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Assembly system design defines proper configurations and efficient management strategies to maximize the assembly system performances. Beyond assembly line balancing and scheduling, several other dimensions of this problem have to be considered. Furthermore, the assembly system design has to consider the industrial environment in which the system operates. The latest industrial revolution, namely Industry 4.0, leverages Internet connected and sensorized machines to manufacture customer-designed products. This paper proposes an original framework which investigates the impact of Industry 4.0 principles on assembly system design. The traditional dimensions of this problem are described along with the industrial environment evolution over the last three centuries. Concerning the latest industrial revolution, the technology innovations which enabled the manufacturing process digitalization are presented. The application of these enabling technologies to the assembly domain results in a new generation of assembly systems, the here defined assembly system 4.0. Finally, the distinctive characteristics of these novel systems are proposed and described in detail

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In recent years the increase in time-based competition and the growth of e-commerce have put pressure on managers to reduce the costs of warehouse design and management activities. This paper presents a new integrated approach to support the decision making process in optimising a picker to part, forward-reserve, less than unit load order picking system. An analytical model and a multi-parametric dynamic model to quickly estimate the travelled distance during a picking cycle are introduced. The factorial analysis of several what-if scenarios reveals which factors and combinations of factors are the most critical in affecting the picking system's response

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Nowadays, wind energy plays a key role as a sustainable source of energy and wind turbines are a relevant source of power for many countries world-wide. In such a context, this paper investigates the technical and economic feasibility of small wind turbines for five of the main European Union countries (France, Germany, Italy, Spain and The Netherlands). Ten commercial turbines with rated power from 2.5 kW to 200 kW are evaluated considering their installation and operative conditions. Several parameters most affecting wind turbine performances are evaluated and the estimation of the annual cash flows during the expected plant life-time are determined as a function of both the installation location (wind speed probability distribution, national incentive scheme and tax level) and the wind turbine characteristics (rated power curve, maintenance, installation and shipping costs). The obtained data are presented and discussed through a parametric analysis based on the Net Present Value capital budget approach, showing the conditions making these systems profitable or non-profitable and explaining the relative motivations. Moreover, the analysis outcomes are further investigated highlighting the dependence of the turbine profitability from the considered parameters, including a comparative analysis among the five analyzed European countries