Material Handling Research Advancements Shared in Germany during 10th International Event

By Mike Ogle Vice President of Educational & Technical Services, MHIA and Managing Director, College Industry Council on Material Handling Education

Material handling and logistics researchers from around the world met from May 28-June 2, 2008 during the 10th International Material Handling Research Colloquium (IMHRC).  This biannual event sponsored by the College Industry Council on Material Handling Education (CICMHE) of Material Handling Industry of America (MHIA), brought together researchers to discuss current and future material handling research. 

The 2008 event was hosted by the Fraunhofer Institute for Material Flow and Logistics (IML) along with support by the University of Dortmund in Dortmund, Germany.  Also included was a day at the DHL Innovation Center in Troisdorf, Germany, a day at the CeMAT show in Hannover, Germany, and a half-day at Beumer Corporation in Beckum, Germany.  The IML provided generous financial support of the event as well as hosting.  Savoye Logistics and Beumer Corporation provided financial support along with presentations about equipment and trends.

The event attracted 51 researchers from 14 countries as shown below:

Sharing Research through Interactive Poster Sessions

The main focus of the researchers during this and the previous nine colloquia is on the presentation and discussion of their research with peers and future potential research collaborators. Each paper was presented in one of four separate poster sessions, giving the researchers an open, face-to-face opportunity to present and discuss their work.  These highly interactive poster sessions have always been highly rated vs. a traditional conference session format.

The majority of papers at the IMHRC were inspired by, described, and addressed specific industrial problems (semiconductors, automotive, food, etc.). In fact, eleven (11) of the ninety-four (94) total authors listed on the papers were from companies rather than universities (Maritime and Transport Business Solutions, SCA Technologies, Volvo Trucks, Vanderlande Industries, Metalprim, Beumer, STMicroelectronics, Sogeti, and J.B. Hunt Transport, Inc.).

In past colloquia, significant discussion focused on specific equipment or technologies such as ASRS, AGVS,  RFID, etc.  That focus is generally disappearing similar to the MHIA members growing emphasis on providing solutions rather than simply providing equipment. The papers show a continued expansion of the breadth of topics. 

The continued growth of international trade and the emphasis on multi-modal flow of goods is reflected in the three papers on container terminal operations and a paper on the design of a multi-modal logistics center. Trucking and other transportation network problems were also addressed. As found primarily in the U.S., there are far fewer papers focused on material handling in manufacturing while there is a significant increase in papers focused on distribution and order picking/fulfillment.  One paper specifically focused on worker comfort and productive order picking systems design.  Automation through ASRS, AGVS, and conveyors are still well represented, but have expanded in scope to address more systems based considerations. Although the topic of lean systems is still strong, only one paper focused on the topic.

A continued area of research topic growth is the application of agent-based systems using distributed rather than centralized control to guide decisions within systems.  These papers were particularly timely given the topic of the breakout sessions.

“The Internet of Things” Breakout Sessions

All of the attendees took part in three breakout sessions focusing on the Internet of Things (IoT).  IoT focuses on the continuous tracking of goods where all things have their own identity, history and mission.  Things “know” what they are and where they have to go.  The IML Director, Michael ten Hompel, provided an overview of the topic and the ongoing work at the IML.  Five separate breakout groups were formed and each group was tasked with discussing the definition and scope of IoT along with the issues, impact and research work that must be pursued on the topic.  The final full group session featured a panel of five people along with group discussion about issues related to how to define IoT, the advantages/disadvantages of decentralized control, how to prove productivity gains, and a spirited discussion on security/privacy.

Industry and Organization Hosts

In addition to the generous financial sponsorship and hosting of the event by the Fraunhofer IML, DHL sponsored the events at their innovation center in Troisdorf, Germany.  Savoye Logistics provided financial support as well as a presentation and reception at the CeMAT tradeshow in Hannover, Germany.  Vanderlande Industries hosted a reception for the group following the day at the CeMAT show.  Beumer Corporation provided financial support along with hosting the last half-day and provided a presentation on their company and trends in the industry, followed by a tour of their facilities in Beckum, Germany.  While at the CeMAT show, the group was graciously included in the sessions provided by WGTL, the German research society for technical logistics.  Thanks go to all of the companies and organizations that provided support and programming for the 2008 IMHRC.  Thanks also to the IMHRC planning committee members for their work over a two-year period to help make the event a success.

Proceedings Book and Previous Colloquia

Each of the ten colloquia has resulted in a hardbound book containing the invited research papers from the event.  The book is offered for sale through MHIA’s bookstore.  Titles, authors and abstracts of the 2008 IMHRC and previous colloquia may be found on CICMHE’s IMHRC site.

The International Material Handling Research Colloquium (IMHRC) is offered by the College Industry Council on Material Handling Education (CICMHE) of the Material Handling Industry of America (MHIA).  The CICMHE organization, founded in 1952, facilitates the interchange of information among concerned individuals in industry, academia and in the user community to aid in improving and implementing material handling education.  MHIA is an international trade association that has represented the material handling industry since 1945.  Member companies come from all areas of material handling and various parts of the world, making MHIA a strong national and international representative for the material handling industry.  MHIA also sponsors trade events, such as the ProMat and NA shows to showcase the products and services of its member companies and to educate industry professionals on the productivity solutions provided through material handling and logistics.

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