Logistics, Operations and Industrial Engineering

The research line addresses the planning and management of systems for the production and distribution of industrial goods and the delivery of services. The line is articulated into two groups: - Industrial Engineering; - Logistics and Operations Management. The two groups are basically interrelated, because the planning and the management of production and distribution systems have to be strictly integrated in order to guarantee the best design solutions and management performances. In our case, this interdisciplinary view is made easier by the fact that the components of the research line belong from the same national academic research group. This is also the reason while some researchers are involved in both group subjects. The group “Industrial Engineering” is concerned with the modelling, planning, automation, operation and improvement of industrial plants and production systems (both in the process and the manufacturing industry). Primary perspectives that are taken into account in the research activities of the group are i) the integration and management of all engineering issues during the overall system life cycle, including the product and the process levels and ii) a multi-objective assessment and optimization approach. Computer aided techniques (e.g. simulation, soft computing, ...) and computer aided systems (e.g. CAx information systems) are widely adopted as supporting tools for research and development. The group “Logistics and Operations Management” is concerned with the design and management of source-make-deliver processes in industrial and service companies, taking both an intra-company perspective and an inter-company (or supply chain) perspective. The general aim is to investigate, conceptualize, and develop new management approaches, modelling and solving techniques, methodologies and information support systems. Issues are addressed at the strategic, tactical and operational level, taking into consideration technical, managerial and organizational issues at the same time.