Sustainable Supply Chains

Recent work focuses on the coordination of efforts in supply chains to environmental performance under voluntary or regulated programs. One journal paper studies the role of double-counting in supply chain carbon footprinting (Caro et al. 2013). Ph.D. student Xishu Li has started to work with me on Green Port Tools and studies the effectiveness of policy measures aimed at enhancing environmental performance.

Container Logistics

We are interested in the design, planning, and execution of container logistics networks. Many organizations are involved in container logistics, so the question arises to what extent planning and execution need to be coordinated. One journal paper compares on-line optimization and the use of intelligent agents in planning and execution of container transport (Mahr et al. 2010). Another journal paper considers the value of information in variants of the Traveling Salesman Problem (Srour and Zuidwijk 2010). This work was done when Ph.D. student Jordan Srour wrote her Ph.D. thesis with me on Dissecting (Container) Drayage (Srour 2010).

More recent work focuses on the role of information and new business models in container logistics. An example new business model is the Extended Gate concept (Veenstra and Zuidwijk 2012). The value of information in container logistics is studied in (Zuidwijk and Veenstra 2013).

Ph.D. student Panagiotis Ypsilantis is currently working on joint pricing and design of container logistics networks (Panagiotis and Zuidwijk 2013).

There are interesting similarities  between intermodal container transport and public transportation where in both cases, high capacity transport means need to coordinate demand of multiple customers, and where connections and transfers between modes need to be planned. I have been involved in some work on public transportation in this respect (Kroon et al. 2013).

Inter-organizational Information Systems in Logistics

We are interested in the use of inter-organizational information systems to support logistics processes in and around the port and in particular, intermodal transport. We did several case studies in the port (Nunen et al. 2005; Hillegersberg et al. 2006), and we edited a book (Baalen et al. 2008) that deals with port inter-organizational information systems and that contains a lot of case materials. Ph.D. student Irina Romochkina is currently working on the evaluation of IT services for logistics that are offered on port community platforms.

The role of intelligent agents representing distributed decision making in the allocation of resources to patients in the youth health care sector is being developed and presented in the conference papers (Giessen et al. 2009).

The merit of agents in freight transport

Citation Tamás Máhr, Jordan Srour, Mathijs de Weerdt, Rob Zuidwijk (2009). The merit of agents in freight transport, pp. 332-341 in: Ana L.C. Bazan, Franziska Blügl (eds.). Multi-Agent Systems for Traffic and Transportation Engineering, Information Science Reference.

Link http://dx.doi.org/10.4018/978-1-60566-226-8.ch016

Abstract While intermodal freight transport has the potential to introduce efficiency to the transport network,this transport method also suffers from uncertainty at the interface of modes. For example, trucks moving containers to and from a port terminal are often uncertain as to when exactly their container will be released from the ship, from the stack, or from customs. This leads to much difficulty and inefficiency in planning a profitable routing for multiple containers in one day. In this chapter, the authors examine agent-based solutions as a mechanism to handle job arrival uncertainty in the context of a drayage case at the Port of Rotterdam. They compare their agent-based solution approach to a wellknown on-line optimization approach and study the comparative performance of both systems across four scenarios of varying job arrival uncertainty. The chapter concludes that when less than 50% of all jobs are known at the start of the day then an agent-based approach performs competitively with an on-line optimization approach.

Yesterday proactive, responsive today: Use of Information to enhance planning in closed loop supply chains

Citation Muhammad Jalil, Rob Zuidwijk, Harold Krikke (2008). Yesterday proactive, responsive today: Use of Information to enhance planning in closed loop supply chains, pp. 215-234 in: Surendra Gupta, Fred Lamberts (eds.). Environment Conscious Manufacturing. CRC Press.

Link http://www.crcpress.com/product/isbn/9780849335525

Mathematical models for planning support

Citation Leo Kroon, Rob Zuidwijk (2006). Mathematical models for planning support, pp. 245-277 in: Wout van Wezel, Rene Jorna, Alexander Meystel (eds.). Planning in Intelligent Systems, Wiley Interscience.

Link http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/0471781266.ch8

Abstract In this chapter we describe how computer systems can provide planners with active planning support, when these planners are carrying out their daily planning activities. This means that computer systems actively participate in the planning process by automatically generating plans or partial plans. Later on, these plans can be completed and fine-tuned by the planners. Automatically generating plans by a computer system requires the application of mathematical models and mathematical solution techniques, as will be described in this chapter. Here a mathematical model is an abstract representation of the practical planning problem in mathematical terms. Solving the model leads to a solution of the planning problem, which is an abstract representation of the required plan. The currently available hard-and software for solving mathematical models allows for the generation of appropriate solutions for practical planning problems, both in a pro-active and in a re-active way

Smart and Sustainable Supply Chains

Citation Jo van Nunen, Rob Zuidwijk, Hans Moonen (2005). Smart and Sustainable Supply Chains, pp. 159-167 in: Smart Business Networks, Peter Vervest et al. (eds.), Springer Verlag.

Link http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/3-540-26694-1_11

Information and Communication Technology Enabling Reverse Logistics

Citation Angelika Kokkinaki, Rob Zuidwijk, Jo van Nunen, Rommert Dekker (2004). Information and Communication Technology Enabling Reverse Logistics, pp. 381-405 in: Reverse Logistics: Quantitative Models for Closed-Loop Supply Chains, Rommert Dekker, Moritz Fleischmann, Karl  Inderfurth, Luk Van Wassenhove (eds.), Springer Verlag.

Link http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/978-3-540-24803-3_16

Abstract In this chapter, we examine how Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) are being used to support reverse logistics; ICT is the term widely used in a European context instead of IT, which is commonly used in American publications. Focusing on the ICT infrastructure, this chapter does not follow a quantitative approach as does the rest of the book. Nonetheless, the topics covered in this section outline how ICT systems enable and support the quantitative approaches presented in other chapters of this book. Furthermore, this chapter provides a roadmap to the reader about what aspects of reverse logistics are implemented and what remains to be addressed in the future.

E-business and Circular Supply Chains: Increased business opportunities by IT-based Customer Oriented Return-flow Management

Citation Harold Krikke, Jo van Nunen, Rob Zuidwijk, Roelof Kuik (2004). E-business and Circular Supply Chains: Increased business opportunities by IT-based Customer Oriented Return-flow Management, pp. 221-242 in: Distribution Logistics: Advanced Solutions to Practical Problems. Bernard Fleischmann, Andreas Klose (eds.), Springer Verlag.

Link http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-17020-1_12

Abstract This paper deals with the application of IT in circular supply chains (CSCs). We consider information on the installed base critical, and present an illustrative example. Next we discuss a framework of different kinds of value contained in a return, and IT-applications useful in supporting its recovery or neutralization in case of negative externalities. Also we show which kind of CSC is needed for which kind of return. We illustrate our work by three real life case studies.

End-of-lease asset recovery: the Océ case

Citation Rob Zuidwijk, Erwin van der Laan, Leon Hoek (2004). End-of-lease asset recovery: the Océ case, pp. 141-150 in: Managing Closed Loop Supply Chains, Simme Douwe Flapper, Jo van Nunen, Luk van Wassenhove (eds.), Springer Verlag.

Link http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/3-540-27251-8_13