Junior Professorship for

"Artificial Intelligence (AI) -

Application in Production and Logistics"

The KISync research project aims to investigate how artificial intelligence (AI) methods can be used to synchronize the decision-making problems of various processes in operational supply chain planning under the influence of uncertainties. In particular, internal company planning in competitive supply chains with little information exchange will be examined. Another focus is the question of how AI can form synergies with humans in order to improve decisions in complex situations in supply chain management and also sustainably increase the cross-process data competence of humans. Due to the dynamics of global supply chains with increasing uncertainties, the development of such a system is expected to improve the planning quality and robustness of operational supply chain planning. The system is to be implemented as a prototype in order to evaluate its functionality using existing supply chain data from two medium-sized companies.
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The strong growth of courier, express and parcel services (CEP) poses major challenges for cities. Last-mile delivery is increasingly causing traffic congestion and - as long as deliveries are made using traditional diesel vans - noise and exhaust pollution. This is not least due to the low utilization rate of 30% for light diesel commercial vehicles in inner-city fine distribution. In addition, does not always guarantee successful delivery to the customer, meaning that deliveries are made more often than planned. This worsens the profitability of logistics service providers and jeopardizes customer satisfaction. Under the leadership of the Magdeburg Media Group (MVD: Magdeburger Verlags- und Druckhaus GmbH) and in cooperation with FIApro UG and the Institute for Logistics and Material Flow Technology (ILM) at Otto von Guericke University (OVGU), the joint project Paket-KV-MD² aims to develop and implement parcel distribution with an innovative hub-and-spoke approach using a combination of urban hubs, micro-depots, parcel stations and cargo bikes. As part of the joint project, the logistical interfaces in the state capital of Magdeburg will be further developed and new handling technologies for combined transport (CT) will be implemented.

To test this unique combination of urban hub, micro-depot, parcel station and cargo bike distribution in the district within a selected urban area in Magdeburg, the locations of the system will first be determined and dimensioned according to the planning database. The project aims to implement a modular approach with new handling systems, handling equipment, transport technologies and technical equipment as well as new information and control technology for the overall handling process. Therefore, after the detailed planning and tendering of the system components, the vehicles, the handling equipment, the software and the handling concept, these will be set up and put into operation. After their completion and the implementation of the preparatory measures, such as route and personnel deployment planning, the pilot operation will take place in Magdeburg. During the pilot operation, the relevant operating data is recorded, processed and evaluated. This includes, for example, data on energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions from both the vehicles and the locations in order to calculate the savings potential compared to the initial situation. According to initial estimates, the implementation of the joint project will result in annual savings of several tons of CO2 (approx. 3.93 t CO2/a). In addition, the technical and logistical optimization of the overall system will take place during the pilot operation, for example by producing new swap bodies or parcel stations or updating the route planning because a location has changed.
This text was translated with DeepL

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