Page 60 - Case Study Annual 2015

interconnected logistics operations platform leading to
wa islilgbneificdaenmt orendsturactteiodninintwcoostismapnldemCeOn2taetimonisspioilnoststhfoart Seminars and workshops: Several seminars will be
interconnected solutions.
Modulushca efforts will lead to the development
of a road map towards a fully interconnected logistics
system in 2030. The road map will address the changes
and necessary steps to evolve the logistics system
gradually, exploiting progresses in digital, physical
and operational interconnectivity, building on current
players, assets and infrastructures. The changes required
to move towards interconnected FMCG logistics were
assessed and linked to the industry perceived success
drivers and obstacles.
..... the technology is “a piece of cake. There’s no
science fiction and nothing to invent in terms of
software and the big picture where Business Meets
Materials Handling data collection”
Expected results
The main benefits can be summarised as:
• Demonstrate technical, digital and operational feasibility
of seamless handling of cargo within supply chain
operations across companies and transport modes;
• R ecommending industry standards for iso modular
logistics units to be deployed along the entire supply
chain of different branches for a European wide and
global market introduction;
• D evelop models to assess the supply chain benefits
providing a methodology for cross process and cross
company supply chain analysis for industry and
policy makers;
• A clear information handling approach, including
data consistency and transport monitoring along the
journey as model contributing to extend and enhance
standardisation developments in eFreight and iCargo;
• Developing optimisation algorithms for loading
capacity optimisation and scheduling transferring
especially to SME user groups;
• Enhance the innovation process at the interface
material and transport flow to stimulate a gradual
market take up and implementation process;
• S timulate the market uptake of new interconnected
logistics systems and other innovations developed
and tested within the project and thereby increasing
the viability of the implementation.
Participate
All companies involved in FMCG supply chain are
58 the logistics news case study annual 2015
invited to participate in the project’s activities.
organised to better understand how concepts developed
in Modulushca could be adapted to fulfil FMCG sector
needs.
Roadmap: The development of a transformational
and technology roadmap is being planned, which
will address the required step-changes needed for
gradual modification to the logistics system,
exploiting progress in digital, physical and operational
interconnectivity and building on current players, assets
and infrastructures.
Networking: Learn and share knowledge, documents
and experiences about this new logistics concept.
LinkedIn: Search in the Groups, the items ‘Physical
Internet’ or ‘Modulushca’; Twitter: @modulushca;
YouTube: youtube.com/modulushca
Also go to: http://www.physicalinternetinitiative.org/
and http://www.modulushca.eu/
Conclusion
The Physical Internet: Not a utopia, not a Big-Bang.
The Physical Internet builds on the network effect,
getting ever more effective as it gathers more users.
It must gather critical mass, first exploiting existing
infrastructures and means, then gradually fostering
innovation. Even though it is to be ultimately global,
it will have to grow first in fertile domains, where it
must be collaboratively supported by key leaders from
industry, government and academia.
So, is the Physical Internet a pipedream or is it a
possibility? According to Montreuil, the technology is
“a piece of cake. There’s no science fiction and nothing
to invent in terms of software and the big picture where
Business Meets Materials Handling data collection.”
He believes the companies within MHIA could come
up with the handling innovations to make this happen
very quickly.
In Montreuil’s definition, quickly is about a decade.
“The real challenge,” he said, “is overcoming the
reservation of businesses to collaborate with one
another to make the Physical Internet work. Companies
will need to come up with new business models.”
The other challenge is convincing a group of shippers
to do it now, rather than later. While it may take a
decade to get a global Physical Internet up and running,
Montreuil believes that a consortium of companies, or
even an entire industry, could do it now. “I think the
biggest hurdle is the reluctance of companies to do
this until everything is in place to operate on a global
scale,” he said, “I see it as something that can be phased
in now and grow incrementally.” That could be the
industry that is asking the question: “Isn’t there a better
way?” Perhaps Modulsucha will form the starting point
in answering this question. •