Logistics

Completed Research Projects

Research Field Global Logistics Management

Working Group Global Logistics

One of the dominant megatrends of the past decades has undoubtedly been globalisation. This profound development has gained much speed in the last fifteen years. Especially with Asia as the No. 1 growth market, managers today associate high hopes for cost savings and additional growth. At the same time, there are many different approaches and internationalisation strategies that present logistics with various challenges. What tasks can be expected in a networked international environment? How can logistics and purchasing ensure that internationalisation projects meet the high expectations? How must cultural differences be dealt with? What risks must be reckoned with in an increasingly global economy based on the division of labour?

Research Projects Humanitarian Logistics

The Humanitarian Logistics research project headed by Prof. Dr.-Ing. Dr. h.c. Helmut Baumgarten is investigating the causes of hunger, malnutrition, water shortages and poor medical care and is developing logistics concepts that can contribute to improving the situation of people in Africa. The team works in close cooperation with the Kühne Foundation and African partners.

International Procurement in Emerging Markets

Global Sourcing goes far beyond cost reduction and negotiating favorable prices for materials, products or services. Many companys struggle with integration and management of suppliers from Emerging Markets. Still, for many companies being present in the Emerging Markets of Eastern Europe and Asia is vital for their coperate success. The logistics department of the University of Technology Berlin, Germany processed the survey “International Procurement in Emerging Markets". The survey builds on the study "Trends and Strategies in International Procurement" that took place 2003.

Security in Global Supply Chains

Global networking has become a reality in supply chains. Threat scenarios have changed; the demand for security has to meet these. Supply chain security in the sense of attack security refers to threats that affect the supply chain with intended harmful effects, including organised crime and international terrorism. Security in the sense of operational security (safety) is not a primary focus of consideration.

Strategies for Internationalisation

The successful development of new markets such as Eastern Europe and South-East Asia depends decisively on the performance of the logistics systems for serving or integrating these markets into existing procurement systems. Thus, the set-up and configuration of logistics systems occupy a key position in the internationalisation efforts of companies from industry and trade. The focus is placed on the development of strategies for success in the internationalisation of logistics systems.

Strategies in Global Logistics 2015+

In times of globalisation and constant change, worldwide logistics and SCM are facing global megatrends from various sectors. These changes in external framework conditions result in a variety of new challenges and thus requirements for future-proof logistics.

Strategies International Procurement

The importance of international procurement in Emerging Markets is continuously increasing. Due to the strong economic development of Emerging Markets, international companies are buying products to supply their global production networks, local and regional needs and as one result of this study they are more and more cooperating in innovation and logistics with suppliers. Emerging Markets are characterized by an above-average growth in gross domestic product and an increasing level of industrialization.

The Chair of Logistics at Berlin University of Technology, Germany, carried out this survey “Strategies International Procurement - Challenges and Opportunities in Emerging Markets" for the fourth time. This study continues the research of previous studies in the field of international procurement in emerging markets. The last study has been conducted in 2007.

IPLogE - Integration of Practice-oriented Logistics Education in Ethiopia

The Ethiopian government has set itself the goal of becoming a central production hub in Africa, especially with a focus on the textile and food industries. In this context, the country's logistics sector is a core component to achieve the targeted economic growth. Nowadays, logistics is taught at university level based on the teaching of theoretical concepts without linking these concepts to practical content. The IPLogE project aims to make the current logistics education at Addis Ababa University (AAU) more practice-oriented and to adapt it to the logistical specificities of the textile and food industry in Ethiopia. The joint project of the Technische Universität Berlin (TUB) and the AAU focuses on better preparing students for the upcoming demands of the labour market and giving them the opportunity to get in touch with potential employers earlier.

Log4Jobs - Low-loss Food Logistics for More Employment in Ethiopia

The resource-efficient supply of food to a growing world population is one of the core challenges of our society. Already today, food is produced for over 12 billion people worldwide, but almost one third of this food is lost. While in western industrialised countries a large part of these losses can be attributed to the end consumer, the opposite picture is emerging in developing countries in sub-Saharan Africa. Rather, it is post-harvest losses along the logistics chain (to the end consumer) that account for the majority of losses here. The project aims to develop solutions for the design of low-loss food logistics and at the same time create more employment opportunities. This goal will be achieved through the application of different research methods and the involvement of relevant stakeholders.

Research Field Smart Technologies and Digital Logistics Models

Digital Twin

The aim of the research project is the research and structuring, technical-economic conception and application-specific simulation and design of Digital-Twin applications for the real-time planning and control of logistics networks. On the basis of industry-specific parameters of the automotive and consumer goods industry, a systematisation is developed that supports the implementation of Digital Twin applications in logistics.

InterVal: INTERnet and VALue Chains - Value Network Management

The research focus of the project "Management of Value Chains" was on the development of concepts for efficient cross-company coordination structures with the help of internet technology. Based on a hybrid coordination concept, changes in the intra-company control structures of value chains were evaluated. The focus was on the implementation of on-site planning, taking into account the common goals defined for the entire network. Selected internet technologies were explored with regard to their potential for cooperative relationships in value creation networks. These scenarios were used to analyse how IT tools can be used efficiently in a cross-company environment. Another research area of the project was to determine the benefits of IT implementation and the accounting of IT investments and operating costs.

KoRFID: Efficient Collaboration in RFID-based Value Networks

In the dynamic environment of global corporate networks, Radio Frequency IDentification (RFID) is seen as having great potential. Despite great expectations, most application areas still lack economic business cases and cross-company applications. This is due to the high implementation costs of the new technology and the isolated consideration of individual application areas. The focus of Ko-RFID is the holistic investigation of RFID-supported collaboration processes in value creation networks, taking into account technological, economic and socio-economic aspects.

Pathway of Digital Transformation in Logistics

The research study “Pathway of Digital Transformation in Logistics” deals with today’s logistics challenges, which are increasing speed and the integration of real-time information for data-driven services, implementing new organizational and leadership structures as well as the need for finding approaches for cooperation with new actors such as start-ups or tech companies. Therefore, the study examines four thematic building blocks central to current developments in logistics: technologies, including platforms, and data-driven services as tools and leadership and organization, as well as open innovation as enablers.

SELECT - AI-based ETA Forecasts for Inland Navigation Logistics Chains

As part of a collaboration with various stakeholders in the German port industry (including inland shipping companies and operators of inland and seaport terminals), the SELECT project will leverage significant potential for inland navigation logistics chains from the growing data stock, including Inland AIS. With the help of artificial intelligence methods (machine learning), a digital decision-making assistant will be developed in SELECT that will enable the players in inland navigation to optimise transport routes by providing time of arrival (ETA) forecasts. Based on the ETA, the system to be developed provides situation-specific recommendations for action that enable inland navigation stakeholders to design waterway and port processes more efficiently and to react proactively to disruptions. The project is thus intended to contribute to the long-term improvement of efficiency, reliability, sustainability and IT networking of inland navigation stakeholders.

SMECS – AI-based ETA Forecasting in Intermodal Transportation Networks

In the SMCES project, an intelligent assistance system for the maritime transport chain was developed using various machine learning methods. The realised IT system forecasts the time of arrival (ETA) of intermodal container transports by road and rail from the consignor of goods to the seaport with a high degree of accuracy and proactively detects conflicts in the adherence to the planned process flow. By providing incident-related measures, the actors in the logistics chain are enabled to carry out the transports reliably and efficiently. The developed system can be tested interactively using historical transport orders as examples via an online web demonstrator.

SAO4Log: Service-Oriented Application Platform for Logistics

The technological innovation of SOA4LOG consists of the development of independent software modules that can be assembled as building blocks according to individual customer requirements and expanded with project-specific logistics knowledge. In this way, SOA4LOG replaces the previously prevailing time-consuming and resource-intensive development of sector- and company-specific isolated individual applications.

Networking of Logistics Networks with a Focus on Seaport-Hinterland Transports

Dynamic is the word that can be used to describe the current economic developments and in particular the developments in international, maritime container traffic very well. The resulting need for capacity has increasingly led to bottlenecks at the edges and nodes of the transport infrastructure network, such as ports and rail connections of certain routes. Two projects are investigating how the entire transport chain can be made more efficient through increased collaboration between market participants such as shipping companies, freight forwarders and quay operators at the strategic and operational logistics level. The thematic focus at the operational logistics level is the development of a concept to improve the cross-actor operational data flow in order to achieve reliable and efficient transport flows in the logistics network.

Research Field Sustainable Logistics in Transport and Value-Added Networks

Working Group Resource Efficiency in Logistics

Within the framework of the working group of the Bundesvereinigung Logistik (BVL) e.V. (German Logistics Association), the topic of environmental and resource efficiency in logistics in the context of international commodity chains was examined together with logistics experts from approx. 20 well-known companies in the sectors of industry, trade and logistics services. The following topics were defined as focal points of the working group, which were designed and developed together with the participants in a total of 5 workshops.

Distribut(e)

The objective of the Distribut(e) research project is to develop a neighbourhood logistics system that overcomes the "last mile" in a sustainable yet efficient manner.

Mobility2Grid - Thinking Energy Transition and Transport Together!

The energy transition is proving to be an extremely complex social challenge. According to the German government's energy concept, the share of renewable energies (RE) in electricity generation is to be increased to 60 percent by 2035. By 2050, it is even planned to supply electricity, heat and transport almost entirely on the basis of renewable energy sources. Despite the considerable efforts in politics, industry and society, implementation is only possible in the long term because this would invalidate essential components of the previous supply principle, the necessary business models are not viable and many technical problems have not yet been solved.

MULi: Minimising the Environmental Impact of Delivery Traffic in Conurbations by Means of Intelligent Traffic Situation Information and Forecasts

Traffic - especially delivery traffic - is considered the main cause of pollutant emissions in conurbations. Against this background, optimising inner-city freight transport offers the potential to reduce emissions and resource consumption and thus make a significant contribution towards sustainable and efficient logistics. The MULi project takes up this topic and on the one hand investigates which influencing variables are required for the evaluation of emissions/operating data in delivery traffic and with which sensors and mobile data processing or communication systems (on-board units) the necessary data can be collected.

RouteCharge

The aim of this project is to open up medium distances (300 km) for freight transport with electrically powered commercial vehicles, as well as the inclusion of long-range supply chains in distribution logistics with electric commercial vehicles. This is intended to broaden the possible range of applications for eCVs from the fleet operator's point of view, which should lead to further progress in the economic viability of eCVs. Field tests to date have shown that the vehicles can only be operated in a narrow logistical corset - typically as an inner-city distribution vehicle with low tour variance. The goal is therefore to develop and implement a concept that guarantees the fleet operator freedom of disposition comparable to that of a diesel vehicle. This should improve the economic acceptance of the eCV so that the fleet share of electric vehicles can grow more strongly than before.

Smart e-User

In the Smart e-User project, the Chair of Logistics at the Technische Universität Berlin is working with various research partners to develop a concept for electric city logistics in commercial transport. The project is testing the use of electric vehicles in urban transport to demonstrate economically viable applications in supplying selected inner-city areas of Berlin with goods and services. The central task is the realisation of a systemic networking of the elements vehicle, energy, transport/logistics through a user-neutral IT-based solution.

Research Field Logistics Strategy and Best Practice

Working Group Small + Medium Batch

The theory and practice of supply chain management have so far been largely dominated by concepts from large-scale production, especially from the automotive industry. Special features and priorities in the production of small and medium-sized series (< approx. 300 units p.a.) have so far received little attention. Companies are often confronted with the fact that new employees, suppliers and consultants wrongly assume that experience from large-scale production can be transferred directly. The Small + Medium Batch working group addresses this problem.

BestLog: EU Logistics Best Practice Platform

The aim of the project is to establish a publicly accessible Europe-wide logistics and SCM best practice platform for the international and cross-sectoral exchange of "good" logistics solutions. On the one hand, these will be used to create standards for a European logistics sustainability certificate, and on the other hand, they will be incorporated into logistics education and training to promote sustainable competitiveness in Europe. After the end of the project, the platform will continue to exist as a non-profit and self-financing institution.

DIVA: Service Traffic in Industrial Value Creation Processes

The aim of the project was to research the causes and manifestations of service traffic in order to be able to assess its further development. In addition, the project results were to provide an assessment and decision-making basis for policy-makers and companies by identifying possibilities for implementing management concepts that lead to an optimisation and reduction of service traffic.

ModuLoSys: Modularisation of Logistical Systems

The modularisation of logistics systems enables a reduction of complexity. Based on the analysis of the logistics system, a guideline for the development of modules is created. The logistics modules formed contain their own resources and have defined interfaces to other modules and systems so that they can be operated with responsibility for costs or results.

MODULUSHCA: Modular Logistics Units in Shared Co-modal Networks

In the Modulushca project, the Chair of Logistics at TU Berlin is working in an international consortium with partners from Europe, North America and the "Physical Internet Initiative" to contribute to the development of a closely interconnected logistics network at European level based on the model of the Internet. The goal is to develop standardised modular container units for (co-)modal material flows of the Fast Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG) market on an operational level. These units are to support the realisation of a networked logistics system in order to significantly increase operational efficiency.

OWL SupplyChain - Efficient Processes

The aim of the project was to build and apply a solution space of transparent and successful supply chain solutions. The focus was on small and medium-sized enterprises. OWL SupplyChain enables the companies involved in the project to secure competitive advantages through the increased use of supply chain management methods. Under the motto "Learning from the successful", the companies were provided with both tried-and-tested concepts from best-practice partners and approaches developed in joint projects with science. The range of services for the participating small and medium-sized enterprises was divided into three phases, in which the process chain from order preparation to after-sales processes was analysed and improvements were initiated and supported.

ProKoLog: Productivity in Contract Logistics

In the research project "ProKoLog — Produktivität in der Kontraktlogistik", the Chair of Logistics at the Technische Universität Berlin is developing practical solutions for measuring and increasing productivity for contract logistics service providers in cooperation with the practical partners BLG Automotive Logistics GmbH & Co. KG and HUETTEMANN Logistik GmbH, is developing practical solutions for measuring and increasing productivity for contract logistics service providers. After completion, the solutions to be developed will be implemented on a pilot basis at the partners and applied in everyday business. The main goals are to increase efficiency and the ability to innovate. The research project is funded by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF).

Smart Logistics Grids

In the research project "Smart Logistic Grids", the Chair of Logistics at the Technische Universität Berlin is developing an integrated model for strategic, tactical and operational logistics planning and control in cooperation with partners from the manufacturing industry and logistics service providers.

Survey Vendor-managed Inventory

The Chair for Logistics at Berlin Institute of Technology invites to participate in a study on Vendor-managed inventory (VMI) for high-value parts. The study is organised by Berlin Institute of Technology research group "Small & Medium Batch". VMI is increasingly applied not only to C-Class parts but also to high-value items which are critical in the production process. The aim of this study is to understand the driving-forces behind this development and success-factors for the implementation.The information provided by the respondent will not be used for any purpose other than the publication of anonymised summary data of the entire survey.

Trends and Strategies in Logistics 2008

The topics of the 11th survey consist of the "classics" -themes that have been regularly surveyed since 1988 - and the highly topical themes of environment, safety, internationalisation and intercultural management. The topics are mainly evaluated on a sector-specific basis. In parts, trend estimates are made for the year 2015. Through our international partners and cooperation contacts, an additional international comparison is made with China, the USA and parts of Europe.

VorLogistik: Preliminary Study of Logistics in the Manufacturing Sector

In the design of their production and logistics networks, companies are confronted with a variety of challenges: the demand for individualised service bundles on the part of customers, increasing competitive pressure due to global competition, as well as the rapid technological development in production processes and end products require strategic foresight, flexibility and the ability to react. While securing the technological competence of German companies is sustainably ensured by diverse research funding programmes, and consequently many German companies today can be described as world leaders in the field of product development and production or manufacturing technology, logistics research is not yet given the appropriate attention in some areas.