Analysis and Optimisation of Operations and Supply Chain Management: An Industry 5.0 Perspective

Dear Colleagues,

This Special Issue aims to collect theoretical and empirical studies that analyse how to optimise supply chains operations employing cutting-edge technologies which are influencing organizations, and improving market and organizational performance. In particular, a greater comprehension of how cutting-edge technologies could affect the time, cost and performance of operations management is needed. For example, RFID sensors, Internet of Things (IoT) and blockchain could be used to automate specific operations for the order management among producers, delivery companies and final retailers. The IoT infrastructure transfers data from the RFID sensors, installed on the goods, to the distributed ledger, so that products are tracked and certified [1,2]. In addition, optimized procurement and distribution decisions can be managed through the application of artificial intelligence algorithms [3,4]. Supply chains could adopt edge computing technologies to analyse data close to the source for real-time network response. Connecting data in real time is the solution that allows network players to have accurate and constantly updated information on the status of their supply chain operations [5]. Moreover, the adoption of cutting-edge technologies in supply chains can be linked to sustainable development goals, resilience and human centrality in industrial processes. These issues are the basis of the new Industry 5.0 paradigm which aims to create an eco-system in which human–machine interaction can realise more effective and efficient decisions in current supply chains. Therefore, contributions showing how to adopt cutting-edge technologies to analyse and optimise supply chains without compromising environmental and social sustainability and ensuring supply chain resilience from an Industry 5.0 perspective [6] are welcome.

Specific topics of interest include the analysis and the optimization of supply chain operations for specific processes in an Industry 5.0 paradigm such as delivery, distribution, inventory management, outsourcing, reverse logistics, transportation, warehouse management, operations planning and control, quality management, optimized production of goods and provision of services.

Research methods may include (but not limited to) the following:

• Case studies;
• Surveys;
• Simulations;
• Optimization/algorithms techniques;
• Frameworks developed;
• Systematic literature reviews;
• New theories;

We look forward to receiving your contributions.

References:

1. Hasan, H.; AlHadhrami, E.; AlDhaheri, A.; Salah, K.; Jayaraman, R. Smart contract-based approach for efficient shipment management. Comput. Ind. Eng. 2019, 136, 149–159.
2. Varriale, V.; Cammarano, A.; Michelino, F.; Caputo, M. Sustainable supply chains with blockchain, IoT and RFID: A simulation on order management. Sustainability 2021, 13, 1–23.
3. Zheng, T.; Ardolino, M.; Bacchetti, A.; Perona, M. The applications of Industry 4.0 technologies in manufacturing context: a systematic literature review. Int. J. Prod. Res. 2020, 59, 1922–1954.
4. Cui, H. Intelligent Coordination Distribution of the Whole Supply Chain Based on the Internet of Things. Complexity 2021, 2021, 1–12.
5. Dobrescu, R.; Mocanu, S.; Chenaru, O.; Nicolae, M.; Florea, G. Versatile edge gateway for improving manufacturing supply chain management via collaborative networks. Int. J. Comput. Integr. Manuf. 2021, 34, 407–421.
6. Zengin, Y.; Naktiyok, S.; Kaygın, E.; Kavak, O.; Topçuoğlu, E. An investigation upon industry 4.0 and society 5.0 within the context of sustainable development goals. Sustainability 2021, 13, 1–16.

Dr. Vincenzo Varriale
Dr. Antonello Cammarano
Dr. Francesca Michelino
Prof. Dr. Mauro Caputo
Guest Editors

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• supply chain management
• cutting-edge technologies
• operations management
• Industry 5.0
• artificial intelligence
• Internet of Things
• blockchain
• cloud technology
• digital technologies