1,721,070 research outputs found
The Potential of Hydrogen Technologies for Low-Carbon Mobility in the Urban-Industrial Symbiosis Approach
Full text linkThe use of green hydrogen to power vehicles is recognized as contributing to the mitigation of the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions responsible for climate change. On the other hand, the need for reducing GHG emissions is even more urgent in densely industrialized areas, traditionally located nearby highly populated zones. In these areas, road transportation is a relevant source of environmental pressures affecting air quality and the nearby communities’ health: in Europe, private vehicles, vans, trucks, and buses produce more than 70% of the overall greenhouse gas emissions from transport, as well as particulate matter and nitrogen oxide. The European Hydrogen Strategy considers using green hydrogen as an energy carrier to de-carbonize industry and the transport sector, highlighting the need for the infrastructure to produce, store, and distribute hydrogen. The spatial configuration of the industrial sites and the existing infrastructure can facilitate the creation of hydrogen hubs serving both the logistics needs of companies and the public and private mobility in an urban-industrial symbiosis approach. Thus, this study aims at investigating the opportunities offered by the creation of synergies between industrial clusters and the nearby urban areas to improve the local sustainability by supporting the deploying of low-carbon mobility using green hydrogen. The available literature is reviewed in order to schematise and discuss the sustainability-related basis of adopting such a strategy, presenting an updated analysis of the latest research and application results suitable for future research applications and for supporting decision-making processes
A multiple single-pass heuristic algorithm for the stochastic assembly line re-balancing problem
No full textAssembly line re-balancing is a problem frequently tackled by companies, as continuous changes in product features and volume demand caused by the volatility of today’s markets produce assembly tasks re-definition and line cycle time fluctuations. Hence, managers have to adapt the balancing of their lines to accomplish with the new conditions, while trying to keep to a bare minimum increases in completion costs and in costs related to changes in tasks assignment. In particular, modifications in line balancing impact on operators training, equipment switching and moving, along with quality assurance. The stochastic assembly line re-balancing problem basically consists in a multi-objective problem where two objectives, total expected completion cost of the new line and similarity between the new and the existing line, have to be jointly optimized. In this paper, a multiple single-pass heuristic algorithm is consequently developed with the aim to find the most complete set of dominant solutions representing the Pareto front of the problem. Multiple single-pass procedures iterate the execution of single-pass algorithms, in order to generate a set of solutions, rather than to create a unique purpose. Given such a set, the best-performing solutions, in accordance with the multi-objective nature of the problem, are presented to the line designer, who selects the final assembly line balancing considering also additive factors that can be hardly inserted in a mathematical approach (i.e. simplicity of learning re-assigned tasks, time requested for the re-allocation of tools necessary for executing re-assigned tasks, experience requested for maintenance of tools necessary for executing re-assigned tasks). By means of a wide experimentation including comparisons with a multi-objective genetic algorithm, the behaviour of the proposed methodology is set and optimized
Spare parts management with Additive Manufacturing (AM): a critical review
Full text linkAdditive Manufacturing (AM) is a promising technology for producing spare parts, due to the wide variety of forms and materials that can be used and their enhanced mechanical properties. Given these features and the low lead times compared to classical manufacturing (CM), AM is now being investigated for the management of spare parts. This literature stream is relatively new, with many works based on different hypotheses (e.g., the reliability of AM parts) and with different conclusions. This critical literature review provides practitioners with information on the models available, their findings, and their limitations. Further research directions are also identified
Set up a supply chain observatory through the comparison of multi-criteria parsimonious methods
Full text linkRoadway tunnels: A critical review of air pollutant concentrations and vehicular emissions
No full textAir quality is a widespread problem with the presence of pollutants in indoor and outdoor environments that generate significant consequences for the population, ecosystems and exposed materials. Vehicular traffic is one of the main sources of air pollutants and, therefore, needs to be studied and analysed in detail. This review reported the results of studies conducted on tunnels, in particular for the measurement of concentrations and the definition of emission factors. The characteristics of the tunnels, available ventilation systems, type of vehicular traffic, and geographical distribution, in addition to concentrations and emission factors, are discussed. Light-duty vehicles are the most frequent category in the case studies. Between the fuels used, gasoline is by far the most widespread. Pollutant concentrations concentrations can reach very high levels. For example, atmospheric particulates (with an aerodynamic diameter of 10 μm) and nitrogen dioxide have also reached levels of 1490 μg/m3 and 4982 μg/m3, respectively
Sustainable management of electric vehicle battery remanufacturing: A systematic literature review and future directions
No full textThe increasing adoption of electric vehicles (EVs) and the corresponding surge in lithium-ion battery (LIB) production have intensified the focus on sustainable end-of-life (EOL) management strategies (i.e., reuse, repurpose, remanufacture, and recycle). This paper presents a systematic literature review of the entire remanufacturing process of LIBs, aiming to offer a cohesive perspective on the approach that reduces the environmental impact of LIB waste by prolonging their lifecycle for reuse in their original EV applications. It reveals major issues from EOL collection to renewed batteries, clustering results into six research streams, and proposes a research agenda to develop integrative, data-driven models that incorporate technical, economic, and environmental considerations. Key findings highlight the need for standardised, non-damaging joining techniques, enhanced safety protocols for disassembly, and scalable cathode re-functionalisation methods. Recommendations include leveraging advanced technologies such as AI, machine learning, IoT, and blockchain to optimise remanufacturing processes and enhance supply chain transparency and efficiency. This comprehensive review aims to foster the development of sustainable remanufacturing practices, contributing to the circular economy and supporting the growth of the EV industry
An open innovation B2B web platform design: Application of the QFD approach for the definition of its primary functions
No full textGlobal markets and the concept of innovation require modern companies to quickly adapt to two very relevant paradigms: digital innovation and open innovation. Therefore, the use of digital technologies and the development of open collaboration networks have radically changed the nature of the organisation of innovation and of the managerial approach and strategic choices. The objective of this paper is to describe the approach adopted to define the main functionalities of a digital Business to Business (B2B) platform for the development of new commercial collaborations between Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs). The approach of Quality Function Deployment and its House of Quality tool have been applied to support the combination of customer and technical needs. The prioritisation of the technical characteristics of the platform has identified in the ‘system for managing orders’ and ‘systems to speed up processes’ the main functions to be developed with greater attention within the platform
AN INTEGRATED PRODUCTION-DISTRIBUTION MODEL FOR THE DYNAMIC LOCATION AND ALLOCATION PROBLEM WITH SAFETY STOCK OPTIMIZATION
No full textThe design and management of a multi-stage production-distribution system is one of the most critical problems in logistics and in facility management. Companies need to be able to evaluate and design different configurations for their logistic networks as quickly as possible. This means coordinating the entire supply chain effectively in order to minimize costs and simultaneously optimize facilities location, the allocation of customer demand to production/distribution centers, the inbound and outbound transportation activities, the product flows between production and/or warehousing facilities, and the reverse logistics activities, etc.
Full optimization of supply chain is achieved by integrating strategic, tactical, and operational decision making in terms of the design, management, and control of activities. The cost-based and mixed-integer programming model presented in this study has been developed to support management in making the following decisions: the number of facilities (e.g. warehousing systems, distribution centers), the choice of their locations and the assignment of customer demand to them, and also incorporate tactical decisions regarding inventory control, production rates, and service level determination in a stochastic environment. This paper presents an original model for the dynamic location allocation problem with control of customer service level and safety stock optimization. An experimental analysis identifies the most critical factors affecting the logistics cost, and to finish, an industrial application is illustrated demonstrating the effectiveness of the proposed optimization approach
Poka Yoke Meets Deep Learning: A Proof of Concept for an Assembly Line Application
Full text linkIn this paper, we present the re-engineering process of an assembly line that features speed reducers and multipliers for agricultural applications. The “as-is” line was highly inefficient due to several issues, including the age of the machines, a non-optimal arrangement of the shop floor, and the absence of process standards. The assembly line issues were analysed with Lean Manufacturing tools, identifying irregularities and operations that require effort (Mura), overload (Muri), and waste (Muda). The definition of the “to-be” line included actions to update the department layout, modify the assembly process, and design the line feeding system in compliance with the concepts of Golden Zone (i.e., the horizontal space more ergonomically and easily accessible by the operator) and Strike Zone (i.e., the vertical workspace setup in accordance to ergonomics specifications). The re-engineering process identified a critical problem in the incorrect assembly of the oil seals, mainly caused by the difficulty in visually identifying the correct side of the component, due to different reasons. Convolutional neural networks were used to address this issue. The proposed solution resulted to be a Poka Yoke. The whole re-engineering process induced a productivity increase that is estimated from 46% to 80%. The study demonstrates how Lean Manufacturing tools together with deep learning technologies can be effective in the development of smart manufacturing lines
Multi-criteria decision making approaches applied to waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE): A comprehensive literature review
Full text linkThe global demand for electrical and electronic equipment has undergone continuous growth in recent years due to the effect of industrialization and technological development. This indicates substantial quantities of e-waste that need to be managed properly to reduce their environmental impact and to avoid inappropriate forms of disposal. The purpose of this paper is to review the most popular multi-criteria decision-making approaches applied to the management of waste electrical and electronic equipment, analyzing how they are used to contribute to the improvement of management strategies along the entire supply chain. For this purpose, a methodological protocol for the collection, selection, and analysis of the scientific literature was applied, identifying 44 papers on which to conduct this study. The results showed that numerous authors have developed multi-criteria approaches, with particular attention to recycling phase. The analytic hierarchy process is the most widespread multi-criteria approach, often coupled with VIKOR, DELPHI, and TOPSIS methods. The numerous decision making criteria adopted cover different reference dimensions: environmental, economic, social, technical, and legal. Considering environmental aspects also in decision making processes means enhancing the relevance of this dimension, as well as encouraging practices that reduce the impact of toxic substances on the environment and living organisms
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