Organizational Unit:

Supply Chain and Logistics Institute

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https://hdl.handle.net/1853/70673

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Organizational Unit

Physical Internet Center

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Now showing 1 - 10 of 71

Demand estimation adapted to hyperconnected transport systems in regional areas

(Georgia Institute of Technology, 2024-05) Araceli Cristaldo, Liz ; Petitdemange, Eva ; Lauras, Matthieu ; Montreuil, Benoit

Regional transportation systems face multiple challenges, including inadequate service quality and scarce and geographically dispersed demand. The Physical Internet (PI) concept offers potential solutions to these issues, yet its focus has primarily been on urban and freight-oriented contexts, overlooking the unique challenges of regional transportation. Moreover, the limited analysis of regional transportation has resulted in a lack of detailed understanding of demand dynamics and difficulties in aligning supply capabilities with demand expectations. To address these issues, this paper proposes a methodology for analyzing regional transport demand, that embraces the PI concept by treating both freight and passenger demand within a unified framework. The methodology defines user profiles, characterizes demand in terms of volume, time, and space, and identifies the factors influencing transportation use. An experimental study using the ECOTRAIN project validates the effectiveness of this approach. This case study not only shows the applicability of the methodology but also highlights its potential to guide the development of tailored transportation solutions suited to regional areas.
Dynamic Containerized Modular Capacity Planning and Resource Allocation in Hyperconnected Supply Chain Ecosystems

(Georgia Institute of Technology, 2024-05) Liu, Xiaoyue ; Xu, Yujia ; Montreuil, Benoit

With the growth of data-driven services and expansion of mobile application usage, traditional methods of capacity and resource planning methods may not be efficient and often fall short in meeting rapid changes in the business landscape. Motivated by modularity, containerization, and open sharing concepts from Physical Internet (PI), this paper proposes an effective approach to determine facility capacity and production schedule to meet current and future demands by dynamically allocating Mobile Production Containers (MPCs). In this work, we develop an iterative two-stage decision making model with dynamic rolling horizon approach. The first stage is capacity planning stage, where the model determines key decisions such as project selection, facility opening periods and project-facility assignment. The second stage is resource planning stage, where the MPC allocation and relocation schedule and weekly production schedule are decided. To validate the proposed model, we conduct a case study over a modular construction supply chain focusing on the southeast US region. The results demonstrate our model not only delivers a consistent production schedule with balanced workload but also enhances resource utilization, leading to cost effectiveness.
A Physical Internet-Enabled Container Loading Solution Leveraging Virtual Reality and Building Information Modeling

(Georgia Institute of Technology, 2024-05) Garcia, Jorge ; Campos, Miguel ; Maurice, Julien ; Barenji, Ali ; Montreuil, Benoit

The process of bundling items that need to be together in a container is known as kitting. In the context of Modular Construction (MC), kitting has the potential to streamline productivity since all the necessary parts to complete an assembly will be closed to each other. However, the kit generation process has associated challenges such as dealing with irregularly shaped objects and complex constraints. This paper explores the integration of Virtual Reality (VR) and Building Information Modeling (BIM) to overcome these challenges and develop optimal kitting strategies. Our value proposition involves a Human-VR-driven approach for efficient kit generation. Results indicate that our method not only has the potential to improve volume utilization rates compared to traditional optimization methods but also is capable to produce feasible solutions with less computational expense under specific scenarios. Lastly, this case opens new research opportunities to extend our findings to larger-scale applications.
Unleashing the Potential of Digital Twin-Enhanced Hyper Hubs

(Georgia Institute of Technology, 2024-05) Barenji, Ali V. ; Montreuil, Benoit ; McGinnis, Leon F.

Parcel logistics hubs play a crucial role in aggregating and distributing packages, requiring significant capital and labor investments, primarily determined by conveyor infrastructure. Recently, the HyperHub concept has emerged, employing PI-Boxes and racks for parcel consolidation and transport. HyperHub functions as a cross-dock, transferring PI-Boxes between inbound and outbound trucks. However, challenges persist in developing a practical, cost-effective, and risk-free implementation methodology for HyperHub, despite advancements in its conceptualization, design, and execution system. To address this challenge, the authors present a comprehensive methodology for designing and developing a HyperHub based on the concept of digital twin (DT) in the early stages of the design process. A digital replica of the system is used in the early stages of design to create a physical layout and test the control system in a risk- and cost-effective environment. This is accomplished by integrating a modelbased system into the digital copy of the real system. Firstly, we propose a concept of a generic digital twin cellular logistic hub (DT-CLH) methodology for the HyperHub, inspired by the cellular manufacturing (CM) and cellular warehousing (CW) concepts. Secondly, we formulate and define a cellular logistic hub (CLH), considering the objective of minimizing total movement.
Network Deployment of Battery Swapping and Charging Stations within Hyperconnected Logistic Hub Networks

(Georgia Institute of Technology, 2024-05) Xu, Yujia ; Liu, Xiaoyue ; Chen, Guanlin ; Klibi, Walid ; Thomas, Valerie M. ; Montreuil, Benoit

The rapid proliferation of electric vehicles emphasizes the importance for logistics companies to strategically integrate electric vehicles into their freight transportation systems to optimize the environmental impact and efficiency of freight operations. Battery swapping stations (BSS) have been gaining attention and interest for the swift replacement of depleted battery with a charged battery, handling the obstacles regarding to the traditional charging methods. The discharged batteries will be charged at Battery charging stations (BCS), either at the service location or through central collections. Lateral transshipments between stations involve the redistribution of batteries and offering a solution to optimize resource utilization and enhance the overall efficiency of the charging network. To consider the integration of battery swapping and charging stations with hyperconnected hub networks, this paper jointly determines station localization and sizing, freight consolidation and routing, and battery inventory and transshipment. We formulate the problem with a mixed integer programming model to optimize the total system cost, including site fixed cost, freight transportation cost, battery leasing, charging and transshipment cost over multiple time intervals. Two charging strategies are discussed with the deployment of battery swapping and charging stations, including ‘Swap-Locally, Charge-Locally’ and ‘Swap-Locally, Charge-Centrally’ strategies. Through comprehensive mathematical modeling and analysis, we investigate the effects of ‘Swap-Locally, Charge-Centrally’ strategy with centrally managed battery inventory on less facility depreciation cost, higher battery utilization rate and stable safety stock of charged batteries, thereby enhancing efficiency and resilience against potential risks.
Dynamic Directional Routing for the Physical Internet: A Sector-Based Approach with Dynamic Adjustment

(Georgia Institute of Technology, 2024-05) Jaleel Shaikh, Sahrish ; Montreuil, Benoit

This paper introduces an innovative directional routing protocol tailored for the Physical Internet (PI), utilizing a sector-based approach that dynamically adjusts to optimize logistics across multiple transportation network tiers. By dividing the network into distinct sectors and implementing a hierarchical tier system, this method enhances the efficiency, reliability, and responsiveness of routing decisions by integrating real-time data on traffic density, container locations, and network disruptions. Our methodology combines sector-based logic with dynamic routing tables and modular PIcontainer capabilities, which facilitates the consolidation of shipments and improves the adaptability of the logistics network. Through comprehensive simulations, we demonstrate how our approach significantly reduces total travel miles, increases truck fill rates, and avoids congested hubs, thereby minimizing idle time and enhancing overall operational efficiency. The findings underscore the potential of sector-based dynamic routing in achieving a more sustainable and resilient logistics network, paving the way for future innovations in the Physical Internet. Future research will focus on integrating multimodal transport options, refining the dynamic adjustment mechanisms, and further optimizing the routing protocol to handle diverse and changing logistics demands efficiently.
Strategic Network Design for Hyperconnected Mobile Supply Chains

(Georgia Institute of Technology, 2024-05) Maurice, Julien ; Soonhong Kwon, Simon ; Montreuil, Benoit

In today’s competitive world, businesses must offer high-quality products that can be delivered fast and cheaply. Three main strategies have been identified to solve this challenge: fast delivery, deploying inventory near to customers, and distributed production near to customers. Using Physical Internet concepts of resource sharing and flow consolidation leveraging modularization, standardization, interfaces, and protocols, Marcotte and Montreuil were the first to introduce the concept of Hyperconnected Mobile Production to contribute to the distributed production near-to-customers strategy. But their work only considered single tier supply chain. In this paper, we introduce Hyperconnected Mobile Supply Chains, a hyperconnected multi-party open hub network with plug-and-play modular mobile production units for the multi-layers involved across the supply chain system. We propose a decisionmaking framework for the strategic network design of hyperconnected mobile supply chains, for selecting the location, size, and number of facilities for open-hub network, leveraging capacity pooling and plug-and-play modular mobile production unit.
Stakeholder Cooperation for Network Feasibility in Electrified Freight Hyperconnected Logistics Networks

(Georgia Institute of Technology, 2024-05) Bla, Priyali ; Xu, Yujia ; Chen, Guanlin ; Thomas, Valerie M. ; Montreuil, Benoit

For the implementation of electrified fleets, network feasibility is a large hurdle, simplified by battery swapping and charging technology. This paper identifies seven major stakeholders in the NetZero goal towards road-freight electrification, battery suppliers, energy and power distribution representatives, fleet carriers, hub operators, logistics operators, users of the system, and truck drivers. The argument of loose cooperation between stakeholders will enable a simplified and efficient integration of electric trucks into trucking systems following the Physical Internet methodology. Under the goal of hyperconnected logistic networks, the targets of cooperation, associated benefits, and overall outcomes are outlined. The paper seeks to demonstrate how guiding expectations from design to implementation can maximize environmental impact and build resiliency at every level of the network.
Assessing and Enhancing Readiness in Hyperconnected Supply Chains

(Georgia Institute of Technology, 2024-05) Metin Inan, M. ; Montreuil, Benoit ; Lauras, Matthieu ; Dahan, Mathieu

This paper investigates the resilience of supply chains (SCs) against a backdrop of escalating disruptions, developing a quantitative, performance-oriented metric to evaluate SC readiness and the efficacy of Physical Internet (PI) concepts in enhancing SC resilience. We employ the resilience triangle concept, traditionally used in infrastructure resilience assessments, to measure SC performance dynamics over time. Our findings reveal that PI concepts significantly improve SC resilience by improving the distribution and storage of goods across a network of Open Contracted Storage Centers (OCSCs). Sensitivity analysis further demonstrates the profitability of these strategies, even when the holding cost ratio in OCSCs is substantially higher than in traditional warehouses. This research contributes to the field by providing a framework for a priori SC resilience assessment, offering insights into the potential of PI concepts to create more adaptive, robust, and efficient SCs. Future research directions include applying these findings to various industrial sectors and exploring long-term impacts on global SC networks.
Efficient, Fast, and Fair Voting Through Dynamic Resource Allocation in a Secure Election Physical Intranet

(Georgia Institute of Technology, 2024-05) Zhang, Tiankuo ; Montreuil, Benoit ; Barenji, Ali V. ; Muthukrishnan, Praveen

Resource allocations in an election system, often with hundreds of polling locations over a territory such as a county, with the aim that voters receive fair and efficient services, is a challenging problem, as election resources are limited and the number of expected voters can be highly volatile through the voting period. This paper develops two propositions to ensure efficiency, fairness, resilience, and security. The first is to leverage Physical Internet (PI) principles, notably setting up a “secure election physical intranet” (SEPI) based on open resource sharing and flow consolidation between election facilities in the territory. The second is to adopt a smart dynamic resource allocation methodology within the SEPI based on queueing networks and lexicographic optimization. A queueing model is developed to provide feasible combinations of resources and individual performances for each polling location by considering layout and utilization constraints. A two-stage lexicographic optimizer receives the queueing model’s outputs and finds an optimal solution that is less expensive, fast, and fair. A scenario-based case study validates the proposed methodology based on data from the 2020 US Presidential Election in Fulton County, Georgia, USA.