Dipartimento di Ingegneria Gestionale

Exploration of innovative collaborative solutions in FMCG supply chains

About the project

The Fast Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG) industry has been characterised by substantial changes that have been progressively influencing the logistics impact on processes, organisation and goods flows. The main objective of the research is to study the ongoing changes, with a specific focus on the relationship between manufacturers and retailers. The aim is to investigate the most innovative solutions and new collaboration paradigms.

Principal Investigators:  Claudia Colicchia, Riccardo Mangiaracina, Marco Melacini, Alessandro Perego, Sara Perotti

Researcher team: Lorenzo Prataviera, Fabrizio Dallari, Damiano Frosi

Funders: GS1 – Indicod ECR

Duration: 2010-onwards

Partners:  players of FMCG supply chain in Italy (both manufacturers such as Nestle, and retailers, such as Conad)

KEY RESEARCH QUESTIONS

The Fast Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG) industry has been characterised by substantial changes that have been progressively influencing the logistics impact on processes, organisation and goods flows. The main objective of the research is to study the ongoing changes, with a specific focus on the relationship between manufacturers and retailers. The aim is to investigate the most innovative solutions and new collaboration paradigms. The study is essentially based on the collaboration with GS1 – Indicod ECR, an association involving the main production companies of the FMCG industry, as well as many retailers. The ongoing research objectives include:

  • A quantitative analysis on the distribution processes and activities related to the logistics flows of different product categories (e.g. food/non-food/chilled goods).
  • A framework and quantification of the logistics flows of the FMCG in Italy, with the main aim of estimating the goods moved among the network nodes, in terms of either direct deliveries, cross-docking within transit points, or storage in distribution centres.
  • A deep understanding of the impact of “route-to-market” strategies in the FMCG supply chain (e.g. omni-channel distribution, increasing importance of proximity to the customers).

This study will allow defining a comprehensive picture of the logistics flows within the FMCG industry. By using suitable key performance indicators (KPIs), it will be also possible to assess the undergone changes within the supply chain over time, to highlight and promote new initiatives towards supply chain optimisation.

OUTPUTS & IMPACTS

  • Conference: La logistica collaborativa: una leva sempre più strategica, 28 gennaio 2015
  • AA.VV, La logistica per la creazione di valore nella filiera del largo consumo, quaderno GS1-INDICOD ECR
  • AA.VV, Il processo di riordino ottimo per la filiera del largo consumo, quaderno GS1-INDICOD ECR
  • AA.VV, La gestione dei pallet nella filiera del largo consumo, quaderno GS1-INDICOD ECR
  • Mangiaracina M., Melacini M., Perego A., (2012) “A critical analysis of Vendor Managed Inventory in the grocery supply chain”, International Journal of Integrated Supply Management, Vol. 7, No.1/2/3, pp. 138-166
  • Mangiaracina, R., Perego, A., Tumino, A., Re-designing retail stores with mobile and wireless technologies(2012) International Journal of Engineering Business Management, 4 (1), pp. 1-11