Program Overview

LOGISTICS MANAGEMENT

Overview

Logistics systems are complex systems which include a wide range of activities concerning the flow of goods, tangible and intangible materials, from their origins to their points of consumption, utilization, and disposal. These activities include multiple operations such as: transport, production, storage, and all coordination activities needed between these operations. The planning of a logistics system requires addressing problems related to these operations and involving different decision-making levels.

Aims and Content

Learning Outcomes

• Knowing the structural and behavioural features of logistic networks
• Knowing modelling methods for the analysis of logistic systems
• Stating and solving the most important decisional problems in the field of planning and management of logistic networks
• Using software tools for logistic systems modelling and planning
• Discussing the results and impact of planning approaches

Aims and Learning Outcomes

By the end of the lectures, students will acquire the capabilities of:

• Distinguish the main decision-making problems related to the planning and management of logistics systems
• Evaluate the decision-making level and the most appropriate modeling methodology to address a specific problem in the planning and management of an external logistics activity
• Formalize a mathematical programming problem aimed at solving a specific decision-making problem within the activities that take place in a logistics chain
• Utilize some software tools for the implementation and solution of mathematical programming problems
• Analyze the results of planning and its impacts on a logistics process

Prerequisites

Students must have adequate knowledge of Operations Research and Systems Theory

Teaching Methods

The course consists of frontal lectures and group exercises, which may involve the use of specific software. The software tools used during the exercises will be communicated by the lecturer during the lectures.

Syllabus/Content

• Introduction to Logistics Systems
• Location of Logistic Nodes (Quantitative methods, stochastic models, location problem for public service)
• Design and Management of Distribution Centers (Equipment selection, layout and sizing of warehouse areas, product allocation to warehouse areas, picking order definition, operator routing in warehouse areas, and vehicle loading problem)
• Design of Service Networks (Service networks on multi-graphs, vehicle allocation, driver assignment, vehicle routing problems, vehicle and personnel scheduling problems)

Recommended Reading/Bibliography

All slides used during lectures and other teaching materials will be available on Aulaweb. Generally, notes taken during lectures and the material on Aulaweb are sufficient for exam preparation. Lectures slides are in Italian, however the international students can ask the instructor for materials in English at the beginning of the lectures.

Additional recommended textbooks are:

• G. Ghiani, R. Musmanno, Modelli e Metodi per l'Organizzazione di Sistemi Logistici, Pitagora Editrice Bologna, 2000
• G.Ghiani, G. Laporte, R. Musmanno, Introduction to Logistic Systems Planning and Control, Wiley, 2004
• J. W. Böse, Handbook of Terminal Planning, Operations Research/Computer Science Interfaces Series, Springer, 2011

Teachers and Exam Board

• Cecilia Caterina Pasquale

Exam Description

The exam consists of the evaluation of:

• A work project carried out during class. For the work project, the students will be divided into groups. Each group will be required to formalize a mathematical programming model to solve a specific decision problem provided by the lecturer, implement the model in MATLAB, and analyze the results obtained from solving the problem. The work project must include an illustrative report.
• A written exam which will include open-ended questions to assess the level of understanding of topics covered during lectures, as well as questions and exercises to evaluate students' ability to formalize mathematical models.

Assessment Methods

During the exam the lecturer will evaluate the capabilities of the student in adopting suitable methods for the analysis and planning of logistic systems. Specifically, the evaluation will focus on:

• The ability to determine which decision problem is most appropriate when faced with a logistic decision.
• The ability to correctly formalize a decision problem.
• The ability to modify a given decision problem.

The following will also be assessed:

• Clarity, organization, and presentation of written assignments.
• Ability to process and analyze the results obtained in written assignments.
• Implementation of decision problems using the software utilized in class.

Exam Schedule

• 09/01/2026, 09:00, GENOVA, Scritto
• 28/01/2026, 09:00, GENOVA, Scritto
• 11/02/2026, 09:00, GENOVA, Scritto
• 15/06/2026, 09:00, GENOVA, Scritto
• 01/07/2026, 09:00, GENOVA, Scritto
• 16/09/2026, 09:00, GENOVA, Scritto

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