Returnable Transport Items (RTIs) play a critical role in sustainable logistics by enabling asset reuse across supply chains. However, damaged RTIs must be efficiently transported to repair centers and reintegrated into the network to maintain service quality and cost-efficiency. This thesis addresses the challenge of optimizing such repair-integrated transport flows within RTI pooling systems, using Container Centralen as a real-world case study. An Integer Linear Programming (ILP) model is developed to jointly determine the optimal allocation of broken RTIs to repair centers and the subsequent redistribution of repaired items to depots, under constraints such as repair capacity, transport time, and demand fulfillment. The model is implemented in Python using Gurobi and embedded in a user-friendly dashboard for decision support. Through simulation experiments based on historical data and realistic scenarios, the integrated approach demonstrates significant improvements over heuristic strategies, including reduced transport distances, better repair center utilization, and improved service reliability. The findings highlight the practical and theoretical value of integrated logistics modeling for RTI networks and propose several avenues for future research, including the extension to multiple RTI types, incorporation of uncertainty, and scalability enhancements. This work contributes to both operations research literature and practical decision-making in circular supply chain management.

Hydrogen is emerging as plausible energy carrier to decrease the global dependency on fossil fuels. Hydrogen production based on renewable energy and electrolysis is a technically mature and well-researched production process. Production processes based on large electrolyzers result in varying and relatively high (between €4/kg and up to ± €14/kg) levelized costs of hydrogen - attributable to high electrolyzer and electricity costs. This research evaluates the potential of an off-energy-grid PV and small- capacity electrolyzer based hydrogen production process. The assessed smaller-capacity electrolyzers result in less than a quarter of most electrolyzer costs (€/kW). The cost reduction combined with the avoided electricity costs due to grid connection, allow for market competitive LCOHs within the range of ± €2,15-5/kg hydrogen depending on the hydrogen outflow system chosen for the farm. This research shows that the low electrolyzer and electricity costs of an off-energy-grid PV and small-capacity electrolyzer based hydrogen farm - with running hours limited to the average sun equivalent hours while including a water supply system (source, treatment, distribution across farms, etc.) and a hydrogen outflow system (collection across farm, possible compression) - has technical feasibility and market potential.

This paper investigates how two sequential sub-processes at a flower auction can be well aligned to efficiently execute the overall auction process. Existing literature mainly focuses on warehouses without perishable goods and warehouses where all orders are known before the outbound process is started. However, at a flower auction, the gathering of goods and distribution takes place while the auction is still ongoing. In addition, flowers are vulnerable goods that must be handled with care.
During a case study at Royal FloraHolland Naaldwijk, the current process of order picking and in-house delivery is investigated to find the main strengths and bottlenecks. This is done physically and with data. From this analysis,
it has been found that the main issues are the spread and share of waiting times in the in-house delivery process and the output of the order-picking process that is too low. To improve the overall process based on the found issues, a calculation model has been built in Python to test possible improvements. It has been found that implementing limited waiting times and other alterations to increase efficiency results in a more reliable and better predictable
process that can be executed with approximately the same number of work hours or slightly more than in the current situation.

Purpose - With the short term need to reduce direct CO2 emissions of trucks in distribution processes, this paper aims to provide an easy to implement solution approach for distribution processes of new cars from holistic perspective. Scarce emphasizes is provided on short-term alternatives in truck-based distribution processes and approaches lacks applicable for large scale problems including split delivery function.
Design/methodology/approach - The distribution process and model methods are analyzed using a literature study and interviews with experts, resulting in the development of a solution approach. Combined with an extensive field research, a solution approach enables the performance evaluation of the current state, and the policy implications. Future designs are used to validate the solution approach by calculating performance differences in multiple relevant evaluation domains.
Findings - The analysis of the current state has identified critical bottlenecks, leading to the development of two promising policies. The application of a new and validated prioritization strategy and permitting more stops per truck has successfully yielded a significant reduction in CO2 emissions. The performance of the solution approach demonstrates high precision on a small scale and yields results comparable to actual practices on a larger scale, suggesting the approach's effectiveness and potential for future application.
Research limitations/implications - This research provides a new solution approach for evaluating direct CO2 emissions of model different designs of distribution processes. Despite its narrow scope, the transportation sector has a significant environmental footprint, and offers the potential for substantial reductions in emissions. From modeling perspective, further research is suggested in integrating split delivery function without using dummy variables.
Originality/value - This paper contributes by identifying critical gaps in the understanding and implementation of system-wide efficient car distribution processes from distribution hubs to car dealers. It not only addresses potential improvements, but also proved efficiency gains of the system with a new solution approach, using a new combination of a state-of-the-art meta-heuristic and a proven split delivery method applicable for large-scale problems.

Amsterdam Airport Schiphol (AAS) faces operational challenges from fluctuating baggage volumes and limited infrastructure, necessitating innovative approaches to optimize baggage handling. This study focuses on strategic buffering of super cold transfer baggage to reduce peak occupancy at transfer infeed points. A simulation model, integrated with TBATS forecasting, evaluates three buffering strategies (fixed target, polynomial, hybrid) and two reintroduction strategies (early, optimized release) under normal, disrupted, and highdemand scenarios. The results demonstrate peak occupancy reductions of up to 26.8%, with the polynomial buffering strategy and optimized release proving the most effective, though requiring additional AGV resources. Fixed target strategies offer a more resource-efficient alternative while maintaining substantial improvements in peak shaving. Early release strategies further reduce buffer congestion, optimizing operations for space-constrained environments. This research provides actionable insights for AAS and similar airports, highlighting trade-offs between efficiency, resource requirements, and operational constraints. The findings contribute to scalable solutions for managing growing baggage volumes within existing infrastructure, enhancing system resilience and performance.

The Automated Guided Vehicle (AGV) is the most commonly used piece of horizontal movement that uses electric power from an internal battery pack. With much focus on the charging strategy, current charge operation models lack the ability to model large scale terminal operations and to incorporate new types of horizontal movement. The objective of this research is to show the impact of recharge operations on terminal performances. A discrete event simulation model is based on the characteristics of APMT MVII to model the current impact. The results of numerical experiments show charging operations have a limited impact on the productivity of Lift-AGV. An exception is the change in battery type. Using a Li-ion battery lowers the need for recharging and increases total productivity. The findings show the importance of integrating modelling to accurately project terminal operations.

This research examines the multifaceted challenges posed by urbanization in the Netherlands, specifically focusing on the intricate relationships between modes of mobility and societal well-being. Central to this exploration is studying the modal split and understanding how shifts in this split can have profound implications for urban areas. The Dutch Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management’s (Min IenW) Well-being Monitor is the foundation for this study, aiming to chart the interplay of living environment, safety, health, and accessibility. It illuminates the potential consequences of changing transportation choices (modal split) on broader environmental concerns such as the Urban Heat Island effect, noise disturbance, air quality, and climate resilience. While cars due to their ubiquity, cars play a central role in the research. However, the importance of Non-Motorized Transport (NMT) and Public Transport (PT) is also highlighted, given their significant roles in urban mobility and their potential to redefine the modal split. Using Rotterdam as a case study, the research delves into the spatial constraints of one of the Netherlands’ largest cities, emphasizing the need for effective urban planning that prioritizes sustainable transportation solutions and envisions future shifts in transportation preferences. The goal is to offer valuable insights that can influence urban strategies, ensuring sustainable and livable cities.

Purpose - With the ongoing rise of product returns in the fashion industry, exacerbating its GHG footprint when it should be lowered, this paper aims to provide a measurement tool for companies to improve the environmental impact of product returns while considering the economic costs. Companies do not have an understanding of the impact of these returns on their performances, resulting from a gap in research where an accurate measurement method lacks that includes all activities and return methods.
Design/methodology/approach - The returns process and the return methods were analyzed using a literature study and interviews with experts, resulting in a set of environmental and economic indicators. These indicators were aggregated in a Composite Indicator (CI) by rescaling, analytical hierarchy process, and multiplicative aggregation techniques. A benchmark for target performance was developed based on reduction targets of the European Commission, using rescaling, equal weighting, and multiplication and integrated into the CI. An uncertainty- and sensitivity analysis confirmed the model’s robustness. A case study of a fashion retailer verified the model. A scenario analysis based on the PESTLE framework was used to validate the CI and benchmark. A company’s performance measured was compared against the verified benchmark by calculating the performance gap.
Findings - The environmental and economic impact of the return methods for the base case was measured. The impact of the return methods was compared against the benchmark, which shows that home pick-ups have the smallest performance gap with the benchmark for this retailer. Instore returns have the largest gap with the benchmark, indicating worse company performance and lower compliance with the EC targets. The scenario analysis showed how companies could use this CI to compare return improvement strategies with each other and provided potential solutions for companies to improve their performance.
Research limitations/implications - This research provides a tool for fashion companies to measure, analyze, and improve the environmental impact of returns on their performances with EC reduction targets while considering their costs and providing transparency. Customers and governments are provided with transparent information on what- and how a company measures the environmental impact of returns. Governments can use the CI and benchmark proposed in this paper as a transparent tool for environmental reporting and compare the performances of companies sector-wide. For academics, this research provides multiple research opportunities.
Originality/value - This paper contributes by creating a new CI for company performance measurement for fashion companies on the environmental and economic impact of product returns. A new measurement method that assesses the environmental and economic impact of the return activities is developed and gives insight into the differences between the return methods. Also, a new benchmark expressing target performance is developed and incorporated in this CI based on reduction targets of the EC to combat climate change.

Ensuring sustainability in shipping extends beyond fuel choices to encompass the responsible use of materials in vessel construction and maintenance. Shifting from the prevailing 'take-make-dispose' model to a circular economy is crucial for enhancing sustainable waste reduction in the industry. Unlike consumer goods, current ship design primarily prioritizes functionality, cost, and operability, neglecting circularity considerations.
To integrate circularity into ship design, this project evaluates and compares frameworks like the butterfly diagram, Cradle-to-Cradle, 10R, and ReSOLVE. The chosen approach combines the 10R framework with the Material Circularity Indicator method, offering practical insights and manageable efforts for addressing circularity in ship design. The 10R framework includes strategies like Refuse, Reduce, Redesign, Reuse, Repair, Refurbish, Remanufacture, Repurpose, Recycle, and Recover, each providing a design strategy for circularity in consumer goods.
However, integrating these methods into standard design processes proves challenging due to the lack of structure. To overcome this, the 10R design strategies are fused with systems engineering, allowing for the assessment of circularity and identification of key areas for improvement in ship designs. This approach emphasises the need for a renewed system, enabling the redesign of systems with a dual focus on functionality and circularity.
Demonstrated through a case study on the wheelhouse, the framework assesses various sub-systems for their circularity levels and redesigns one sub-system, showcasing the potential for a systems engineering approach to enhance circularity. Supplier collaboration is pivotal for the framework's success, facilitating information exchange and elevating the circularity of products offered.

Offshore wind energy can play a key role in the energy transition. Reducing installation costs for offshore wind installation projects helps to be cost-competitive with other renewable energy technologies. Installation costs can increase when the installation project planning is delayed. Literature shows that offshore wind installation projects are delayed by weather conditions exceeding operational limits and downtime caused by vessels and equipment. However, the magnitude and causes of downtime due to equipment breakdown are unclear. Additionally, no method is found in the literature to reduce downtime due to equipment breakdown in offshore wind installation. Data-analysis of observed failure data shows that equipment breakdown causes downtime during pinpile installation during the spring and summer seasons. Root-cause analysis indicates that scheduled preventive maintenance is often postponed on the critical path when weather conditions are favourable for installation. These decisions are made based on knowledge of oil and gas projects, but that knowledge is not applicable anymore. In this study a new method is proposed, which includes equipment characteristics and preventive maintenance on the critical path of an installation schedule, using discrete-event simulation (DES). In the DES model, four designs are simulated to gain insight into the effect of decision-making on the critical path on key performance indicators. The designs are based on the planned maintenance pillar of the Total Productive Maintenance framework. Implementing equipment breakdown and preventive maintenance in the installation schedule gives insight into the effects of decision-making before project execution. The results of this study indicate that the downtime due to breakdown and preventive maintenance of the hammer can be reduced by 10% if preventive maintenance is prioritized on the critical path.

Abstract
Purpose - The aim of this paper is to propose a method for performance measurement of the livestock feed industry from an environmental and economic perspective. There is a knowledge gap both in the literature and society in the field of performance measurement of the livestock feed industry with environmental concerns. Livestock feed companies need support in the decision-making process to produce environmentally sustainable livestock feed at as low as possible costs.
Design/methodology/approach – An environmental performance index for livestock feed is constructed based on techniques of the min-max transformation, the analytic hierarchy process and simple additive weighting. The verified environmental performance index for livestock feed is brought into practice; different scenarios, which all represent a feed composition, are quantitatively compared to a benchmark feed composition. The environmental performance index is validated with an uncertainty analysis and sensitivity analysis.
Findings – The constructed environmental performance index for livestock feed is assessed by comparing nine scenarios against a benchmark feed composition. The results indicate that the environmental performance index for the livestock feed industry is technically feasible and effective to measure the performance of the livestock feed industry from an environmental and economic perspective.
Research implications – The constructed environmental performance index for
livestock feed can serve as a decision-making tool for livestock feed companies. As a response to climate regulations and a market pull, this paper provides a tool for livestock feed companies to select livestock feed compositions with the best performance based on environmental sustainability and economic performance.
Originality/value – A new performance measurement method is designed for an
environmental performance index for the livestock feed industry. From the literature, environmental sustainability variables are identified. The data on the environmental performance are obtained from a public database as well as a livestock feed company. The created index can contribute to decision-making in the livestock feed industry.

There has been a growing interest in improving the operating efficiency of warehouses, which is one of the critical facilities used in the logistics sector. This thesis examines the impact of order characteristics on the performance of different configurations of the outbound logistics of a 3PL warehouse. A contingency approach combined with a proof of configuration method is used to answer this question. The contingency variables in this study are the order characteristics, which are uncertain for the future state of the newly built e-commerce warehouse Haaften III for Nedcargo Logistics, A third-party logistics provider in the Netherlands. Six contingency scenarios are chosen, and a model transforms them into experiments. Three different potential warehouse configuration models process these experiments, and their productivity performance is compared and analysed. Our results showed that the compactness of the layout, ABC-class-based storage and a new picking strategy, Star Aisle Batch combined with Singlepicks, provides the best productivity in each scenario. Next, between each scenario, the productivity is impacted differently. The productivity is higher if the order characteristics contain a low percentage of A-type products, the amount of colli is high, or orderlines per order are low. A change in configuration or strategy within each scenario also influences productivity differently. Lastly, it is also proved that the new proposed configuration and picking strategy can improve its current productivity by over 30%.

Covid-19, the Suez canal blockade and a decreasing amount of larger shipping companies have changed the container shipping industry. A power shift from the exporter towards the shipping companies is occurring, paired with capacity constraints and surging container transportation prices indicating a global container shortage. Exporters of large volume mainly experience this with contract negotiations and are left with a choice for higher prices or less flexibility in contractual service conditions whilst striving to become more sustainable. This study answers the following research question: ‘How should large exporters like HNS weigh off transportation costs, flexibility in service conditions and environmental effects for contractual agreements in times of a global container shortage?’. This study poses several designs through the DMADE methodology to anticipate the aforementioned changes. It does so by modelling several designs based on contract variables, a modal shift and a production division based on geographical locations of breweries for Heineken Netherlands Supply. The study found that higher standard tariffs for container transportation should be preferred above less flexibility. Next to that a modal shift towards road transport is advised if the service conditions in contractual agreements become less flexible.

Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) is considered an essential solution to reaching climate goals. The two main identified transport modes in CCS, pipelines and ships, are widely compared to each other in the literature. This research contributes to the literature about the evaluation of transportation modes in CCS chains, by determining to what extent electrified ships can play a role in CCS. This is not studied before. This research is executed by following the Systems Engineering approach, in particular the SIMIE process. In a proposed point-to-point network for onshore transportation, mainly general diesel-propelled barges would perform with the lowest costs per ton, whereby the distance ranges from 25 km up to 250 km. As longer the distances, more Tank-to-Wheel (TTW) emissions savings could be obtained if barge transport is electrified. Identifying the most accurate emissions reporting method and performing operational validation for modelling the transport modes and trajectories could provide the obtained results with more scientific and practical robustness.

The costs for logistics has been increasing over the last few years, especially since the pandemic. This is felt in many supply chains and therefore it is important to explore avenues to reduce these costs. In this research a case study will be performed at MPO. MPO is a supply chain management company thatwould like to improve their services through the use of machine learning. Accordingly, in this research the main research question that will be answered is: "Howcan supply chain management be improved through the use of machine learning?". This study is split into five sub-questions where the first two sub-questions are aimed at the literature of supply chain management and machine learning respectively. The third sub-question dives into the case of MPO and selects an element, which will be looked at further in the research. To answer sub-question four, a conceptual model for the chosen element is made. The fifth and final sub-question measures the impact of conceptual model variants on the results of experiments performed on the selected element...

Social and political pressure has made emissions an increasingly important subject for companies. The extension of the sustainability reporting mandate by the EU has increased the necessity for carbon transparency for companies in Europe. Warehousing and distribution account for 13\% global supply chain emissions and can be an important factor in reducing company emissions. The traditional trade off in warehousing storage systems between cost, service level and emissions has mostly been in favor of cost and service level. Now however, emissions are becoming just as important to companies. This paper investigates the emission levels of manual and automated storage system, specified to aviation standard parts. Aviation standard parts are chosen as these are commonly stored using automated systems, due to the high degree of accuracy needed and the quantities involved in this sector. Current knowledge does not provide insight into the environmental footprint of automated and manual storage systems for small parts. This paper aims to fill this gap by combining literature research and expert consulting to gain insight into the carbon footprint of storage systems and modelling to gain insight into operational energy consumption. Finally, a case study is performed at an aviation parts dealer for empirical evidence on storage system emissions.

This report details the design process of a process performance measurement system for zero-defects logistics, with a focus on process quality. The system is the result of a combination of theoretical sources and best practices found in various industries. The final design is applied on the distribution process of cut flowers at Royal FloraHolland in Naaldwijk. Calculations return the expectation that implementing the system leads to increased process quality and a decrease in financial impact of poor quality.

Prysmian Netherlands as a cable producer uses a cable drum to deliver products to their customers. However, these customers do not always participate in returning this returnable packaging material (RPM). Customer willingness and reverse supply chain (RSC) visibility are mentioned as the main contributors. The study aims to develop improvement strategies and assess their impacts through a discrete event simulation (DES). The strategies consider the approach from logistics system design, technological implementation, and compliance policy. The findings suggest that an RPM with a high product residual value such as drums promises a high financial return if recovered. However, maintaining the returned drum condition is of the utmost importance to ensure the recovery operations are fruitful. Moreover, a shorter RL cycle time does have a substantial effect on the RSC efficiency.

The continuing growth in air travel passengers, in combination with enhanced security regulations, has led to unsustainable situations at airports. In order to handle the future amount of air travel passengers while complying to security regulations and enhancing the passenger experience, the terminal system must be innovated. Seamless flow is a future end-to-end continuous, efficient and secure innovation which uses passenger biometrics for identification throughout the airport processes. Previous research is focused on fitting the new seamless flow technology in with the conventional airport processes. This research explores whether the biometric technology could lead to new, and feasible, passenger terminal concepts. Two new seamless flow concepts are constructed and assessed on their feasibility by conducting interviews with stakeholders, performing desk-research and executing a financial Cost-Benefit Analysis. The research findings indicate that the new technology could lead to feasible, efficient and experience enhancing passenger terminal concepts in comparison to the conventional terminal concept equipped with seamless flow technology. Thereby, the support of - and collaboration between - stakeholders, especially the border guard agency, is shown to be essential for the implementation of seamless flow technology on civil airports. Besides that, it is shown that more efficient terminal concepts could significantly benefit airports through increased commercial opportunities.

Convention centers are facing logistic challenges due to poor performance, lack of space and governmental regulations. This research is focused on finding strategies that can improve performance while maintaining or reducing space and complying to these governmental regulations. In this research three main strategies are introduced that can improve logistic performance at convention
centers. These main strategies are: a truck appointment system, extended operational times and cross-docking. Besides these strategies specific designs are made for the case of the RAI Amsterdam. These designs differ in infrastructure and material handling equipment such as automated vehicles. It was found that implementation of a truck appointment system, extended operational times and cross-docking can improve the performance of convention center logistics. Further improvements can be made by adjusting the infrastructure and by the use of automated vehicles.