(Georgia Institute of Technology, 2021-06)
Campos, Miguel; Derhami, Shahab; McGinnis, Leon F.; Montreuil, Benoit; Barenji, Ali
Today the practice for distributing large products manufactured at few original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) consists of a dedicated Point-to-Point (PtP) logistics system, typically requiring long haul transport from the factory to the wholesale destination. A growing problem is the shortage of commercial drivers willing to be away from home for several days to move products cross-country. Hub relay network logistics systems are an alternative solution to P2P logistics systems that allow reducing drivers' away-from-home times. Operating a relay-based logistics system requires accounting for multiple interrelated operational decisions that become more complicated as the system becomes larger and encompasses more players. To deal with such complexity we propose utilizing a digital twin of the distribution and logistics system as a decision-making support tool to manage the system and make operational decisions efficiently. This paper explores the design and assessment of a hyperconnected relay network of transport hubs supporting the movement of durable goods from factory to wholesale destinations. It describes requirements and challenges in developing and implementing a digital twin for such systems.