Suggesting the proper location for logistics facility can be considered as a decision making problem, wherein the final solution/decision is affected by multiple external or even internal ...circumstances. In order to address the decision making issues, various multi-criteria decision making (MCDM) techniques may be implemented; and hence, they can be applied even when making a decision about an adequate logistics service center (LSC) placement in an examined territory (i.e., national logistics network of the selected territory), which is an aim of this manuscript. Following the statements above, as for the individual instruments of MCDM to be implemented in terms of the crucial objective of this research, the definite decision making process will be carried out by applying the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) followed by the Technique for Order Preference by Similarity to the Ideal Solution (TOPSIS), on the basis of criteria weights defined by the Saaty pairwise comparison method. The methods used appear to be ideal instruments towards decision making on the most suitable location which is represented by the region in our case. Subsequently, these will be ordered from the most preferred to least one by using a preference ranking. As a result of the application of AHP and TOPSIS approaches, based on the conducted calculations in regard to decision making on identifying the proper LSC location out of eight selected regions, one specific region will be defined as the most suitable (so-called compromise) scenario. Individual tools allow for reducing the number of assigned criteria that are taken into account in searching process for individual solutions. In order to objectify the entire decision making procedure, ten topic-involved experts having practical experience with a subject of logistics object allocation will be asked to participate in the process. Preferences differ from one decision maker (expert) to another; hence, the outcome depends on who is making decisions and what their goals and preferences are.
In the field of railway operation, it is essential to establish uniform conditions for interconnectivity requirements and compatibility of equipment in the Pan-European railway area to ensure ...effective interoperability. It also includes, for example, the introduction of a control system with modern and advanced interlocking systems (safety devices). The European Train Control System (ETCS) is a single European train protection system that will increase safety in rail transport. Nevertheless, this system may have an impact on the throughput on those railway lines where it is applied. The main research objective is to determine the impacts and effects of the configuration of track signaling equipment on the operational management of traffic and especially on the creation of a traffic plan. The optimization of transport processes on the railway infrastructure means creating the conditions for achieving higher throughput performance, especially including a higher number of train paths into the train traffic diagram. This paper examines and compares the impacts of ETCS and its levels (in particular ETCS L3) on the practical throughput of the selected national infrastructure manager. A heuristic procedure is used with the application of the analytical methodology of the Railways of the Slovak Republic (ŽSR), which uses the principles of mathematical statistics and probability. Significant comparative indicators are occupancy times and the degree of utilization of practical throughput. These are used in investment decisions in the modernization of line sections to achieve interoperability of the railway system.
The effect of logistics has increased steadily in recent years. In regard to the concept of logistics, it is not only referred to as transportation of goods from place A to place B, as many people ...believe. Logistics covers a wide range of enterprise (supply chain) processes. It is a whole value-creation chain including not only material flows, but also energy, human resources and valuable information. The objective of this research study is to find issues and risks in the current state of supply, inventory management and warehousing process in the given enterprise. In the study, proposals to streamline the current state in terms of inventory management identification system in particular manufacturing enterprise, which is the primary purpose of the submitted paper, are outlined. The specific result is to develop the proposal to increase efficiency and reduce risk regarding the current situation of inventory management identification system applying suitable techniques of the multi-criteria analysis, in particular by the TOPSIS method and by the WSA method.
It is currently necessary to solve several bottlenecks in railway infrastructure. This is important because it is needed to improve railway infrastructure to be faster, safer and of high quality. ...Rail crossings on railway lines are also a significant bottleneck. There are still many rail crossings and a high number of accidents in many countries of the European Union. The issue of rail crossings must be addressed because many rail crossings reduce the flow of road and railway traffic. However, it is about the safety of transportation, as several serious and fatal traffic accidents have happened at rail crossings. Many times, the perspective ratios of the rail crossings are a significant problem and the main cause of traffic accidents. Therefore, it is important to propose a certain methodological procedure for the assessment of the perspective ratios in rail crossings. The main contribution goal is to briefly describe the development of the rail crossings number according to security devices and analyze the factors influencing the rail crossing potential and restrictive elements factors of the rail crossings as a matter of priority. Great emphasis is placed on the perspective ratios as a key safety factor. The heuristic procedure of the perspective ratios determination is presented within the proposals. Subsequently, there are analyzed the perspective ratios at the selected rail crossing with the light protection device and to assess whether these ratios are safe for the given crossing in the event of the light protection device failure. The rail crossing in the Czech Republic has been selected as a representative on railway line no. 196 from České Budějovice to Horní Dvořiště in the empirical part of the research. The rail crossing has been analyzed in terms of its characteristics and parameters and has been assessed as complying with legal regulations.
The aim of this research is to propose particular measures aimed at streamlining costs in terms of operations in a selected company. A specific proposal is based on the concept related to using ...services of the transport databank. As at least two out of five major carriers of the investigated company resell shipments to other carriers on such portals, the company could reduce the transport costs by entering shipments into the transport databank on its own. One out of three selected providers will be chosen using multi-criteria evaluation methods, specifically, the Analytic Hierarchy Process (hereinafter referred to as AHP) and the Base-criterion method. Determination of the weights of criteria will be carried out using the Saaty method of quantitative pair wise comparison and the Fuller pair wise comparison method. In this paper, the presented methods are applied for the example of a specific company specialized in the manufacture of metal storage racks and steel structures. In the Czech Republic, the company employs 65 employees in production, storage and administration. Based on the analytical evaluation of the current situation of the company, relevant measures will be proposed with a required effect on the effectiveness of such an enterprise. Keywords: manufacturing company; operating costs; multi-criteria evaluation of variants; Saaty method; AHP; Fuller method; Base-criterion method
The aim of the paper is to assess the possibility of decreasing the chosen environmental indicators like energy consumption, greenhouse gas (GHG) production and other exhaust pollutants in the ...selected region in Slovakia by introducing Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) buses into bus transport. The assessment is carried out by comparing the consumption and emissions of current buses (EURO 2) in real operation, with potential buses (EURO 6) and with pilot LNG buses testing on the same lines. Comparison took place under the same conditions over the same period. The study measures the energy consumption and GHG production per bus. The research paper also compares two methodologies of calculation. The first calculation is according to the European Standard EN 16258: 2012 which specifies the general methodology for evaluation and declaration of energy consumption and GHG emissions (all services - cargo, passengers or both). The second calculation is according to the Handbook of Emission Factors for Road Transport (HBEFA). The results of the calculation are compared by both methods, and the most suitable version of the bus in terms of GHG emissions is proposed.
The subject of this article is to model and streamline processes in the area of the transport-supply logistics in a specific enterprise. The topic of the manuscript was implemented in a particular ...enterprise with the residence in the city of České Budějovice (South Bohemia region). The aim of the article is to step by step analyze the current state of the supply logistics of the specific subject and propose appropriate measures contributing to optimize the entire process using selected techniques of the Operations Research. By applying the methods of multi-criteria decision analysis (such as Weighted Sum Approach and Technique for Order Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution), the most attractive option is chosen;
. the optimal supplier for the implementation of the transport-supply process that will enhance the effectiveness of specific logistics activities in the operation being examined. The conclusion in detail discusses individual contributions in terms of the suggested ways of modeling and improving the current state with respect to supply processes in the selected enterprise.
Ecological and sustainable modes of transport should be the main modes of transport of goods. Promotion of railway freight transport is a key element of the EU policy. It is important to have an ...appropriate transport infrastructure to ensure sustainable competitive railway transport. It is able to ensure the most flexible mobility of the goods with the most advantageous parameters. This article analyses the current status as well the level of achievement of the objectives set by the European Commission. The article also deals with the established nine corridors for international railway freight transport. The aim is to introduce different measures that should help increase the efficiency and competitiveness of railway freight transport in the European countries under CIM transportation mode. When designing new corridors, it is necessary to analyse and optimize the current railway network. Optimization solutions are used to analyse the network analysis methods. In particular, the critical path method (CPM) and the critical chain method (CCM) are used.
This contribution in a cross section way focused on the analytical determination of practical capacity of main tracks and the issue of the required capacity in the context of the comparison of ...national methodology used by the ŽSR and the recommended international UIC methodology. Methodology for the calculation of permeable performance within the national conditions is stipulated by ŽSR´s regulation – D24, the methodology within the international conditions for members of the UIC railway union is recommended by UIC Code 406. Both of presented methodologies have their pros and cons, which are consistently derived from this text.
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