Food security depends on a network of actors and elements working together to produce and deliver healthy, sustainable, varied, safe and plentiful food supply to society. The interactions between these actors and elements must be designed, managed and optimized to satisfy demand. In this chapter we introduce Food Supply Chain Optimization and Demand, providing a framework to understand and improve food security from an operational and strategic point of view.
From the article: "Abstract Maintenance processes of Dutch housing associations are often still organized in a traditional manner. Contracts are based on lowest price instead of ‘best quality for lowest price’ considering users’ demands. Dutch housing associations acknowledge the need to improve their maintenance processes in order to lower maintenance cost, but are not sure how. In this research, this problem is addressed by investigating different supply chain partnering principles and the role of information management. The main question is “How can the organisation of maintenance processes of Dutch housing associations, in different supply chain partnering principles and the related information management, be improved?” The answer is sought through case study research."
Logistics companies struggle to keep their supply chain cost-effective, reliable and sustainable, due to changing demand, increasing competition and growing service requirements. To remain competitive, processes must be efficient with low costs. Of the entire supply chain, the first and last mile logistics may be the most difficult aspect due to low volumes, high waiting and shipping times and complex schedules. These inefficiencies account for up to 40% of total transport costs. Connected Automated Transport (CAT) is a technological development that allows for safer, more efficient and cleaner transport, especially for the first- and last-mile. The Connected Automated Driving Roadmap (ERTRAC) states that CAT can revolutionize the way fleets operate. The CATALYST Project (NWO) already shows the advantages of CAT. SAVED builds on several projects and transforms the challenges and solutions that were identified on a strategic level to a tactical and operational (company) level. Despite the high-tech readiness of CAT, commercial acceptance is lacking due to issues regarding profitable integration into existing logistics processes and infrastructures. In-depth research on automated hub-to-hub freight transport is needed, focusing on ideal vehicle characteristics, logistic control of the vehicles (planning, routing, positioning, battery management), control modes (central, decentralized, hybrid), communication modes (vehicle-to-vehicle, vehicle-to-infrastructure) and automation of loading and unloading, followed by the translation of this knowledge into valid business models. Therefore, SAVED focuses on the following question: “How can automated and collaborative hub-to-hub transport be designed, and what is the impact in terms of People, Planet and Profit (PPP) on the logistics value chain of industrial estates of different sizes, layouts and different traffic situations (mixed/unmixed infrastructure)?“ SAVED results in knowledge of the applicability of CAT and the impact on the logistics value chain of various industrial estates, illustrated by two case studies.
Decentrale energiewekking wordt een belangrijk onderdeel van het laagspanningsnet. Een nieuwe uitdaging is hoe om te gaan met piekbelasting (zowel vraag als aanbod van energie) in het netwerk. Een mogelijke oplossing hiervoor is slimme sturing (demand-side management) binnen microgrids. Aardehuizen heeft als energy community interesse in verbetering van de zelfconsumptie van de eigen opgewekte energie en in het geautomatiseerd delen en onderling verrekenen van energie, b.v. via blockchain. In het kader van dit KIEM project willen de partners een open ICT-platform ontwikkelen waarin energieopwekking en verbruik wordt gemonitord, een buurtbatterij en warm waterboilers slim worden gestuurd en op termijn energie onderling verrekend kan worden via blockchain. Bij het project zijn de volgende partners betrokken: het lectoraat Duurzame Energievoorziening van Saxion, de onderzoeksgroep CAES van Universiteit Twente, Aardehuizen VvE, Dr. Ten, Bosch-Nefit, stichting Kiemt, Natuurlijk Huus Raalte en Kiekebosch communicatie. De innovatie die het consortium wil realiseren: een community gebaseerde, geïntegreerde sturing van buurtbatterij en warm waterboilers welke wordt ontwikkeld in een open innovatiemodel met bedrijven en bewoners.
