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This paper aims to investigate the part feeding scheduling problem with electric vehicles (EVs) for automotive assembly lines. A point-to-point part feeding model has been formulated to minimize the number of EVs and the maximum handling time by specifying the EVs and sequence of all the delivery tasks.

First, a mathematical programming model of point-to-point part feeding scheduling problem (PTPPFSP) with EVs is presented. Because the PTPPFSP is NP-hard, an improved multi-objective cuckoo search (IMCS) algorithm is developed with novel search strategies, possessing the self-adaptive Levy flights, the Gaussian mutation and elite selection strategy to strengthen the algorithm’s optimization performance. In addition, two local search operators are designed for deep optimization. The effectiveness of the IMCS algorithm is verified by dealing with the PTPPFSP in different problem scales.

Numerical experiments are used to demonstrate how the IMCS algorithm serves as an efficient method to solve the PTPPFSP with EVs. The effectiveness and feasibility of the IMCS algorithm are validated by approximate Pareto fronts obtained from the instances of different problem scales. The computational results show that the IMCS algorithm can achieve better performance than the other high-performing algorithms in terms of solution quality, convergence and diversity.

This study is applicable without regard to the breakdown of EVs. The current research contributes to the scheduling of in-plant logistics for automotive assembly lines, and it could be modified to cope with similar part feeding scheduling problems characterized by just-in-time (JIT) delivery.

Both limited electricity capacity and no earliness and tardiness constraints are considered, and the scheduling problem is solved satisfactorily and innovatively for an efficient JIT part feeding with EVs applied to in-plant logistics.

This paper focusses on on-demand food delivery (ODFD), i.e. the delivery of freshly prepared meals to customers' homes, enabled by the use of online platforms. In ODFD, a key process is represented by last-mile deliveries (LMDs): they directly affect customers (the delivery price influences their purchase intention), riders (the compensation drives their willingness to perform deliveries) and platforms (deliveries are very expensive). In this context, this work aims to investigate the economic performances of ODFD LMDs.

This study adopts a multi-method threefold process. First, it develops a model that – after the generation of customers' demand and the assignment of deliveries to available riders – identifies incomes and costs faced by an ODFD operator. Second, the model is applied to a base case in Milan (Italy). Third, sensitivity analyses are performed (on daily demand and riders' salary).

The analyses allow – besides the identification of significant values associated to ODFD profitability – to draw general insights about delivery price (e.g. free delivery is not economically sustainable), daily demand (e.g. greater demand values do not only improve positive results but also worsen negative ones) and fixed/variable wage mix (e.g. increasing the variable wage enhances the profitability for platforms).

On the academic side, this word enhances extant literature about ODFD, proposing a model – with multidisciplinary implications – to strategically investigate profitability conditions of LMDs. On the managerial side, it provides support for (logistics/marketing) ODFD practitioners since it allows to evaluate the potential impact of significant decisions on profitability.

Despite the varied housing policies guiding the Nigerian housing provision, its delivery is yet to level up with the global acceptable sustainability requirements. Previous studies revealed that developing countries are yet to unravel and embrace the tenets of sustainable housing delivery. This study, therefore, adopted the analytic hierarchy process survey in evaluating the critical success factors (CSFs) that can enhance the delivery of sustainable housing and, in turn, meeting the nation’s sustainable housing needs.

Data for the study was sourced from housing developers in Nigeria. A pilot survey was done to reduce the identified success factors into a manageable size. These factors were evaluated using the analytical hierarchy process to ascertain the significant factors for sustainable housing delivery in developing economies.

Findings from the study revealed that government funding towards sustainable housing, access to low-interest housing loan, mandating affordable housing development, ensuring community participation during housing delivery, the involvement of housing stakeholders, ensuring the security of life and properties, use of sustainable materials, adaptable housing design and befitting land use are the significant CSFs required for enhancing sustainable housing delivery.

The findings of this study seek to inform developers, practitioners and policymakers on the CSFs crucial for sustainability attainment in the built environment.

The CSFs are quite important and they would promote government sustainability programmes, meeting housing needs and if well implemented and adopted thereby solving environmental and socio-economic challenges of traditional housing development. This research has added to the existing literature on sustainable housing delivery by providing information on inclusive CSFs that would enhance the delivery of sustainable housing in the developing economy. Further research of this nature can also be carried out to compare and contrast with other developing economies.

The main purpose of this research is to investigate acceptability of different delivery methods in e-grocery (home delivery, pick-up from store, pick-up from locker) and the respective willingness of customers to pay for them using a stated preference ranking experiment.

Data collected involved two countries (Greece and UK) with different level of e-grocery development and two different distribution conditions (weekly and urgent order). Rank-ordered logit model is used to analyse the ranking experiment and calculate the willingness-to-pay (WTP) measures. Delivery mode, cost and time window are used as independent variables.

Results indicated that home delivery and picking-up from locker appear to be clearly preferable than picking-up from store. However, home delivery seems to hold a stronger competitive position over the other delivery methods, especially in the weekly order and in the UK market. The pick-up from locker option appears to be a competitive delivery mode for consumers who are cost sensitive and shop under urgent conditions. Willingness to use and pay for picking-up from locker increases significantly in the context of same-day delivery.

The information provided in this study will help retailers to design and implement distribution schemes that can meet consumers' preferences for e-grocery. WTP differences among the consumer groups and the distribution conditions examined can have a considerable impact on the evaluation of marketing and pricing strategies applied by e-retailers.

Consumer preference and the respective WTP for different delivery methods in e-grocery, especially for the pick-up from locker option, have not been systematically investigated.

Document delivery bridges the gap between where the customer is and where the document is. Libraries have to offer user‐friendly access to hybrid collections, and design and implement document delivery mechanisms from paper originals to provide a seamless integration between delivery from electronic and paper articles. Apart from improved service, a document delivery service provider could benefit internally from rationalising and automating the logistics of the delivery process. This article analyses the document delivery process, starting by defining five requirements for document delivery. By looking at document delivery from both the customer’s and the organisation’s perspective, the real needs of the customer are defined. From a basic distinction between the “search and find” function and the “order and receive” functions, the internal logistics of document delivery are analysed. The DocUTrans document delivery concept and system as used in Delft show how its implementation improves the whole system. The analysis itself can be highly beneficial.

Home delivery of groceries is not yet a very popular service among consumers. One reason for the slow progress has been the time‐consuming and expensive ordering process. In recent years, Internet‐based solutions have solved most of the problems related to the order transaction process – making ordering simpler, cheaper and faster. However, there are still a lot of unsolved problems in the e‐grocery business. One of the biggest obstacles is inefficient home delivery. This paper examines how different solutions for goods receipt affect home‐delivery efficiency. Different alternatives for receiving the goods are presented and the service levels of these concepts are described from the consumer’s point of view. In addition, the costs for the e‐grocer are studied. The efficiency of using a reception box is demonstrated by simulating two alternative receiving concepts.

The purpose of this paper is to provide a case study in China to show whether open access (OA) affects document delivery services.

The authors conduct a statistical analysis and carry out an investigation through a questionnaire.

Compared with the rapid development of OA around the world, China has published a small number of OA journals. At present, the effect of OA on document delivery service in Capital Normal University Library (CNUL) is positive in that librarians can use OA as an extra resource to perform document delivery services. CNUL users know little about document delivery service or OA, but they frequently look for free Internet resources. CNUL should do more promotion of its document delivery services. Considering users’ behavior and the development of OA in future, the volume of document delivery service may be affected. CNUL should redesign its document delivery service.

The paper will be relevant to librarians interested in OA and document delivery services in China.

Document supply in Canada presents many challenges because of the relatively small population spread over vast distances but with the majority concentrated along the United States border, There are large distances between many population centres making the timely delivery of library materials to users in these areas problematic. In an attempt to address these issues the National Library of Canada has undertaken a number of studies and initiatives. Describes some of these studies and provides a brief description of potential solutions.

The author investigate the effect which the delivery performance of a company's suppliers have upon the company's own delivery assurance and reputation. Alternative methods of evaluating supplier delivery performance are studied. An analysis is made of the extent to which the suppliers' poor delivery performance was adversely affected by factors under the control of the company's own sales, design, production and purchasing departments in requesting unrealistic dates from suppliers.