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Projeto de investigação
Centre for Business and Economics Research - University of Coimbra
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Publicações
Improvement of the Logistics Flows in the Receiving Process of a Warehouse
Publication . Oliveira, Afonso Vaz de; Pimentel, Carina M. Oliveira; Godina, Radu; Matias, João Carlos de Oliveira; Garrido, Susana M. Palavra; UNIDEMI - Unidade de Investigação e Desenvolvimento em Engenharia Mecânica e Industrial; DEMI - Departamento de Engenharia Mecânica e Industrial
The present work is related to a project developed in a company dealing with the security and communication systems, fire alarms, and electronic displays sector, located in the district of Aveiro. This work aims to improve the logistics flow of material reception in the warehouse of a company by using case study research methodology. Methods: Initially, there were too many queues at reception and high throughput times. The approach used to solve these problems was balancing the workstations, with the help of industrial simulation software (Arena®) and changing the existing layout, making the queues residual in order to reduce the throughput times. Results: Considerable savings were achieved with this approach in terms of operational costs. A reduction of the throughput time by 28% is reached and a reduced number of workstations is achieved, as well as a greater capacity to receive more material without the need for further investment. Conclusions: The changes in the layout allowed improvements at the ergonomic level and greater organization (5 S’s) at the workstations, thus having a positive impact on the employees’ working conditions.
Viability of creating an offshore wind energy cluster
Publication . Junqueira, Helena; Robaina, Margarita; Garrido, Susana; Godina, Radu; Matias, João C. O.; UNIDEMI - Unidade de Investigação e Desenvolvimento em Engenharia Mecânica e Industrial; DEMI - Departamento de Engenharia Mecânica e Industrial; MDPI - Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute
Considering the advantages associated with the port sector concerning the potential of offshore wind energy, several international ports are aiming to achieve a solid integration in offshore wind energy clusters. This article performs an analysis of several seaports and offshore wind energy clusters in Europe to assess the feasibility of implementing an offshore wind energy cluster in the Port of Aveiro, Portugal. A deep literature review and a case study methodology were performed. Based on the analysis of the offshore energy market, and of the value chain of the company case study (ASM Offshore), it was concluded that the Portuguese market in this sector is not competitive, compared with other international markets. Nevertheless, the development of an offshore wind energy cluster could increase the included companie’s prospects, as well as dispute the growth of other companies associated with this sector. This research is relevant, because there is a lack of research that links the importance of seaports in offshore wind energy projects, in particular with a cluster structure, and because it contributes to knowledge for the development of the Aveiro region and Portugal, based on the exploitation of the renewable energy market and to the increase of related activities.
Targeting energy savings? Better on primary than final energy and less on intensity metrics
Publication . Rodríguez, M.; Teotónio, C.; Roebeling, P.; Fortes, P.; CENSE - Centro de Investigação em Ambiente e Sustentabilidade; Elsevier Science B.V., Amsterdam.
Energy efficiency is a critical issue in public policies, as it is the key to decoupling economic growth and energy use. These objectives are becoming even more relevant to addressing the energy crisis and the new geopolitical scenarios delivered by the Ukraine war. Although several papers have analyzed energy efficiency goals, this paper focuses on energy savings targets, which represent the main efficiency metric for the European Union. This paper fills a gap in literature by analyzing the economic and environmental impacts of attaining energy efficiency targets through an energy fiscal policy, simulated by a hybrid computable general equilibrium model with technological detail. Six scenarios are defined for energy savings in primary/final energy consumption of fossil-fueled/all energy products, using Portugal as a case study. Relevant insights for policy makers from the simulated scenarios include: (i) achieving energy saving targets by alternative means, i.e., directed at primary or final energy consumption, provide heterogeneous impacts on the efficiency of the energy system and GDP, and some unexpected and undesirable outcomes concerning environmental impacts; (ii) a relatively lower taxation of all energy products deliver larger and more distorting impacts on electricity generation than higher taxes on fossil fuels only (a counterintuitive result), (iii) policies aiming to reduce primary energy instead of final energy provide the best outcomes (further increases in the efficiency of the energy system with smoother economic impacts), thereby pointing against the European Energy Taxation directive principle that taxation should be levied on final products, regardless of inputs used in their production and (iv) and targets should not be set up based on energy intensity indicators. Hence, it is shown that the size of the trade-off between economic and environmental concerns depends on where (primary or final energy consumption) and what (fossil or all energy products) energy savings are targeted.
Supply Chain Sustainability
Publication . Correia, Elisabete; Garrido-Azevedo, Susana; Carvalho, Helena; UNIDEMI - Unidade de Investigação e Desenvolvimento em Engenharia Mecânica e Industrial; DEMI - Departamento de Engenharia Mecânica e Industrial; MDPI - Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute
Today, frameworks and models are critical for enabling organizations to identify their current sustainability integration into business and to follow up on these initiatives over time. In this context, the maturity models offer a structured way of analyzing how a supply chain meets specific sustainability requirements and which areas demand attention to reach maturity levels. This study proposes a five-level maturity model to help supply chains managers identify their level of engagement with sustainability practices combining three perspectives: the intra- and inter-organizational sustainability practices, the triple-bottom-line approach and the critical areas for sustainability. All the steps followed in constructing the maturity model were based on a literature review, and case studies supported its improvement, application, and testing. The proposed model presents many advantages, such as being used as a self-assessment tool, a roadmap for sustainability behaviors improvement, and a benchmarking tool to evaluate and compare standards and best practices among organizations and supply chains.
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Entidade financiadora
Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia
Programa de financiamento
6817 - DCRRNI ID
Número da atribuição
UIDB/05037/2020