engage to achieve a spatial consensus on the territory. The findings of this study provide valuable information for stakeholders, policymakers, local authorities, and governmental bodies to implement specific actions. Through the active involvement of key actors in the decision-making process, this approach ensures that the selected locations for logistics facilities align with the needs of all parties involved.

Walmart Foundation grants available for local community projects

The Walmart Foundation is currently accepting applications for funding under its Spark Good Local Grant program, which it established to support nonprofit organizations operating within the service areas of individual U.S.‐based Walmart stores, Sam's Clubs and logistics facilities. These grants are smaller and more locally focused than the foundation's national programs, which tend to fund a broader range of program areas, and range from $250 up to $5,000 each, the foundation said.

Economic evaluation of an outsourced fourth-party logistics under a flexible production system

Competition in the production business is getting harder day by day for the manufacturer and the corresponding retailer of the supply chain. When a supply chain deals with deteriorating products, an efficient production system, and a logistic provider are two important pillars to keep the business profitable. Logistics facility for deteriorating products requires additional attention, especially when deteriorating products require a refrigerate-storage facility. This study investigates the economic evaluation of flexible production and logistics outsourcing for deteriorating products with the help of logistics outsourcing. The retailer outsources logistics facilities through a fourth-party logistics provider. Fourth-party logistics uses reefer shipping to transport deteriorating products to prevent deterioration during transportation. The refrigerant of the shipping container has a random leakage during shipping. In the meantime, the manufacturer uses preservation facility to reduce the random deterioration rate of products. A classical optimization finds the global minimum total cost for a unique solution of decision variables. Results prove that flexible production is very sensitive to machinery systems and fresh products are more cost-effective for transportation than frozen products. The proposed system saves 38.38% of the total cost in comparison with a constant production rate. Sensitivity analysis finds transportation costs of 4PL are the most sensitive parameters of the system.

Robotic warehouse systems considering dynamic priority

The research proposes a new methodological framework based on dynamic priority to handle different order classes in robotic warehouse systems. Traditional static priority methods in facility logistics may cause low-priority orders to experience excessive delays and fail to ensure fairness. Our dynamic priority approach addresses this fairness issue by adjusting priorities over time to fulfill orders within promised times, ensuring both high-priority orders and long-waiting low-priority orders receive timely attention. We present stochastic models of dynamic priority queueing networks to describe warehouse systems and estimate throughput times. Experiments validate the analytical stochastic models, and experimental results indicate that the dynamic priority model achieves shorter delay times than the static priority model and the FCFS model. We propose design insights based on experimental results and provide an approach to select the optimal robot number. Furthermore, by employing a fairness index, we develop a new decision support tool for determining warehouse configurations with requested performance objectives. Experimental results demonstrate that dynamic priority can ensure fairness across a wider range of scenarios. Additionally, with insufficient pickers, the system performs better with the put wall than without it.

Full-Scale Fire Experiment on Mezzanine Racks in Logistics Facilities

Full-Scale Fire Experiment on Mezzanine Racks in Logistics Facilities

A Modular XR Collaborative Platform for Occupational Safety and Health Training: A Case Study in Circular Logistics Facilities

Over the past few years, safety and health have become major concerns in the warehouse and logistics sectors. Each year, warehouse fatalities, injuries, and accidents cause unrecoverable losses and huge financial costs. In spite of all the advancements in methods, tools, equipment, and regulations, the number of accidents, especially fatal ones, has not subsided significantly. As a result, safety professionals and researchers have explored new and innovative ways to combat this problem. In the circular logistics facility (CLF) industry, located inside warehouses and providing human muscle-oriented services to maintain pallets, both short-term safety incidents and long-term health concerns are present. Long-term health training is rarely discussed in the literature compared to short-term safety training. This is because health issues are more complex than safety issues, since biological outcomes may take time to develop, are affected by multiple resources, and cumulative injuries may occur. This paper contributes to warehouse health and safety by designing and developing a modular XR collaborative training and testing platform (MXC-P). The co-design process is applied to design each module in the MXC-P. Three main modules related to health and safety training for CLF were considered, namely personal protection equipment, pallet handling, and pallet repairing. On this platform, a virtual interactive world provides a solid hands-on training environment and generates syntactic data for evaluating long-term health risks. On the other hand, collaborative and modular environments provide a solution to geographically distributed systems, allowing employees to connect and train remotely. The effectiveness of the MXC-P is compared with traditional safety training in a pilot study. Based on the results, we can establish that the MXC-P is effective in teaching and testing hazard identification situations, especially those relating to short-term health. The results also indicate that trainees’ recall of knowledge would improve with the MXC-P. In addition to this, the MXC-P can also be used to test and evaluate a new system and generate syntactic data for evaluating long-term health.

An application of gravity models to freight data in Malaysia

Background: Freight transport services and international trade are among important factors in pushing economies’ transition forward. Malaysia’s strategic location along key maritime routes positions it as a vital hub for international shipping and logistics, facilitating efficient trade between Asia, Europe and the Middle East.Objectives: Despite extensive global studies on freight and trade, little specific research exists from Malaysia’s perspective. Thus, this study aims to evaluate how factors such as economic size of trade partners and distance impact Malaysia’s freight transport in international trade, using the gravity model, a tool for analysing bilateral trade flows.Method: Three types of gravity models are employed to assess the impact of economic scale, infrastructure and demographic factors on freight transport. Then the validity of these relationships is further evaluated.Results: The random effect model (REM) is found to be the best fitted model. The study identifies infrastructure and economic scale as pivotal factors influencing both freight export and import. The result showed the volume of container handled in ports is the main determinant in both export and import of freight, whereas air freight has significant impact to boost the export of freight. Distance is statistically significant, however, with marginally small impact.Conclusion: Based on the analysis, we can conclude that the robust port infrastructure and efficient logistical facilities are important in reducing freight costs and enhancing Malaysia’s international trade competitiveness.Contribution: This study mainly contributes on providing empirical evidence and in-depth insight on Malaysia freight transport services through the application of gravity models.

Measuring the social effects of urban logistics facilities development, the case of New York city

ABSTRACT With customers expecting near-immediate deliveries, there has been a growth of heterogeneous networks of proximity logistics facilities within urban centers. Although resulting in higher operational efficiency, this trend challenges traditional planning paradigms and generates externalities for communities. This research provides an approach to analyze the effects of facility development in communities, using the case of New York City. Published information and public data sources are used to identify the location and type of facilities. Census data allows the calculation of existing vulnerability near the identified areas, and labor indicators present local trends in proximity-logistics-related sectors. Results show that logistics facilities are in areas where the population is vulnerable. However, new warehouse trends do not follow this tendency and can escape zoning codes. As a result, the quest for faster deliveries challenges existing planning processes. Job changes vary by location and over time, demonstrating inconsistency and sometimes volatility in worker effects.

A behavioral micro simulation case study: Distribution center location

The potential negative externalities that can be produced by urban freight transportation make it critical to investigate the impact of urban freight and land use-related decisions on energy efficiency, congestion, and emissions. To advance such investigation, the authors developed a Behavioral Microsimulation Software (BMS) that simulates freight vehicle tours generated in a study area. At the most general level, the BMS provides aggregate performance metrics. At the detailed level, it outputs the freight vehicle tours and their corresponding characteristics. This study sheds light on the impact of the location of logistic facilities on the delivery operation to businesses in metropolitan areas. Thus, the goal of this research is to quantify the impacts of three scenarios in a metropolitan area: (i) location of a new distribution center in the outskirts, (ii) location of a new distribution center in the core, (iii) relocation of an existing distribution center from the outskirts to the core. The impacts discussed are vehicle miles traveled, deliveries per tour, and the number of tours. The authors developed a case study on the New York State Capital Region (USA). The results indicate a reduction in total vehicle miles traveled when locating distribution centers closer to the area's urban core, where demand is concentrated, compared to when located in the outskirts.

Analytical Study on the Settings and Fire Spreading Characteristics of Representative Rack Structures in Korean Logistics Facilities

Racks are prone to catching fire and causing the fire to spread intensely owing to the vertically stacking of commodities. Their flexible characteristics, influenced by various components such as rack structures, commodity types, and loading methods, make it is challenging to establish effective fire prevention measures and countermeasures. In this study, representative rack structures were established based on the systems/guidelines derived from field surveys of approximately 40 logistics facilities in Korea. Fires were analyzed based on fire spreading characteristics, such as temperature, mass loss rate of commodities, and heat release rate of the unit racks. This series of processes and results can serve as a reference for research and development of related technologies aimed at reducing the spread of rack fires.

수도권 지역에서 물류센터의 임차 결정 요인에 관한 연구

Purpose: T his s tudy a nalyzed t he f actors i nfluencing t he s election o f logistics c enters for leasing and their impacts on the performance of a firm in metropolitan areas. Understanding these determinants is crucial for efficient logistics management, given the growing importance of logistics centers because of the expansion of e-commerce and delivery services. Research design, data, and methodology: This research was conducted using a structured approach that included a theoretical review, hypothesis formulation, and empirical verification. Data were collected through a survey targeting logistics and distribution experts, and the hypotheses were tested using mediation effect analysis. Results: The geographic location, logistics facilities, architectural features, and external environmental factors significantly impact leasing decisions. These factors also have significant effects on strategic and operational decision-making as well as corporate performance. Conclusions: The choice of logistics centers significantly affects strategic and operational decision-making levels and the management performance of a company. The implications of this analysis suggest that shippers should conduct a detailed and thorough analysis and review when making leasing decisions for logistics centers.

Fiscal Policy to Encourage Investment in the Marine Logistics Sector

The marine logistics sector plays a crucial role in a country's economic growth, particularly for archipelagic nations like Indonesia. However, investment levels in this sector remain low, which can hinder potential economic growth. This research aims to analyze various fiscal policies that can encourage investment in the marine logistics sector. The methods used in this research are qualitative and quantitative descriptive analysis. The results indicate that fiscal policies such as tax incentives, subsidies, and government funds allocated for maritime infrastructure development can increase the attractiveness of investment in this sector. Tax incentives, such as reductions in corporate income tax rates, exemptions or reductions in import taxes for equipment, and tax allowance facilities, can be effective instruments to attract investment. Subsidies, such as capital assistance, low-interest loans, and operational cost compensation, can also help reduce investment risks and encourage investor participation. Additionally, adequate allocation of government funds for the development of maritime infrastructure, such as ports, docks, and other logistics facilities, is crucial for enhancing the sector's efficiency and competitiveness. However, fiscal policies alone are not enough. Improved regulations and better law enforcement are also necessary to create a conducive investment climate in the marine logistics sector.

Integrating Inventory Management and Distribution: A Holistic Supply Chain Strategy

This study/research delves into an integrated approach to inventory management, shedding light on various inventory management technologies applicable across different industries and distribution systems. The overarching goal is to attain a competitive edge by reducing costs and enhancing service quality. It underscores the significant impact of total logistics costs, encompassing transportation, facility, and inventory expenses, on a company's competitiveness. By harmonizing inventory and distribution policy decisions, businesses can streamline costs and enhance their ability to respond effectively to market demands. The effectiveness of this integration is illustrated through a practical example involving a scenario of single supply and multiple demands. Moreover, the study examines the pivotal role of Vendor Managed Inventory in optimizing inventory management throughout the supply chain. Additionally, it explores the utilization of the Traveling Salesman Problem to streamline transportation expenses. Through the adoption of this integrated approach, organizations can realize cost efficiencies and bolster their responsiveness, ultimately strengthening their competitive position within the industry.

Carotid Disease Classification: Impact of the 2021 Intersocietal Accreditation Commission Updated Recommendations vs 2003 Society of Radiologists in Ultrasound Consensus Conference Criteria

Introduction: In 2021, the Intersocietal Accreditation Commission (IAC) introduced modified criteria for carotid duplex interpretation based on peak systolic velocity (PSV) and PSV ratio. The most significant change compared to the 2003 Society of Radiologists in Ultrasound (SRU) criteria involved re-defining the thresholds for <50 and 50% to 69% stenosis ranges. Patients identified in <50% vs 50% to 69% ranges may face different disease severity assignments, variable surveillance protocols, medical management approaches, and recommendations for intervention. Facilities may experience altered payment coverage, issues of staff re-training, and questions from referring physicians regarding patient treatment and disease management expectations. The objective of this study was to assess the impact of re-defining these stenosis ranges using the 2021 IAC criteria vs the SRU criteria. Methods: Anonymized patient data from carotid duplex examinations were collected as part of an internal laboratory quality improvement strategy. These data were analyzed in an electronic database using the IAC and SRU threshold criteria to determine the degree of carotid stenosis. Patients with normal arteries, unilateral studies, or complete occlusions were excluded. Results: Of the 1000 patients considered, 850 met the eligibility criteria. Using PSV: for the right carotid, 242 (28.5%) showed a change and 608 (71.5%) showed no change in stenosis classification; for the left carotid, 228 (27%) showed a change and 622 (73%) showed no change. All changes were a downgrading of disease to <50% stenosis. Using PSV ratio: for the right carotid, re-assignment of 53 (22% of changed, 6% of total cohort); for the left carotid, re-assignment of 48 (21% of changed, 5.6% of total cohort). All changes resulted in re-assignment to the 50% to 69% stenosis category. Conclusions: Implementation of the IAC criteria resulted in patients being re-assigned to lower stenosis categories (27% for PSV and 21% for PSV ratio). The impact of these changes on patient care and facility logistics needs careful consideration.

From pediatric to adult care: a survey on the transition process in type 1 diabetes mellitus and the diabetes services in Italy.

The present study assessed the transitioning process of young adults with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1D) in Italy. We asked Pediatric Diabetes Centers (PDC) and Adult Diabetes Centers (CAD) to fill in a web-based survey on the current state of services, the number of transitioning adolescents with T1D within the last year, observations on limitations, and future directions. 93 centers (46 PDCs, 47 CADs) joined the study. The total number of subjects with T1D being followed by a PDC was 16,261 (13,779 minors and 2483 young adults), while CADs had 25,500 patients. The survey showed an uneven situation. Only some services had a dedicated diabetes team (78% of PDCs, 64% of CADs). 72% of PDCs and 58% of CADs reported a protocol dedicated to transition. The median age for transition was 19 (range 16-25years); the time required for preparing transition, indicated by both PDCs and CADs, was 5.5months. A high percentage of CADs (80%) confirmed receiving sufficient clinical information, mainly through paper or computerized reports. The transition process is hampered by a lack of resources, logistical facilities, and communication between services. While some services have a protocol, monitoring of results is only carried out in a few cases. Most specialists expressed the need to enhance integration and continuity of treatment. The current situation could be improved. Applying standard guidelines, taking into consideration both clinicians' and patients' necessities, would lead to a more successful transition process.

Logistics Hub and Route Optimization in the Physical Internet Paradigm

Background: The global logistics industry is facing looming challenges related to labor shortages and low-efficiency problems due to the lack of logistics facilities and resources, resulting in increased logistics delays. The Physical Internet is seen as a way to take logistics into the next generation of transformation. This research proposes a Physical Internet-enabled system that allows multiple companies to efficiently share warehouses and trucks to achieve operational efficiency and reduce CO2 emissions. Methods: We propose a novel demography-weighted combinatorial optimization model utilizing a genetic algorithm and the Lin–Kernighan heuristic. The model is tested with real data simulations to evaluate its performance. Results: The results show that compared to the existing model presented in a previous study, our proposed model improves location optimality and distributive routing efficiency and reduces CO2 emissions by 54%. Conclusions: By providing a well-founded novel model, this research makes an important contribution to the implementation of the Physical Internet by computing optimal logistics hubs and routes as well as providing a solution to cut CO2 emissions by half.

Research on emergency transport planning for E-commerce logistics network based on simulated annealing algorithm

In response to the issue of insufficient demand for logistics facilities during holidays or the temporary or permanent closure of logistics facilities due to sudden events such as epidemics, natural disasters, etc., this paper proposes a planning model and solution algorithm based on multi-objective dynamic decision-making to optimize the emergency transport plan and structure of the e-commerce logistics network. Firstly, an LSTM model is utilized to predict the transportation demand for a certain period in the future. Decision variables are introduced to indicate whether to open or close new routes after closing a logistics facility. The objective functions are set to minimize the number of routes with changes in cargo volume, minimize the load imbalance of each route, and minimize the cumulative total of parcels that cannot circulate normally. Considering factors such as normal circulation of parcels, circulation capacity, transportation capacity after opening or closing facilities, and time constraints, a multi-objective planning model is constructed. Finally, the simulated annealing algorithm is employed for solution, obtaining a circulation plan that meets the requirements. Simulation experiment results demonstrate that the model can rapidly and accurately respond to the paralysis of the e-commerce logistics network caused by sudden events, showcasing high efficiency and practical application value.