Marco Canessa

Bio: Marco Canessa is an academic researcher from Cranfield University. The author has an hindex of 1, co-authored 1 publications receiving 278 citations.

Toward a relevant agenda for warehousing research: literature review and practitioners’ input

Abstract: The main purpose of this research is to provide an agenda for future warehousing research relevant for both academic development and practitioners’ needs. In order to suggest a practically relevant future research agenda, first a comprehensive literature review was performed to identify research areas covered in the literature. Then, 15 warehouse managers and senior consultants were interviewed to add empirical input to the development of potential future research areas. The literature review reveals gaps, both methodology- and topic-wise. A considerable methodological imbalance is observed. Some of the highlighted managerial concerns have been investigated in the literature extensively, but the managerial concerns emphasized mostly do not belong to the most researched categories. While most of the practitioners’ concerns relate to supportive aspects of warehousing business, a relatively high number of the reviewed studies highlight operational problems. The suggested future research agenda highlights the importance of supportive aspects of the warehousing business, employment of real data in analysis and empirical research methods. The insights from practitioners stress the expected trends of business environment such as more volatile demand, higher desire for customized services and more expansion of e-commerce.

Development of a framework for the design of autonomous vehicle storage and retrieval systems

Abstract: In today’s competitive environment with increasingly faster deliveries and smaller order sizes, material handling providers are progressively developing new solutions. A more recent development in automated material-handling technology for unit load storage and retrieval is the autonomous vehicle storage and retrieval system (AVS/RS). The paper investigates the main design trade-offs for this new solution using simulation, and proposes a comprehensive design framework. Using data from a recently implemented AVS/RS, the application of the proposed framework is presented and the key design differences between the two types of AVS/RS configuration (i.e. tier-captive versus tier-to-tier) are identified.

Greening the food supply chain: an optimisation model for sustainable design of refrigerated automated warehouses

Abstract: An optimisation model for the sustainable design of refrigerated automated storage and retrieval systems is proposed, which takes into account specific features of the food supply chain, such as temperature control. Rack configuration as well as surfaces and volumes of the cold cell are conjointly optimised in order to minimise the total yearly cost of the automated storage facility, introducing energy requirements both for refrigeration and picking operations explicitly, other than investment costs. Crane plus satellite systems are modelled in order to enable deep lane solutions and space savings, as suitable for cold storage. The model allows a deep analysis of the impact of supply chain decision variables, such as the facility location, the storage temperature and the incoming product temperature on costs, energy use and carbon dioxide emissions, so that storage facilities attributes for supply chain design models can be properly assessed to re-optimise the whole cold chain. The design problem is model...

Adapting warehouse operations and design to omni-channel logistics: A literature review and research agenda

Abstract: Purpose The purpose of this paper is to increase the understanding of how warehouse operations and design are affected by the move toward integrated omni-channels. Design/methodology/approach A structured literature review is conducted to identify and categorize themes in multi- and omni-channel logistics, and to discuss how aspects related to these themes impact and pose contingencies for warehouse operations and design. Findings The review revealed a lack of focus on warehouse operations and design in multi- and omni-channels. Instead, most articles published in scientific journals discuss changes in consumer demand and implications for the network level, concerning aspects such as the organization and management of material and information flows, inventory management, resources, actors and relationships. Ten themes in omni-channel logistics were identified and grouped into two categories: the value proposition and channel management; and the physical distribution network design. The themes and related aspects have implications for warehousing, and by combining these with general warehousing knowledge, the authors derive a comprehensive and structured agenda is derived to guide future research on omni-channel warehousing. Research limitations/implications This paper outlines a research agenda, including detailed research questions, for advancing the theory on warehouse operations and design in omni-channels. Practical implications The agenda can inspire practitioners in their work to understand the upcoming challenges and address relevant issues in omni-channel warehousing, taking into consideration its interdependence with value proposition, channel management and network decisions. Originality/value This is the first comprehensive review focusing on and synthesizing available literature on omni-channel warehousing. This topic has until now received limited coverage but is of increasing importance to scholars in the field.