List of Abstracts 2023: PLENARY SESSION
Date: November 8, 2023
The current geopolitical shifts have given a whole new meaning to cross-border networking. Real and digital networks are important because they enable transparency and agility - within companies and throughout the supply chain. Complex connections between producers, traders, suppliers, service providers and customers, with clients and contractors, form the basis of all business. Let's take a look at the long-term trends in networks. We all face the same challenges - decarbonization, digitalization and AI, skills shortages, supply chain resilience. By sharing knowledge and experiences at congresses like CLC23, we learn from each other, make new contacts, and can better manage many professional tasks. Together, we are shaping the logistics of the future. Networks consist of intelligent connections between several points. Direct routes are possible - but networks also show their strength when disruptions occur and new routes be-come necessary - in the Czech Republic as well as in Germany, in the rest of Europe and even worldwide. Germany has fallen from gold to bronze in the World Bank's logistics ranking. Energy and labour costs are exploding. Industrial companies are threatening to relocate, and the desolate state of the infrastructure is a constant topic. Let's leave ideologies and borders be-hind and look at how we can do things better together, in order to shape the global "turn-around" in our business - in solidarity with politics and society. To do this, we need open-ness, trust and the willingness to look beyond the confines of our own company.
The increasing demand for electric vehicles and renewable energy storage has necessitated efficient and scalable battery production. This presentation showcases the advancements in automation technology, specifically focusing on the automation battery logistics processes. The key areas of interest include the implantation of an automatic warehouse for battery modules, automatic line feeding with Automated Guided Vehicles (AGVs), automatic warehouse for assembled batteries, automatic un/loading of assembled batteries onto trains and trucks, and the automatic un/loading of assembled batteries onto the vehicle assembly line. The automation of battery production processes offers significant advantages, including increased efficiency, improved safety, reduced labor costs, and enhanced quality control. The automation warehouse for battery modules provides seamless storage and retrieval, optimizing inventory management and minimizing human intervention. Additionally, the automatic warehouse for assembled batteries ensures smooth logistics, enabling swift and accurate delivery to meet the growing demand. Furthermore, the integration of automation in the un/loading of assembled batteries onto trains and trucks eliminates manual handling, reducing the risk of damage and improving overall productivity. The automatic un/loading of assembled batteries onto the vehicle assembly line streamlines the manufacturing process, enabling a continuous and uninterrupted flow, while maintaining stringent quality standards.
In conclusion, the automation of battery production processes revolutionizes the automotive industry.
The German supply chain act became effective in 2023. Companies in Germany with more than 3000 employees have the obligation to respect and analyse human rights in their entire supply chain and they have to install an active supply chain risk management. The readiness to obey this act is evaluated in different countries in Africa, South America and Asia. Countries of the Global South face different problems within their businesses regarding ESG. "Big pictures" from South Africa, Ghana, Peru, Jordan, UAE and India illustrate the differences and challenges.
The development of the Industry 4.0 concept has brought about fundamental technological and organizational changes in logistics systems. Indeed, it should be noted that digital technology is not only a process of adopting new technology but, first of all, significant changes in business processes, management strategy, and the entire socio-technical system of the organization. Therefore, the progressive digital transformation and the implementation of automated and autonomous solutions to logistics processes are seen as effective ways to improve material flows and increase the efficiency of logistics service in the enterprise and the entire supply chain. However, the implemented technologies are increasing the complexity of the cyber-physical systems supporting logistics processes. Access to big data sets and using artificial intelligence to mitigate the risk of adverse events is becoming an increasingly popular practice. When developing assumptions for the operational risk analyses being created, it is necessary to consider the new potential of Industry 4.0 solutions. However, it is worth noting that the new technology being implemented may also be a potential source of danger at the same time. Logistics systems are still complex anthropotechnical systems. Automation of logistics operations is aimed at eliminating human errors that occur. On the other hand, implementing autonomous solutions generates new risks (including for the human cooperating with the machine), which should be subject to detailed analysis. The presentation will include the recent research results on the risk of adverse events in complex human-cyber-physical systems supporting logistics processes and the possibilities of applying new technologies for risk analysis and management. The author will present the main research trends described in publications of recent years and the results of her research work.