Abstract
Logistic decisions involving the location of facilities in connection with vehicle routing appear in many contexts and applications. Given a set of potential distribution centers (DC) and a group of clients, the choice of which DC to open together with the design of a number of vehicle routes, satisfying clients' demand, may define Location-Routing Problems (LRP). This paper contributes with a new method, the 4-Phase Method (4-PhM), to deal with Capacitated LRP. Relevant advantages of 4-PhM are its generality, the possibilities of handling Multiple-Criteria and of facing large dimension problems. This last aptitude is a consequence of the sectorization phases, which permit a simplification of the solution space. Sectors are constructed by two Simulated Annealing based procedures, and they follow SectorEl, a sectorization approach inspired by electrostatics. In the last phase, the results obtained are evaluated using multicriteria analysis. Here, decision makers play an important role by reflecting preferences in a pairwise comparison matrix of the Analytic Hierarchy Process. Computational results, based on randomly generated instances, confirm the expectations about 4-PhM and its potentiality to deal with LRP.

Abstract
This paper addresses new Mixed-model Assembly Line Balancing Problems (MALBP) in a real industrial context, the stitching systems of a footwear company. The work is part of large ongoing projects with this industry, and the main purposes are minimising the number of required workstations and smoothing the operators' workload. The company has invested in new flexible automated assembly systems, which accommodate dozens of workstations and many moving boxes. Footwear components are inside boxes (with various quantities) which can move from the warehouses to a convenient workstation or between any workstations (in any order). This is a significant and distinct feature of the MALBP, together with the fact that the assignment of different skilled operators and machines is achieved simultaneously. An optimisation model is developed, in part to facilitate the understanding of the situation and to solve small-size instances. Due to the complexity of the problems, we had to devise an approximate method, based on the Variable Neighbourhood Descent (VND) metaheuristic and integrating an adaptation of the Ranked Positional Weighted (RPW) method. The adapted RPW method is used to create initial feasible solutions, while preassigning special operators and machines. After choosing good initial solutions, VND is applied to improve their quality. The new contributed method, named as RPW-VNDbal, is tested with medium and large instances, in two distinct stitching systems. A Lower Bound of the objective function and Simulation contribute to evaluate the solutions and their practicability. The results implemented by the project team, show that the RPW-VNDbal method is fast enough and offers better solutions than those implemented by the experienced operation managers of the company.

Abstract
This paper proposes a logistic planner with supplementary 3D spatial representations to enhance and interact with traditional logistic systems on the context of mobile manipulators performing internal logistics operations. By defining a hierarchical structure, the logistic world model, as the central entity synchronized between multiple system components, the reliability and accuracy of the logistic system is strengthened. The proposed approach aims at implementing a robust and intuitive solution for the set-up of mobile manipulator based logistic systems. The logistic planner includes a web based interface for fast setup of the warehouse layout based on robot sensing, as well as the definition of missions for the fleet of robotic systems.

Abstract
Collaborative networks (CNs) of organizations are nowadays complex and intertwined compositions of technological, cognitive and social artifacts. The design of such compositions should be addressed as a socio-technical endeavor as a way to maximize the success probability. In despite of intensive research in this community, much has to be explored to achieve sound contributions to a design theory of CNs. In this paper, we make use of the context intervention -mechanism-outcome logic (CIMO-logic) as a way to improve the design propositions component of a CN design theory. Variations of the concept of "mechanism" are explored with the goal of making clearer the socio-technical perspective in the design propositions. This theoretical exploration is illustrated with a case of transforming an industrial business association (IBA) in a digital collaborative network.

Abstract
A Dynamic Manufacturing Network (DMN) is the manufacturing industry application of the Virtual Enterprise (VE) business model based on real time information sharing and process integration. DMNs are normally formed and supported by a collaborative platform previously designed and built by a preexisting strategic partnership. The collaborative platform forms and tracks each DMN through all phases of its life cycle which leads to the accumulation and storage of large historical datasets on partner and customer characteristics and actions. This data holds the key to customer and manufacturer behavioral patterns and performances that can further be used in the decision making processes. In this study, we have focused on tackling this widely neglected research opportunity, by integrating manufacturer, order and customer data and characteristics into DMN formation and planning. The developed big data analytics approach consists of TOPSIS, fuzzy inference system and multi objective optimization techniques. Initially, by integrating the TOPSIS multi criteria decision making technique with a fuzzy inference system (FIS) we have computed indices for Manufacturer reliability and Order priority. Then we developed a multi-objective mixed integer linear programming (MILP) model to generate efficient solutions minimizing cost and assigning more reliable manufacturers to orders with higher priority.

Abstract
The role of urban freight vehicle trips in fulfilling the consumption needs of people in urban areas is often overshadowed by externality-causing parking practices (e.g., double-parking associated with traffic delays). Loading/unloading bays are generally viewed as an effective way to avoid freight vehicles double-parking, but are often misused by non-freight vehicles. We assess the potential of reducing freight vehicles double-parking mobility impacts by changing: (a) the spatial configuration (number, location, size) of loading/unloading bays and, (b) the non-freight vehicles parking rules compliance levels. Parking demand models were created with data from an establishment-based freight survey and a parking observation exercise. Two case studies were defined for 1 km(2) zones in the city of Lisbon, Portugal. Alternative bay systems were derived from an iterative implementation of the "maximize capacitated coverage" algorithm to a range of bays to be located. Parking operations in current and alternative bay systems were compared using a microsimulation. Bay systems' ability in reducing double-parking impacts was assessed via a set of indicators (e.g., average speed). Freight traffic causes a disproportionate amount of externalities and the current bay configuration leads to greater mobility impacts than some of the proposed systems. Enforcement was a crucial element in reducing parking operations impact on traffic flow in one of the case-studies. Road network characteristics were demonstrated to play a role in the adequate strategy of arranging the spatial configuration of bays.