Page 58 - Case Study Annual 2015
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friendly, smart and standardised worldwide. That is: Interfaces optimised for universal interconnectivity:
• M erchandise is unitised as content of a π-container Physical and digital interfaces exploiting the
characteristics of π-containers and standardised
and is not dealt with explicitly by PI worldwide. That is: Whole logistics centres designed for
• Modular dimensions range from cargo container sizes the Physical Internet:
down to tiny size
• Conceived to flow more easily through various
transport, handling and storage modes and means
• E asy to handle, store, transport, snap, interlock,
load, unload, construct and dismantle, compose and
decompose
• L ight, made of environment friendly materials, with
minimal off-service footprint
• Smart tag enabled, with sensors if necessary: proper
identification, routing and maintaining
• Various usage-adapted structural grades
• Conditioning capabilities as necessary (eg temperature)
• Sealable for security purposes.
So this: So how do we take this forward? All of this will require
a great deal of innovation from a technology, business
process and cultural perspective as well as willingness
to change and above all collaboration.
Becomes this! Which brings us to MODULUSCHA!
Modulushca is a blend of the words: Modular Logistics
Units in Shared Co-Modal Network.
The Modulushca project is the first real pilot held
in Europe of a really innovative vision – the Physical
Internet. Imagine an open network of networks for
physical objects like the one employed in the World
Wide Web. This new concept would drive logistics
to high-performance logistics centres, movers and
protocols, making it seamless, easy, fast, reliable and
cheap to interconnect physical objects through modes
and routes, with an overarching aim towards universal
interconnectivity.
So, the goal of the Modulushca project is to enable
operating with developed iso-modular logistics units
of sizes adequate for real modal and co-modal flows
of fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG). This sector
has been selected because it faces several logistical
challenges due to: purchase frequency, non-durability,
high volumes etc.
Modulushca will establish a robust and replicable
methodology to develop and evaluate solutions for
interconnected logistics looking at other elements of the
supply chain.
In detail, this project integrates interrelated working
fields: the development of a vision addressing the user
needs for interconnected logistics in the FMCG domain;
the development of a set of exchangeable (ISO) modular
logistics units providing a building block of smaller
units; the establishment of digital interconnectivity
of the units; and finally, the development of an
56 the logistics news case study annual 2015
