Project Duration:

24 months (October 2003 - September 2005)

Project Partners:

Athens Economics and Business University, Planning S.A, Nikas S.A, Diakinisi S.A., Emfasis Tilematiki

Sponsor:

Ministry of Development General Secretariat for Research and Technology, Greece

Scope:

Uneven demand, more frequent and shorter order-to-shipment times, as well as stricter customer compliance requirements are the key parameters shaping twenty-first-century business practices. As a result, companies are re-examining their business processes from a business-to-business (B2B) commerce perspective in an effort to be more effective and efficient via the inclusion of mobile technologies.

In this context the need for a new type of supply chain model is emerging. Generally speaking supply chain processes consist of two basic axes: a) planning and b) execution. In recent years supply chain planning has attracted considerable attention. As a result advanced methods and tools have emerged, including the latest integrated supply chain optimisation systems. On the other hand supply chain execution has received less attention although it forms the fore front in the B2B interactions. It is precisely this area that the proposed research is focusing upon.

Mobile technology can play a pivotal role in enabling real-time supply chains and supporting supply chain execution. This forms the basic scope of MO.R.S.E which will embrace the design, implementation and evaluation of innovative mobile methods, applications and services in order to support efficient supply chain execution capable of delivering enhanced value to its members (starting from the supplier and reaching the end-customer). More specifically the basic goals of the proposed research project are:

1. Identify key areas in real-time communication and decision making that can result in step improvements in supply chain execution.
2. Develop methods and techniques to address real-time decision making in supply chain execution.
3. Develop state-of-the art technology systems and solutions that support the above areas.
4. Implement and test the proposed methods and systems in realistic/complex scenarios.
5. Disseminate the project results in both the scientific and business communities as well as present the research results in international conferences and scientific journals.

Areas that the proposed research will address include:

1. Dynamic re-configuration of supply chain tactics based on real-time demands and needs driven by the customers or other external factors (road congestion, emergencies, etc).
2. Automation of Reverse logistics. Improved response to unpredicted reverse logistics customer requests such as return of damaged goods. This will necessitate extensive ERP-truck connectivity.
3. Optimal truck utilisation in inter-city transport.

In order to address these issues successfully, our team combines the strengths of basic research institutions (Athens University of Economics and Business, University of the Aegean), along with a system development company (Emphasis Telematics), a logistics management consultant (Planning S.A) and strong end-user base (Diakinisis, Nikas).