Multimodal supply chains are characterized by multiple changes of transport modes and vehicles. Hence the risks for theft, untimely delivery and freight quality deterioration increase. There is... Show More

Multimodal supply chains are characterized by multiple changes of transport modes and vehicles. Hence the risks for theft, untimely delivery and freight quality deterioration increase. There is hence a growing need to manage the security and efficiency of consignments from door to door. This paper describes the results of the Finnish national SCIE (Supply Chain Security and Integrity) project, which had as main objective the development of a holistic framework for the management of the security and efficiency of supply chains. A profound risk analysis was performed to find key vulnerabilities of the service and suitable monitoring technology. The security service was developed to deal with the vast amount of actors in the multimodal supply chain, accurate transport plan data reception and the identification of exceptional situations. The service concept was tested by monitoring and analysing steel product shipments from Finland to Central Europe. Advanced intelligent monitoring devices were attached to the consignments. These devices gathered and transmitted in real-time environmental, transport stress and location information. The paper will give an overview of the framework, service concept and the analysed results of a multimodal shipment from Finland to Italy.

In many industrial sectors, the use of RFID in closed systems is evolving. To be implemented in global supply chains, all aspects related to RFID need to be standardised. By collecting, processing... Show More

In many industrial sectors, the use of RFID in closed systems is evolving. To be implemented in global supply chains, all aspects related to RFID need to be standardised. By collecting, processing and distributing information efficiently, organisations should be able to improve the efficiency of their transport logistics processes, lower their operational costs, and improve their portfolio of logistics services. This case study describes the current perspectives, challenges and benefits of RFID applications in manufacturing industry. Automated, remote and wireless identification is a basic element in implementing efficient management systems in the supply chain. The most important identification techniques are barcode and RFID. Barcode is currently the most widely used method for the identification of parcels, but RFID is more suitable for automated identification for many different reasons including better readability and enhanced environmental durability. By reducing manual work and errors, RFID generates cost savings, increased productivity and efficiency of processes. There is a wide range of different RFID technologies that have varying reading ranges, protocols and data contents. There are two different approaches to using RFID tags and numbering the items to be identified. Recent standardisation developments have started to resolve the interoperability problems in the field of RFID identification.

The European Union has looked to develop ICT systems that are open and interoperable. Through the case study of the Freightwise research project a research gap was identified: Is it possible to... Show More

The European Union has looked to develop ICT systems that are open and interoperable. Through the case study of the Freightwise research project a research gap was identified: Is it possible to manage and plan co-modal freight transport without a centralised system? The adoption of software methodology and business process mapping enables the development and the validation of the Freightwise Framework for co-modal freight transport. The Framework divides the freight transport domain into manageable sub-domains and defines the main roles that need to interact as well as the necessary interactions in between these domains. The main roles identified are: the Transport User and the Transport Service Provider, supported by the Transportation Network Manager and the Transport Regulator. The Framework also defines a generic specification of a transport service and a small set of sufficient and necessary information objects that need to be exchanged between the four main roles. This paper explores the goal, context, methodologies utilised, results and validation in multiple business cases. The paper ends with reflections on how the results may be developed and implemented.

This paper describes a new initiative to drive business improvement and sustainability throughout the supply chain from factory to point of sale. The effort, called Efficient and Reliable... Show More

This paper describes a new initiative to drive business improvement and sustainability throughout the supply chain from factory to point of sale. The effort, called Efficient and Reliable Transportation of Consignments (ERTOC), aims to develop a standards based open architecture data hub to deliver accurate information for transport operators and their customers to use and improve business efficiency and effectiveness. Only by understanding the true environmental costs involved, users will be able to compare and assess different transport options to make better informed choices. Such a need drives this effort to demonstrate how a standardised data hub can track the carbon costs of transport at consignment level. The paper presents the underlying architecture of the proposed system, which serves to integrate (diverse and third party) resources, involving collection of data, storage and provision of it for further processing.

The paper identifies requirements for an Information and Communication (ICT) platform for the European freight transport sector- an e-Freight Platform. The e-Freight Platform can be used to support... Show More

The paper identifies requirements for an Information and Communication (ICT) platform for the European freight transport sector- an e-Freight Platform. The e-Freight Platform can be used to support integrated multimodal transport and improved interoperability between freight transport and administration systems. The authors illustrate the potential of such platform for enhanced Business to Administration interoperability by using a case study of a Common Reporting Schema for freight reporting compliance.