Academic environment in logistics

Academic environment in logistics

The academic environment of SMARTLOG has a starting point in the Production management group of Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering at NTNU, where the academic profile is concentrated around production and logistics of supply chains.

Logistics

Logistics is the integrated flow of goods, information and cash between the actors in a supply chain. It is therefore an important field of competence for all companies where the flow of goods and information are important processes.

Production logistics focuses on the conversion of products and how this can be performed both efficiently and with the customers demand in mind. The conversion can happen through production, assembly or composition of deliveries. This way all actors in the supply chains delivering physical products execute production logistics.

Production logistics research is performed as a part of competence building projects including mass customisation, flow-oriented production, production strategy and supply chain management. In addition, user-driven projects are carried out within the same topics to strenghten the competitive advantage to Norwegian companies.

Research areas

Central research areas

SMARTLOG carries out projects within a range of topics with a focus on:

  • Design of global supply chains
  • Control models for supply chains and production units
  • Utilisation of information and communications technologies (ICT) in logistics
  • Business models and strategy development

This involves research activities within topics like:

  • Product, production, inventory, transportation and information
  • Design and control of production and logistics, control models
  • Roles, work allocations, organisation and collaboration models
  • ICT-tools for control
  • Simulation and modelling

Working method

Working method

The research that is carried out by SMARTLOG is development- and solution-oriented. The activities are often focused around:

  • Analysis and mapping
  • Design, structure and control
  • Methods

The projects are being carried out of a team consisting of researchers, the employer's employees, international collaboration partners and students. Representative deliveries include:

  • Solutions and decision support
  • Methods
  • ICT-tools
  • Project and development processes
  • Documentation, reports and dissemination
  • Publications

Project types

Project types and financing

The research is carried out through many different types of projects, among other:

  • Larger research programs financed by the Research Council of Norway and with an individual effort from the participating companies
  • EU-financed projects
  • User-oriented innovation projects financed by the Research Council of Norway and with an individual effort from the participating companies
  • Research and development assignments financed by the companies
  • PhD candidates and master students being involved in projects