OPS928 Logistics Systems Report 2 Sample
Keep your report length to no more than 2,500 words
As an indispensable part of today’s business, logistics is being transformed by recent development in technology and business models. To better manage logistics, it is helpful to understand the recent trends and see how they can influence logistics management.
From the following logistics-related themes, choose one that you are most interested in,conduct research around it, and write a report based on your findings.
• Healthcare logistics
• Logistics in food supply chain
• Industry 4.0 and logistics
• Humanitarian supply chain and logistics
Note that the listed themes are broad and could cover many different areas. So, you should seek to break down your selected theme to specific topics/areas, and, in your report, it is important to focus on one or two specific topics within the theme, rather than write about the broad theme generically.
In the report, you should
1. Cover the key concepts and the recent trends (with real examples) related to the topic you chose,
2. Discuss how these concepts and trends are linked with logistics and how they can influence logistics management, and
3. Briefly point out future directions that you consider relevant for the topic.
When conducting the research, please pay attention to the following:
• Use books and academic journals as the source for information.
• The report should include at least 6 articles from academic journals in the area and these should be appropriately cited in your report.
• There should be limited internet referencing and limited referencing to textbooks. Internet referencing can only be used for providing information of real examples (i.e., a company’s official website). Trade journals can be referenced as supporting material but not used inplace of academic journals in the field.
Reporting requirements:
• Keep your report length to no more than 2,500 words, including title page, any figuresor tables, and reference list.
• Please write the word count on the front page of the report.
• The report must be Harvard referenced, typed, Arial 12 font, 1.5 spaced and delivered in a business style report.
• Be sure to reference all sources used (including diagrams not created by you).
• The structure must contain relevant headings and sections with a focus on providing real insight into the specific topic.
REPORT STRUCTURE :
It is suggested that your report should be structured with the following sections:
• Title page
• Table of contents. Should be auto-generated and indexed (e.g., using Microsoft Word).
• Introduction. Briefly introduce the topic and the aims of the report.
• Main sections. Contain several parts such as the sub-topics explored, results and findings, discussions, etc. Should be appropriately organised and labelled with headings and subheadings.
• Conclusions. Briefly reinforce your key findings and point out future directions.
• References
• Appendices (if necessary)NB: The reports will be assessed using Turnitin. Plagiarism will not be tolerated.
Solution
1. Introduction
Across the world, Artificial Intelligence (AI) is altering sectors and reinventing how businesses function. This report will dig into the complex nature of AI and examine its far-reaching effects on industries as diverse as healthcare, banking, transportation, and the arts. University Assignment Help, This report aims to comprehensively analyse artificial intelligence's current capabilities and its potential to achieve human-level performance in tasks requiring analysis, judgement, and pattern recognition. This report will examine how major corporations use AI to improve innovation, productivity, customer service, and decision-making. Concerns about job loss, privacy breaches, and algorithmic biases are just a few of the ethical and social difficulties that have emerged in tandem with the fast development of AI, and it is important to recognise them. The report also explores potential future directions for AI integration in the food supply chain, where AI has the potential to significantly improve logistics, demand forecasting, inventory management, and other related processes.
2. Discussion
2.1 Artificial Intelligence
AI (Artificial Intelligence) has re-engineered (or at least radically re-designed and re-engineered and re-engineered and re-engineered) whole industries (Gwagwa et al. 2021). Fundamentally, artificial intelligence (AI) studies and implements computational systems and algorithms that may mimic human intellect in areas like problem-solving, decision-making, and pattern recognition. Artificial intelligence (AI) comprises a wide range of technologies that aim to mimic human cognitive abilities; they include machine learning, natural language processing, computer vision, and robots (Gwagwa et al. 2021).
AI's effect reaches different areas, from healthcare and banking to transportation and entertainment. In healthcare, AI assists in detecting illnesses, finding treatment choices, and even anticipating epidemics (Chen et al. 2020). Financial institutions employ AI for fraud detection, risk assessment, and algorithmic trading. Artificial intelligence (AI) is crucial to the safety of self-driving automobiles on the road. Furthermore, AI has improved industrial processes with predictive maintenance, boosted content recommendations in streaming platforms, and revolutionised customer service with chatbots (Belhadi et al. 2021). In data analysis, it's crucial to make sense of large datasets that would be impossible for people to process independently.
AI can alter many industries significantly, but it also brings up ethical and social problems such as job loss, privacy invasion, and algorithmic biases (Gupta et al. 2021). Finding a middle ground between using AI's progressive potential and tackling these issues remains an important goal. Artificial Intelligence is a game-changing force changing whole sectors and rethinking the relationship with technology. As the world becomes more AI-driven, its capacity to mimic human intellect and learn from data opens up tremendous potential and threats (Grida et al. 2020).
Artificial Intelligence (AI) has brought tremendous advantages to corporations across numerous sectors, boosting productivity, customer experiences, and decision-making processes. Netflix uses artificial intelligence (AI) to tailor each user's experience in its recommendation system (AI, 2023). AI algorithms determine what content users most likely appreciate by analysing their watching patterns, ratings, and other data. As a result, you may expect to see higher subscription rates and happier customers. Amazon's AI-powered supply chain warehouse management optimises stock levels, shortens delivery times, and boosts warehouse productivity. Artificial intelligence (AI) algorithms can do everything from predicting demand to mapping delivery routes and automating warehouse work (Stratton et al. 2023). Consequently, Amazon can reduce operating expenses, process orders more quickly, and maintain its stellar reputation for prompt and dependable shipping.
The Google search engine makes use of AI to provide more relevant results. The search results consumers see are improved due to AI algorithms' ability to decipher human intent and contextual information (Ai.google, 2023). This gives Google a better option for retrieving information and enhances the quality of search results. The use of artificial intelligence in the automobile sector is best shown by Tesla's self-driving automobiles. Tesla's Autopilot system uses high-tech sensors and machine learning algorithms to drive on highways, switch lanes, and find parking spaces (Tesla.com, 2016).
IBM's cognitive computing system, Watson, aids doctors in making diagnoses and developing treatment plans. Watson can find patterns in large volumes of medical data and provide therapy recommendations (Ibm.com, 2015). This may shorten the time it takes to make a diagnosis and improve the quality of the treatment provided. When it comes to content control, Facebook relies on AI. Inappropriate or dangerous content, like hate speech or violent photos, may be filtered out by AI algorithms before reaching users' feeds (Facebook.com, 2023). Keeping the internet secure and user-friendly in this way is important.
Salesforce incorporates AI in its customer relationship management (CRM) software. Einstein, Salesforce's AI-powered assistant, aids sales and marketing teams analyse customer data, identify sales possibilities, and automate repetitive activities (Salesforce.com, 2023). This enhances customer relationships and sales success. For inventory management purposes, Walmart is using artificial intelligence. Using machine learning, AI systems can track stock in real time, forecast customer demand, and optimise replenishment (Chen et al. 2020).
As shown by real-world examples from various businesses, although Artificial Intelligence (AI) has many benefits, it also has disadvantages and difficulties. While Tesla's Autopilot system is a wonder of AI technology, it has attracted criticism and scrutiny due to incidents involving Tesla cars in autonomous mode (Tesla.com, 2016). These occurrences have prompted questions about the security and dependability of autonomous vehicles and have shed light on the difficulties of making AI-driven systems completely secure and adaptable. False positives and negatives have been cited as issues with Facebook's AI-powered content moderation technologies. Although AI may be useful in identifying potentially dangerous content, it may incorrectly mark valid postings or fail to detect problematic content entirely (Facebook.com, 2023).
Microsoft's chatbot, Tay, was an AI experiment aimed at engaging with consumers on social media sites. However, it immediately went astray when uploading unpleasant and improper content (Ahmed, 2023). This instance stresses the significance of careful management and monitoring since AI systems may pick up harmful behaviour via their online contacts. Some people are worried about Google's use of AI in targeted advertising because of security and privacy issues (Agrawal et al. 2021). Ad personalisation with AI algorithms requires analysing user data, which raises concerns about the security of users' personal information and the accountability of businesses.
2.2 Impact of Logistics on the food supply chain
Logistics plays a crucial role in the food supply chain, influencing productivity, dependability, and competitiveness.
2.2.1 Distribution network
Distribution networks are essential to the smooth functioning of the food supply chain's logistics. Important choices about where to put stores, distribution hubs, and warehouses must be made (Cannas et al. 2023). A sustainable business relies on a well-designed distribution network that keeps items in customers' hands at low transportation costs.
2.2.2 Inventory management
Due to the perishable nature of many food goods, it is a sensitive yet essential logistics area in the food business. Experts in logistics are responsible for keeping supply levels just right, avoiding overstocking and understocking (Belhadi et al. 2021). This level of accuracy is vital for many reasons, including preventing food waste and the regular availability of popular items.
2.2.3 Quality control
The food supply chain is also significantly impacted by logistics in this area. The quality and safety of food items cannot be guaranteed unless proper handling and storage procedures are followed throughout transit and storage (Cannas et al. 2023). Maintaining food safety and quality throughout transportation depends on strict adherence to temperature controls, hygiene practices, and packaging requirements.
2.3 Impact of AI Logistics on the food supply chain
2.3.1 Demand forecasting and inventory management
These are some of the most crucial areas where AI considerably influences logistics within the food supply chain (Gupta et al. 2021). To accurately forecast future demand, AI-powered algorithms can sift through massive volumes of data, such as sales records, weather patterns, social media trends, and more. This enables food businesses to maximise stock levels, reduce waste, and guarantee that products are always accessible to satisfy customer demand. A good illustration is Walmart, which uses AI to improve its stock management (Caminiti, 2023). By precisely predicting demand, Walmart can optimise its supply chain operations, leading to significant cost savings and an improved customer experience.
2.3.2 Effective delivery of food
AI-powered route optimisation technologies drastically alter the delivery of food products. When determining the most effective delivery routes, these systems consider current traffic conditions, weather, road conditions, and delivery priorities (Grida et al. 2020). To ensure that fresher products reach customers, this reduces transportation costs and speeds up delivery times. United Parcel Service (UPS) is a paradigmatic case in point since it uses a route optimisation system called ORION driven by artificial intelligence. This system is a testament to AI's efficiency and cost-saving potential in the food supply chain logistics. UPS decreases its carbon footprint by the millions of miles its delivery drivers save thanks to optimised routes (Gwagwa et al. 2021).
2.3.3 Warehouse efficiency
Due to AI, the food industry's warehouse operations are entering a new age of efficiency. Automating warehouse procedures, such as inventory management, order picking, and packaging, is one of the many things that automation brings to the table (Chen et al. 2020). Because of this improvement, orders may be processed more quickly and accurately, and products can move more easily across stages in the supply chain. The online retailer and internet giant Amazon has pioneered the application of artificial intelligence in warehouse management. Company warehouses are staffed by AI-enabled robots that operate with humans to effectively transport products throughout the facility and organise shipments for delivery (Grida et al. 2020).
2.3.4 Streamlining Delivery Processes
As with many other industries, the last stretch of food delivery is frequently the most difficult and costly part of the supply chain. AI-powered delivery systems now address this crucial bottleneck (Cannas et al. 2023). These systems aim to streamline the last stage of the delivery process, which often entails transporting products from a warehouse to the customer's front door. DHL, a world leader in logistics, is one of the first companies to test the use of artificial intelligence in last-mile city deliveries. Drones fitted with artificial intelligence algorithms may avoid traffic and reach their destinations quickly, cutting delivery times and costs (Belhadi et al. 2021).
In the realm of food supply chain risk management, AI is a potent instrument. It examines data from many sources to foresee and lessen calamities' impact, including natural disasters, political unrest, and supply chain problems (Cannas et al. 2023). The biggest container shipping firm in the world, Maersk, uses AI to evaluate data and predict supply chain issues. Companies may make their supply chains more robust and reliable by anticipating potential threats and taking preventative actions to lessen their effect. This is particularly important when unexpected occurrences, like the COVID-19 pandemic, highlight the need for sophisticated risk management solutions driven by artificial intelligence (Cannas et al. 2023). Artificial Intelligence is ushering in a fundamental change in the logistics of the food supply chain. AI is used for various purposes, including demand forecasting, inventory management, route optimisation, warehouse automation, last-mile delivery, and risk management. As the food business continues to change, AI will play an increasingly critical role in determining the future of logistics. The full potential of this revolutionary force can only be realised by businesses that actively adopt AI technology and cultivate strategic collaborations with AI suppliers (Belhadi et al. 2021). Those willing to adapt to this change will be at the forefront of the food logistics sector in the future when it is smooth, effective, and powered by Artificial Intelligence.
2.4 Future directions
Future directions for integrating Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the food supply chain hold great potential for radical change and innovation. Through real-time data analytics and monitoring, AI will increase transparency in the supply chain (Gupta et al. 2021). Production to delivery will be tracked in detail as businesses take a 360-degree look at their supply chain. More transparency will improve responsiveness to interruptions, precise demand forecasts, and effective inventory management. Artificial intelligence will play a major role in helping the food business become more sustainable (Gupta et al. 2021). Companies can lessen their environmental impact due to AI algorithms that optimise transportation routes, reduce energy use, and limit waste.
2.4.1 Edge computing and IoT gadgets
These will become more intertwined with AI. By collecting and relaying data in real-time, smart sensors and gadgets at different points in the supply chain will enable artificial intelligence systems to make more timely and accurate choices(Grida et al. 2020). AI will allow the food business to provide individualised service to its customers. Artificial intelligence (AI)-powered systems will tailor food suggestions and meal plans to each person's taste, dietary needs, and health goals. Blockchain technology and AI will greatly improve transparency and traceability when applied to the food supply chain (Gwagwa et al. 2021).
2.4.2 Synergy between Humans and AI
Human-AI cooperation will become the norm in logistics and decision-making. There will be a happy medium between automation and human competence due to AI technologies that help professionals make better decisions (Chen et al. 2020). The regulatory environment is becoming more complicated, and businesses must adapt. In warehouse management and order fulfilment, RPA will work hand in hand with AI. Robots will be used in warehouses alongside people to increase productivity and lessen the strain of routine labour. Predictive maintenance enabled by AI will reduce food industry expenditures associated with equipment downtime (Grida et al. 2020).
2.4.3 Improvements in logistics and adherence to international rules
AI will make international trading easier by improving logistics and assuring adherence to international rules. AI-driven customs and compliance systems will facilitate the transportation of food products across international borders (Cannas et al. 2023). The use of AI in the food supply chain will only increase. Artificial intelligence (AI) driven quality control systems, drone deliveries, and autonomous delivery vehicles are just a few innovations changing the logistics business. Artificial intelligence will be crucial in strengthening supply chains. To lessen the blow of disruptions, businesses will put money into risk assessment and management solutions powered by artificial intelligence(Belhadi et al. 2021).
3. Conclusions
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is a technical wonder that has revolutionised whole sectors and how businesses function. It has made possible previously unthinkable levels of automation, data-driven decision-making, and unique insights. From improving healthcare diagnostics and optimising financial processes to revolutionising transportation and entertainment, real-world examples from major enterprises across industries have shown the revolutionary potential of AI.
To guarantee that the advantages of AI are fairly distributed and its negatives are successfully controlled, one needs to give careful attention to and take proactive actions regarding issues like employment displacement, privacy infringement, and algorithmic biases. The future of logistics is bright, with AI implementation in the food supply chain promising to provide transparency, sustainability, and individualised services.
References
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