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Publications

Publications by CESE

2025

Redesign of Circular Products: An Analysis of the Fashion Industry

Authors
Dalmarco, G; Stacchetti, F; Ines, A; Zimmermann, R;

Publication
HUMAN-CENTRED TECHNOLOGY MANAGEMENT FOR A SUSTAINABLE FUTURE, VOL 3, IAMOT 2024

Abstract
The concept of circular economy aims to extend the end-of-life of products by reducing or reusing products and materials, being Design a central part of a successful circular product. In line with the 6Rs strategy for circularity, Redesign (applied by eco-design practices) allows the creation of products that can be easily repaired, upgraded, or disassembled, extending their life, and fomenting a circular economy. For that reason, the aim of this research is to analyse the role of Redesign in the circularity of footwear products. Exploratory qualitative research was conducted, with five in-depth interviews with founders and R&D managers of prominent footwear organizations. Results demonstrate that most interviewed companies, which were born circular, considered Redesign practices from the definition of the product concept. In conclusion, looking at Redesign strategies holistically and through its specific sub-relationships have a major impact on the company's circularity practises.

2025

Solving Logistical Challenges in Raw Material Reception: An Optimization and Heuristic Approach Combining Revenue Management Principles with Scheduling Techniques

Authors
Gomes, R; Silva, RG; Amorim, P;

Publication
MATHEMATICS

Abstract
The cost of transportation of raw materials is a significant part of the procurement costs in the forestry industry. As a result, routing and scheduling techniques were introduced to the transportation of raw materials from extraction sites to transformation mills. However, little to no attention has been given to date to the material reception process at the mill. Another factor that motivated this study was the formation of large waiting queues at the mill gates and docks. Queues increase the reception time and associated costs. This work presents the development of a scheduling and reception system for deliveries at a mill. The scheduling system is based on Trucking Appointment Systems (TAS), commonly used at maritime ports, and on revenue management concepts. The developed system allocates each delivery to a timeslot and to an unloading dock using revenue management concepts. Each delivery is segmented according to its priority. Higher-segment deliveries have priority when there are multiple candidates to be allocated for one timeslot. The developed scheduling system was tested on a set of 120 daily deliveries at a Portuguese paper pulp mill and led to a reduction of 66% in the daily reception cost when compared to a first-in, first-out (FIFO) allocation approach. The average waiting time was also significantly reduced, especially in the case of high-priority trucks.

2025

Developing Strategies for Sustainable and Resilient Supply Chains

Authors
Zimmermann, R; Senna, P; Pereira, P; Fornasiero, R; Zangiacomi, A; Betto, F;

Publication
HUMAN-CENTRED TECHNOLOGY MANAGEMENT FOR A SUSTAINABLE FUTURE, VOL 3, IAMOT 2024

Abstract
Although recent studies have recognised that sustainability and resilience should be considered part of the same efforts in the context of a transformative perspective, research combining both constructs is still scarce. This study adopts a comprehensive perspective that acknowledges that maintaining business continuity (through persisting, adapting or transforming), to reduce long-term risks is a common aspect of sustainability and resilience. It aims to identify strategies to be applied by companies and SCs in order to increase their social, environmental and economic sustainability, as well as their ability to be ready, respond and recover from unexpected events. Considering that the actions and strategies to deal with sustainability and resilience can be different and eventually paradoxical, this work applies the organizational ambidexterity approach as a theoretical background.

2025

Birds of a feather flock together: increasing social sustainability through supply chain visibility

Authors
Zimmermann, R; Toscano, C; Chaves, AC;

Publication
PRODUCTION PLANNING & CONTROL

Abstract
This study reflects the assumption that all links in a supply chain (SC) must share responsibility for socio-environmental issues. One of the main barriers to ensuring the sustainability of an SC is the difficulty in accessing partners' information, especially beyond the first tier. Due to the great geographical dispersion, large number of small companies, and, mainly, the growth of the fast fashion industry, the textile sector is recognised as a priority when it comes to social sustainability issues. Moreover, consumers are increasingly demanding information about the social footprint of products. Thus, this paper aims to contribute to a better understanding of how SC visibility can contribute to increasing the social sustainability of textile SCs. Using a longitudinal perspective and adopting mixed methods integrated into a design science strategy, we evaluate SC visibility in the context of two Portuguese textile supply chains, before and after the development of a technology-based solution.

2025

Is a Good Story Enough? A Critical Analysis of Storyteller Roles in Tourism

Authors
Moreira, AC; da Costa, RA; de Sousa, MJN;

Publication
JOURNAL OF HOSPITALITY & TOURISM RESEARCH

Abstract
As storytelling influences consumer attitudes and opinions, conditioning the tourist experience by appealing to the imagination, this paper reviews the literature covering the analysis of 66 papers that focus on the storytelling of the visitor/tourist as the main subject. The article is divided into four main themes: (a) storytelling as a tool to attract tourists; (b) the role of the storyteller; (c) the tourist as a storyteller; and (d) what makes a good story. The Hoshin Kanri Matrix was used to showcase each of the main themes. Although storytelling has been widely used to attract tourists, it is crucial that tourist-based storytelling can be a credible substitute for destination-based storytelling, as empathy, authenticity and the emotional attachment of tourists as storytellers play an important role as good stories, transforming and co-creating their experiences that emerge from the interaction of tourists, residents, and intermediaries.

2025

WordPress Architecture Modernization Projects

Authors
Ferreira, D; Pereira, T; Mendes, I; Amaral, A;

Publication
Lecture Notes of the Institute for Computer Sciences, Social-Informatics and Telecommunications Engineering, LNICST

Abstract
Technological evolution is very present in today’s world. The Internet of Everything (IoE) is one of the next steps in this evolution. WordPress is a website-building tool that is used today to its minimum capability. The main problem is how to make WordPress customizable and reliable to support device networking and communication. This can be done by implementing a new architecture that supports WordPress as a powerful tool, allowing for scalability and maintenance. The adoption of a recent trend known as DevOps is an important step in creating and developing a strong website and ensuring its integration with multiple devices. It emphasizes continuous testing, delivery, and integration. This article is based on a literature review to justify using micro-services architecture and the DevOps approach to build a reliable and robust working tool in WordPress that can be part of the IoE. © ICST Institute for Computer Sciences, Social Informatics and Telecommunications Engineering 2025.

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