Improving the Environmental Sustainability of Pallet Logistics through Preemptive Remanufacturing: an Integer Linear Optimization Model

Authors

Fabiana Tornese, University of SalentoFollow
Jennifer Pazour, Rensselaer Polytechnic InstituteFollow
Andres L. Carrano, Georgia Southern UniversityFollow
Brian K. Thorn, Rochester Institute of TechnologyFollow

Document Type

Research Paper

Publication Date

2018

Abstract

The use of pallets is crucial in handling and transportation processes and wooden pallet represent the most common packaging type in the US and in Europe. This work focuses on the environmental impact of wooden pallet reverse logistics, exploring the advantages of preemptive remanufacturing policies. Preemptive schedules allow the service provider to allocate transportation emissions across multiple pallet components, increasing the environmental efficiency of the transportation process. This advantage has to be compared to the lost opportunity of repairing a usable component earlier than required. An integer linear optimization model analyzes this trade-off and the benefits of a preemptive remanufacturing schedule are described. The impact of transportation distance on the efficiency of preemptive policies is explored through a sensitivity analysis.

Comments

Paper 2

Publication Title

Progress in Material Handling Research

Recommended Citation

Tornese, Fabiana; Pazour, Jennifer; Carrano, Andres L.; and Thorn, Brian K., "Improving the Environmental Sustainability of Pallet Logistics through Preemptive Remanufacturing: an Integer Linear Optimization Model" (2018). 15th IMHRC Proceedings (Savannah, Georgia. USA – 2018). 2.
https://digitalcommons.georgiasouthern.edu/pmhr_2018/2