In today’s global economies, logistics has been recognized as one of the key factors
that determine the competitive position of both individual corporations and
industry-based networks. At the same time, the very nature of supply chains and
supply networks is changing rapidly, as a result of both technological and social
developments. These developments include advances in ICT and industrial automation
(sensors, robotics, 3D printing, and smart mobility) but also environmental
concerns (scarcity of natural resources, carbon emission, and congestion) and
finally new business models (e.g., e-commerce). The incorporation of these new
technologies’ potential in modern supply chain operations, while at the same time
addressing environmental and societal concerns, is a formidable challenge for
companies, economic clusters, and nations. But a challenge that has to be met: The
importance of logistics as an indispensable factor of economic development is
undisputed, as evidenced also by the annual publication of the World Bank
Logistics Performance Index.
Innovation in logistics and supply chain management is a key to respond to the
challenges outlined above. Such innovation requires intensive collaboration of
industry and research and education institutes, to translate technological developments
into sound business models and to train tomorrow’s logistic engineer. For
Germany and the Netherlands, the two focal innovation clusters are the Dinalog
cluster and the EffizienzCluster LogistikRuhr. The editors of this book have ample
experience in conducting projects that aim at the implementation of concepts and
ideas in the day-to-day business environment (practicality gap). They also concluded
there is a strong need in industry to understand the fundamentals of topics
such as sustainable logistics, ICT integration, and Web-based businesses (theory
gap).
From these experiences, the basic idea for this edited volume was born: to
present state-of-the-art advances in logistics theory in different fields as well as to
provide case studies for successful and promising logistics applications within
important innovation areas in modern logistics management as best practice. This
book reports on a number of studies carried out (and still ongoing) in the
Dinalog cluster and the EffizienzCluster LogistikRuhr, bringing together different
ix
perspectives of basic and applied research. Above all, it should serve to inform the
broader logistics and supply chain sector on what can be achieved by implementing
novel and smart innovative ideas and what is needed to make these implementations
successful.
In order to support this approach of bridging theory and practice in modern
logistics, a selected portfolio of theory outlines, practical examples and case studies
and in particular project reports or knowledge management documentations within
different areas of logistics and supply chain planning is presented in this volume.
The editors have selected contributions from a wide variety of projects carried out
in the Dinalog cluster and the Effizienzcluster LogistikRuhr. Contributions are
grouped into five main parts, each representing key domains in the evolution of
logistics and supply chain management:
(A) Logistics innovation and sustainability;
(B) Urban logistics;
(C) Value chain management;
(D) IT-based innovation; and
(E) Logistics training and knowledge management.