Logistics Systems Engineering

The course starts with a quick review of the in the field of design science, engineering design, (durable) systems logistics analysis and systems engineering. The role of meta engineering approaches in respect to more disciplinary (often more detailed) engineering approaches is explained from a project management perspective. During the lectures the student will conduct small classroom assignments related to their own large assignment. The overall course is practical in nature. In two group assignments students will be working and will be engaged in two Systems Logistics Engineering Processes. The assignment will be in the form of a (group) design/engineering two-faced actor/stakeholder project setting, i.c. as a owner (client) and as a designer.

Theoretical Line:

• Short intro/recap on design thinking/processes, engineering design, system engineering fundamentals and the role of stakeholders in logistics engineering projects.

• Design and development of product in production logistics environment.

• Identification of analysis and design activities within the engineering of Supply and Transport - Logistics systems.

• Functional Discovery and Analysis of a range reference Transport and Logistics Systems (e.g. distribution network, urban logistics, container shipping services, cargo tracking en tracing system, cargo connections systems, transport system interaction in new development area, airfreight delivery service, warehouse systems, cross-dock centers etc.) as a preparation for the systems logistics engineering exercises.

• The interrelation between Systems Engineering, Asset Management, Maintenance Management within supply chain and logistics systems.

• Introducing Practical Framework for Logistics Systems Engineering and elaborated on specific parts of this content during the lectures (following the assignments).

• Life Cycle Engineering, RAMS, Service Logistics, RAMS and Design-to-X-ability.

Practical Line:

• Formalizing the Practical Framework for Systems Logistics Engineering

• Opportunity Statements and Need Analysis

• Concept Descriptions

• Mission Analysis

• Operational Concept

• Supportability Concept

• Informal Stakeholder Requirements

• Formal (Technical) Design Requirements

• Behavioral/Temporal Design

• Functional Design

• Structural/Physical Design

• Interface Design and the role of Interface Management

• Configuration Management within Systems Logistics Engineering Processes

• Verification and Validation within Systems Logistics Engineering Processes

• Detailed design of one of more sub-systems and/or chosen component

• Re-engineering of the design from a specific Design-to-X-ability perspective

• Presentation of the final group assignment results (from a customer/owner perspective and from a designer/engineering perspective).

Summary

This course teaches the student to facilitate a multi-actor and societal environment by specifically designing a (service)-systems in the Transport, Infrastructure and Logistics domain, dealing with substantive as well as procedural aspects of the systems (logistics) engineering process. The focus is on Transport & Logistics Systems from the perspective of Systems Engineering and Integral Systems Design. The course considers a wide range of tools and methods that guides policy-making, opportunity statements, the asset acquisition process, opportunity analysis / need-analysis, requirement statements/analysis, conceptual design, functional design, behavioral design, physical design and Life cycle engineering of the Transport & Logistics Systems Engineering that can be used during several engineering phases.

Transport & Logistics System typically have a long life of type and often are (re)designed to meet changing demands. Attention is given to the context in which a Transport and Logistics System must perform (in past and future) often in respect to conflicting situations. Tools and methods will be applied to a wide range or TIL-Systems, like freight rail transport, a port (any form), a cargo station, container shipping, container handling systems, logistics distribution systems, freight delivery services, etc.

Attention will be given to the Management of Service Systems that together with the physical Transport and Logistics Systems fulfill mobility demands for mainly goods, such as decision support systems, financing systems, event management systems, tracking and tracing systems and steering instruments to promote sustainable good mobility. Special attention will be given to asset management, logistics support and X-ability factors, like: availability, reliability, maintainability, risk, sustainability, constructability and producibility related design criteria. During the course, students practice activities and tasks of individual phases of a logistics systems engineering process. The course is a mixture of lectures and assignments.