ULTIMATE (Dinalog)

An Extended Gate is a control center. From here, the transport to locations in the hinterland is managed efficiently and with a minimum of paper documentation. The connection consists of frequent and reliable transport between sea terminals and hinterland terminals. This project develops an Extended Gate principle for use in the hinterland, where multi-modal choices can again be made. The project ties in well with the demands of worldwide supply chains, optimizes the use of the available information and releases the operational and administrative bottlenecks in sea ports. The project continues to explore new ideas for cooperation between the operators. The project is funded by Dinalog.

CASSANDRA (EU FP7)

The CASSANDRA project aims to make container security more efficient and effective. The project addresses the visibility needs of both business and government in the international flow of containerised cargo by developing a data sharing concept that allows an extended assessment of risks by both business and government. The CASSANDRA concept will improve supply chain visibility, efficiency of trade compliance and effectiveness of border control and supervision by combining E-Freight and E-Customs. The project is funded by the EU 7th Framework Program.

Global Logistics and Information Technology

There are far more indirect connections between businesses than direct ones. Indirect connections include increasing numbers of international partnerships as well as co-operation agreements, supra-national bodies, and of course supply chains.

Managing supply chains requires a global focus because business processes have become integrated at a global level. But working in a global context adds complexities and tensions. You need to co-ordinate local effort and global competition, integrate cultures and information systems, and navigate the risks of exchange rates and regional politics. On the other hand, a global context also offers new possibilities and business opportunities. Those working in this global environment must understand what role they play, what relationships can be forged, and where competition arises.

This core course deals with the structure and dynamics of international logistics with a special focus on the information technology currently used to improve performance in logistics chains. You will learn through lectures, class discussions based on cases and assignments, and presentations. At the end of this course you will be able to apply your new knowledge and insights into the complexities and concepts of global supply chains.

Authorized students can find course details via Blackboard at the Rotterdam School of Management.

Ports in Global Networks

The seaport of Rotterdam is much more than a node for the transfer of cargo between ship and shore. It is also an important hub for global trade and logistics, and the main gateway to the European market. Its position in these networks determines the Port of Rotterdam’s quality and competitiveness at local and global levels.

The port is also a network of industrial activities such as transport, storage and production that facilitate a large number of supply chains. It is also embedded in an information exchange network that enables safe and secure port operations, the efficient management of transportation in and around the port, and the smooth flow of goods through the port.

This course provides a thorough understanding of the role of the port in these networks by exploring the development of new and innovative solutions for current problems. The elective incudes lectures, guest speakers and visits to port companies, as well as a study of relevant academic literature. You will join a team of your fellow students to carry out a small research project.

Authorized students can find course details via Blackboard at Rotterdam School of Management.

Early Mathematical Work

As a Ph.D. student, I worked on the topic of simultaneous similarity of matrices and linear operators, which is embedded in linear algebra and operator theory. From my Ph.D. thesis  (Zuidwijk 1994), two book chapters (Zuidwijk 1995; Zuidwijk 1997) and three journal papers (Zuidwijk 1997; Bart et al. 1998; Bart and Zuidwijk 1998) were distilled, some co-authored by my Ph.D. advisor Harm Bart. Related to the topic of my Ph.D. thesis, a book chapter (Bart and Zuidwijk 2001) was published. Further work related to my thesis, based on collaboration with Mark Malamud, resulted in two journal papers (Zuidwijk 1995; Malamud and Zuidwijk 2003).

The journal paper (Bart et al. 1998) also involved Leo Kroon as co-author, and the paper established a connection between the topic of my Ph.D. thesis and scheduling theory. In this manner, I got connected with the research group at the business school presently known as the Rotterdam School of Management (RSM). A more recent connection between the topic of my Ph.D. thesis and Operations Research can be found in the working paper (Zuidwijk 2005). Leo Kroon and I also wrote a book chapter on mathematical methods in planning (Kroon and Zuidwijk 2006).

A major part of the work of my Ph.D. thesis has been incorporated in the monograph on Factorization of Matrix and Operator Functions: The State Space Method by Harm Bart et al. (Bart et al., 2008).

Wavelets

As a post-doctoral researcher, I worked on the application of wavelets in seismic imaging, resulting in the journal publication (Zuidwijk 2000). The work inspired by research problems encountered in wavelet theory and applications, resulted in collaboration with Peter Zizler and Shigeru Arimoto, and in the publication of two journal papers (Zizler et al. 2002; Arimoto et al. 2004). This work has also been incorporated in the monograph by Albert Boettcher and Bernd Silbermann on the analysis of Toeplitz Operators (Boettcher and Silbermann, 2006).

Value of Information in Product Life Cycle Management

An important research stream at the Rotterdam School of Management concerns reverse logistics or closed loop supply chains, initiated by Luk Van Wassenhove and Jo van Nunen in the beginning of the 90’s. With several co-authors, I worked on the use of information systems in closed-loop supply chains resulting in two book chapters (Kokkinaki et al. 2004; Krikke et al. 2004) and a journal paper (Hillegersberg et al. 2001). We also developed a case study on reverse logistics in a book chapter (Zuidwijk et al. 2004).

I also considered the value of information in life cycle management with on emphasis on information retrieval in supply chains in collaboration with Jo van Nunen, Harold Krikke, and Ph.D. student Muhammad Jalil (Jalil et al. 2011). This line of work has resulted in a book chapter (Jalil et al. 2008) and four journal publications (Nunen and Zuidwijk 2004; Zuidwijk and Krikke 2008; Jalil et al. 2010; Dekker et al. 2013). Related work with Michael Ketzenberg has resulted in a journal paper on return policies (Ketzenberg and Zuidwijk 2009).

Liber Amicorum in Memoriam Jo van Nunen

Citation Leo Kroon, Rob Zuidwijk, Ting Li (2010). Liber Amicorum in Memoriam Jo van Nunen. Dinalog.

Links to Table of Contents

Preface

Editors’ Note

Section 1: Building the Foundations for Innovation

1. De Integraal van Nul is Nul! Interdisciplinariteit in Bedrijfskunde, Peter van Baalen

2. Innovation in Railway Planning Processen, Leo Kroon and Gábor Maróti

3. Modellen: Hoe Kan het Anders? Jacob Wijngaard

4. The Interface of Marketing and Operations Research, Berend Wierenga

Section 2: Seducing the Customer and Managing Resources

5. Demand Management in E-grocery at Albert.nl, Niels Agatz, Moritz Fleischmann, Evsen Korkmaz, Roelof Kuik, Martin Savelsbergh, Boudewijn Canrinus, Coert de Neve, and Remco Kok

6. Naar Oplossingen in Stedelijke Distributie: Van Bestraffen Naar Belonen, Hans Quak

7. The Economics of Privacy Protection in the Online World: A Business perspective, Piet Ribbers

8. Switching from Offline to Online Shopping: The Role of Gender, Ting Li and Jan van Dalen

9. Spare Parts Management at IBM: Capturing the Value of the Customer and Product Returns, Ben Gräve, Muhammad Jalil, Moritz Fleischmann, Michiel Kuipers, Eleni Pratsini, Harold Tiemessen, and Rob Zuidwijk

Section 3: Creating Sustainable Distribution and Logistics

10. The Impact of the Number of Warehouses on Inventories in a Distribution System, Bernhard Fleischmann

11. How to Balance Quality and Logistics in Food Supply Chains, Paul van Beek

12. Ship As Soon As You Can, Don’t Wait Till You Have To! Piet van der Vlist, Ton de Kok, and Tom van Woensel

13. The Money Lies on the Street: The Problem is How to Pick it Up, Kees Ruijgrok

14. Warehouse Math, René de Koster

15. A Sustainable Future for Closed Loop Supply Chains, Jacqueline Bloemhof, Erwin van der Laan, Luk Van Wassenhove, and Rob Zuidwijk

Section 4: Making Ports and Transport Networks Smarter

16. Electronic Footprints in Transport Management, Peter Nijkamp and Irene Casas

17. The Future of Seaport Hinterland Networks, Albert Veenstra and Rob Zuidwijk

18. Improving Empty Container Logistics: Can it Avoid a Collapse in Container Transportation? Robert Stahlbock and Stefan Voß

19. An Unsettled Question in Transport Economics: The Importance of Excess Capacity in Transport Infrastructure, Hugo Roos

Section 5: Managing Business Networks Using Information Technology

20. Unchaining – Why Supply Chains and Business Networks are Different, Peter Vervest, Diederik van Liere, and Martijn Hoogeweegen

21. Teleoperated Service Robots: A New Industrial Revolution, Kees van Hee

22. In the Cloud the Sky is no Longer the Limit, Hans Moonen, Jos van Hillegersberg, and Arthur Oink

23. Software Agents Supporting Decision-Makers in Complex Flower Business Networks, Eric van Heck and Wolfgang Ketter

Cargo Driven Intermodal Transport (Dinalog)

The Port of Rotterdam and its business partners realize that new concepts and facilities are needed that add value to cargo with minimum costs and a minimum use of land and road infrastructure, and with minimum emissions. Smart and competitive intermodal transport- and logistic solutions are key here. The project is funded by Dinalog.