Sustainable and De-Stressed International Supply-Chains Through the SYNCHRO-NET Approach

Abstract

Synchro-modal supply chain eco-NET (SYNCHRO-NET) is a Horizon 2020 European research project aimed at overcoming the stress due to the increasing transportation distances, the higher complexity, and the vulnerability of international supply chains. In order to foster sustainability, quality, and reliability of such supply chains, SYNCHRO-NET mainly exploits the impact and the possible benefits coming from slow/smart-steaming and synchro-modality transportation strategies, and the related business models. The aim of this paper is to summarize and disseminate the main developments and scientific contributions coming from the project. In particular, the working core of the SYNCHRO-NET solution is an integrated and cloud-based eco-system of optimization and simulation software modules that supports stakeholders’ decisions in freight transportation and logistics management at strategic, operational, and real-time levels. The platform has achieved a high grade of automation in several processes to overcome all the issues related to human-based operations. The efficiency and effectiveness of the overall platform have been tested on three case studies considering pan-European and regional trade lanes, as well as commercial activities between the Far East and European ports. The project results and outputs also allow us to analyze barriers and opportunities of the approach, industrial and academic developments, and relations with emerging technologies.

A Managerial Analysis of Urban Parcel Delivery: A Lean Business Approach

“…International couriers usually manage the long-haul shipments, serving the maritime and land transport. As different authors point out [27,31,32], ports and surrounding maritime terminals act as integrated logistics centers vital for the sustainability of urban distribution of goods. However, maritime transport is affected by different challenges related to the growing fuel prices, congestion and traffic at port terminals, and environmental issues that increase the complexity of the last-mile activities.…”

“…However, maritime transport is affected by different challenges related to the growing fuel prices, congestion and traffic at port terminals, and environmental issues that increase the complexity of the last-mile activities. Researchers have an increasing focus on new solutions and models to reduce these issues, while improving the efficiency of operations in maritime terminals, such as the synchromodality and slow steaming [27,31,33,34], and the optimisation of berthing decisions [35]. Although maritime and land transport are strongly related, in this paper we focus on the urban freight transportation.…”

Engaging Employees with Good Sustainability: Key Performance Indicators for Dry Ports

“…A more recent development in dry ports is the concept of synchro modal transportation where the use of innovative technology provides solutions towards the integrated use of different transport modes, which considers real-time flexibility, and which is demonstrated through the SYNCHRO-NET project (Giusti et al 2019) [21]. In this project, the supply chain is optimised through environmentally friendly practices in long haul shipping using both synchro-modality and slow/smart steaming.…”

Optimizing Multimodal Transportation Routes Considering Container Use

“…According to China's logistics industry development plan, the volume of multimodal freight in China is expected to reach 3.02 billion tons by 2020 and will account for approximately 6% of the total freight volume of the whole country, which demonstrates the broad development prospects of multimodal transport in China [3]. As a new mode of transport organization, container-based multimodal transportation can improve transport efficiency, achieve "door-to-door" transport, reduce the damage and loss of goods caused by intermediate links and replacement, and has become the main development form of multimodal transport [4,5] The vast logistics market and strong freight demand has led to the creation of many multimodal freight forwarding enterprises. These enterprises identify the transport needs of shippers, formulate multimodal transport plans and implement transport operations and they are the actual organizers and promoters of the development of multimodal transport [6].…”