DHL specialists are working with US and Spanish experts to resolve key supply chain issues in a newresearch programme funded by the European Union.
The Deutsche Post subsidiary has concluded an agreement with the Massachusetts Institute ofTechnology and the Zaragoza Logistics Center in Spain to develop innovative solutions fortransporting goods in the international logistics market.
Researchers from the two academic centres, and DHL’s new innovation centre in Bonn, Germany,have already begun working on three new projects key to the way the supply chain is evolving.
The team is looking into real-time tracking of goods as they move through the chain; thepractice of reverse logistics, such as collection of waste for recycling (DHL has just beencertified in the UK to run a compliance scheme for manufacturers and users under the new EU WasteElectrical and Electronic Equipment directive); and postponement strategies (e.g., the transfer ofparts for assembly at destination).
“Globalisation presents new opportunities and challenges as the flow of goods and informationcontinues to expand,” said Keith Ulrich, director of technology and innovations management atDeutsche Post World Net.
“We are excited to work closely with top researchers at MIT and the Zaragoza Logistics Centeron solutions and products that our customers have not yet envisioned,” he added.
