Research

Logistics is confronted with growing demands: Due to the increasing number of competitors and more and more complex, globally considered supply chains, it must detect macroeconomic trends early and develop new standards, in order to be viable for the future.

As co-initiator and partner of the “EffizienzCluster LogistikRuhr”, which won the national cluster competition in 2010, duisport is engaged in optimizing logistic processes. The goal is to generate more growth for the Rhein-Ruhr region. The EffizienzCluster LogistikRuhr is an association of 170 partners from industry and research. In the scope of various projects, logistic processes should not only be economically efficient, but also socially and ecologically organized in a responsible manner. duisport takes part in a total of five research projects in the scope of the Effizienzcluster.

Three Examples

To prevent possible gridlocks in the future, the collaborative project OrGoLo (Organisational Innovations with Good Governance in Logistics) is concerned with the development of economically efficient and responsibly conscious supply chains. The goal is to use the existing capacities of the means of transport, especially rail and waterways, in a sustainable way. For this purpose, three software products for use in operational practice were developed, as for instance an adaptive knowledge database. In addition, a supply chain configurator was implemented that for the first time takes into account aspects of supply chain governance. A knowledge based collaboration platform was developed, to support the design of cross-company knowledge intensive business processes in international supply chains.

In the collaborative project CoReLo – Integrated Corporate-Social-Responsibility-Management in Logistic Networks – duisport took part in the development of concepts which link increasing efficiency and resource conservation in logistics with each other. Furthermore, guidelines on the topic "Corporate Social Responsibility” (CSR) were worked out. This results in a practical and easy to implement ethics and sustainability program, which is customized for logistics.

This program is supplemented by communication instruments, which logistics companies can utilize to better present their CSR activities, both internally and externally. The focus is on the challenges of combining sustainable development with the innovative strength of the company.

Not only new trends in the logistic branch, but also demographic change and increasing demand for specialists, require targeted actions in the training and continuing education of employees. This affects activities both in industrial and trade companies as well as in logistic service providers and transport companies.

In the scope of the project WiWeLo (Scientific Continuing Education in Logistics) customized education concepts for logistic businesses were developed, designed for various target groups.

Through these and other projects duisport strives to increase the performance capability and competitive position on site and thereby contribute to increasing the attractiveness of the logistics location of the Port of Duisburg.