2023, Bettega, Kateryna, Düggelin, Wilhelm, Ehrenthal, Joachim, Ulrich, Philipp

This teaching case examines how engineering consultants Helbling Technik AG overcame challenges in implementing a digital twin approach to mechatronics product development, saving costs, and reducing time to market. It challenges students to understand digital twins in mechatronic system development and their implications for processes, use cases, and service models. This real-world example is relevant for students and educators interested in the challenges and opportunities of digital twin implementation.

2022, Gachnang, Phillip, Ehrenthal, Joachim, Hanne, Thomas, Dornberger, Rolf

Quantum computing is the most promising computational advance of the coming decade for solving the most challenging problems in supply chain management and logistics. This paper reviews the state-of-the-art of quantum computing and provides directions for future research. First, general concepts relevant to quantum computers and quantum computing are introduced. Second, the dominating quantum technologies are presented. Third, the quantum industry is analyzed, and recent applications in different fields of supply chain management and logistics are illustrated. Fourth, directions for future research are given. We hope this review to educate and inspire the use of quantum computing in the fields of optimization, artificial intelligence, and machine learning for supply chain and logistics.

2023, Gachnang, Phillip, Ehrenthal, Joachim, Telesko, Rainer, Hanne, Thomas

Incident management in railway operations includes dealing with complex and multiobjective planning problems with numerous constraints, usually with incomplete information and under time pressure. An incident should be resolved quickly with minor deviations from the original plans and at acceptable costs. The problem formulation usually includes multiple objectives relevant to a railway company and the employees involved in controlling operations. Still, there is little established knowledge and agreement regarding the relative importance of objectives such as expressed by weights. Due to the difficulties in assessing weights in a multiobjective context directly involving decision makers, we elaborate on the autoconfiguration of weighted fitness functions based on nine objectives used in a related Integer Linear Programming (ILP) problem. Our approach proposes an evolutionary algorithm and tests it on real-world railway incident management data. The proposed method outperforms the baseline, where weights are equally distributed. Thus, the algorithm shows the capability to learn weights in future applications based on the priorities of employees solving railway incidents which is not yet possible due to an insufficient availability of real-life data from incident management. https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/stamp/stamp.jsp?tp=&arnumber=10339298&tag=1

2022, Santome Bragado, Ruben, Daldini, Sandra, Durairaj, Gowtham, Ehrenthal, Joachim, Lama, Sangay, Stock, Vanessa

In a rapidly advancing technological world, traditional supply chains must evolve into becoming connected, smart, and digital. With the implementation of a transport management system, the Chocolate Co. automated their supply chain processes. Inevitably, preparing and executing the subsequent move in digital supply chain transformation is necessary.

2022, Blumentritt, Ariane, Ehrenthal, Joachim, Haueter, Benjamin, Hitz, Nadine, Sufian, Muhammad

Essemtec AG develops, manufactures, and sells machinery and equipment to the electronics industry. This teaching case presents Essemtec AG’s experience with implementing a configure, price, quote (CPQ) system in its supply chain from the perspective of Tim, the Product Manager, who led the implementation project. This case helps students understand the value and organizational impact of a CPQ system on companies like Essemtec AG.

2022, Antonuccio, Deborah, Buser, Lukas, Ehrenthal, Joachim, Maheswaran, Mugunthan, Schwarz, Philip

Clinical trials investigate the effectiveness and safety of new medications and treatments before market introduction. Data quality and speed are keys to clinical trials success, together with the overall time to bring innovative medicines to patients in need. Cutting edge trials programs rely on data from participant devices to track and monitor health. The supply chain of these devices, and leveraging supply chain data to improve it, have become critical to clinical trials success. This case presents how a small Business Unit specialized improved their device supply chain by digitizing supply chain processes and leveraging supply chain data. Set in the Swiss pharmaceuticals industry, case provides rich insights on data collection and exchange in clinical trials supply chains.