Francesco Facchini - Profile on Academia.edu (original) (raw)

Conference Presentations by Francesco Facchini

The Industry 5.0 paradigm aims to improve, through a human-centric approach, the performance of t... more The Industry 5.0 paradigm aims to improve, through a human-centric approach, the performance of the cyber-physical production systems promoted by the Fourth Industrial Revolution. If, on the one hand, the digitalisation promoted by the Industry 4.0 paradigm provides many opportunities for improving the performance of production systems, on the other hand, it introduces a high level of complexity for operators in the execution of ordinary activities mainly from a cognitive point of view. The complexity of tasks and the increasing use of innovative technologies could overload the operator with numerous options and efforts to be made in a limited time, requiring decisions that may lead to an excessive cognitive workload and reduced human well-being in work environments. In this context, maintenance activities are of utmost relevance; their inherent complexity and the direct dependence of the production performance on their proper and timely execution led to the development of dedicated support technologies and techniques known as "Maintenance 4.0". Notably, Maintenance 4.0 activities are strongly characterised by the above-outlined complexities, especially from a cognitive point of view. To this concern, the present research work consists of developing, through a systematic literature review, a "Cognitive-Oriented Maintenance 4.0 Tasks Framework" aimed at identifying the perceived cognitive workload according to an operator's competencies profile. This conceptual framework represents the starting point for more indepth analyses that will allow the identification of the proper operators to accomplish high-cognitive Maintenance 4.0 tasks, always ensuring their well-being and industrial performance.

International Joint conference on Industrial Engineering and Operations Management - IJCIEOM 2024, 2025

Industry 5.0 paradigm emphasises human-centricity, sustainability, and resilience in production s... more Industry 5.0 paradigm emphasises human-centricity, sustainability, and resilience in production systems. If, on the one hand, Industry 4.0 (I4.0) promoted production efficiency and quality through the development and implementation of advanced technologies, on the other hand, this paradigm has main limitations due to the limited consideration of industrial sustainability and workers' welfare. In the I4.0 context, the operator may face cognitive overload due to the inherent complexity of ordinary activities. In this scenario, maintenance operations are of utmost relevance. They are indeed critical in any production context, as they are not value-adding but directly determine factors such as the safety and performance of industrial systems. In the context of I4.0, a paradigm known as Maintenance 4.0 has developed, which involves adopting advanced technologies for maintenance activities. While this paradigm allowed for advantages such as the implementation of predictive maintenance policies, it has also complicated ordinary activities, especially from a cognitive point of view. To this concern, the objective of the present work consists of a task assignment model that supports the company in identifying the proper operator/s to accomplish maintenance tasks with high cognitive workloads. Identifying the proper operator for each task led to reducing the probability of accidents, increasing human well-being, and improving the reliability of the maintained assets. A numerical application of the proposed model proved its effectiveness in identifying the operator to be assigned a specific maintenance activity based on its skills and considering the cognitive workload of previous maintenance tasks assigned to the same operator.

Procedia Computer Science 6th International Conference on Industry 4.0 and Smart Manufacturing, 2025

Implementing Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) and Material Requirements Planning (MRP) systems ... more Implementing Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) and Material Requirements Planning (MRP) systems enables companies to gain a competitive advantage in current dynamic and uncertain markets. Although implementing these systems offers several benefits, it encounters major barriers, especially in Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs). They constitute a significant share of the industrial sector globally but often face challenges such as limited access to finance, technology, and markets, which can hinder their growth and sustainability. Addressing these barriers is vital for leveraging the full potential of SMEs and fostering a more dynamic and resilient global economy. In this context, adopting Python-based solutions could be a promising solution. Python's open-source nature indeed empowers users with unrestricted application development, distribution, and commercialization. This flexibility fosters platform-independent development and eliminates vendor lock-in. Furthermore, its clear syntax, powerful interpreter, and extensibility enable efficient and versatile programming across various paradigms, making it a very useful language for resource-limited contexts such as SMEs. To this concern, the objective of the present work was to investigate the benefits offered by implementing a Python-based algorithm to facilitate the adoption of an MRP system in SMEs. To this end, a Python algorithm has been developed based on a sequence of four logical steps: exploding, netting, lot sizing, and offsetting, and was numerically applied. The results obtained provided a clear perspective on the usefulness of Python and the benefits derived from its use due to its ease of use, flexibility, and reduced costs.

Procedia Computer Science 6th International Conference on Industry 4.0 and Smart Manufacturing, 2025

The Fifth Industrial Revolution, or Industry 5.0, fosters an innovative, resilient, competitive, ... more The Fifth Industrial Revolution, or Industry 5.0, fosters an innovative, resilient, competitive, and society-centered industry. This era emphasizes enhanced human-machine interactions, enabling individuals to manifest their creativity through personalized products and services. As smart factories evolve, the demand for flexibility and adaptability necessitates increased cognitive efforts, particularly in maintenance tasks critical to the flexibility of production systems. Despite the potential of emerging technologies like Augmented Reality and Artificial Intelligence to aid operators, the complexity of tasks combined with the novelty of such technologies can overwhelm workers, thereby impacting workplace well-being. To tackle these challenges, the DESDEMONA project, funded by the European Union through PRIN as part of NextGenerationEU, is developing a Decision Support System (DSS). This system aims to provide real-time suggestions for assigning the most suitable operators for maintenance tasks characterized by high cognitive demands. The DSS considers three primary factors: the operator's profile (including skills and age), their emotional state, and the availability of smart devices. This manuscript details the project's initial results, presenting a simplified mathematical model capable of ranking the optimal list of operators. To demonstrate the effectiveness of the DSS, it is compared, through a simulation approach, with a simulated maintenance supervisor. This comparison highlights the system's ability to identify, from the k-permutations of N operators, the number of optimal tuples that best fit the operational needs.

IFAC-PapersOnLine, 2024

Industry 5.0 addresses the human challenges of Industry 4.0 as a human-centric solution, placing ... more Industry 5.0 addresses the human challenges of Industry 4.0 as a human-centric solution, placing the worker's well-being at the centre of the production process. If, on the one hand, the last technologies support operator 5.0 to embrace the collaborative potential of human-machine cooperation, on the other hand, the complexity, as well as the rapid evolution of new technologies, could have the potential to produce immediate stress reaction leading to reduce the workers' well-being. Recent studies have proved that the maintenance area is experiencing many innovations in terms of approaches and technologies. In this field, the rapid progress of technological equipment is leading to an increase in the human operators' mental workload. This paper presents preliminary concepts and objectives of a Decision Support System (DSS) for the Diagnosis and Evaluation of Maintenance Operations. The DSS intends to assist industrial professionals and stakeholders in maintenance tasks characterised by significant cognitive demands. Considering variables such as task complexity and the mental and physical condition of operators involved in a maintenance task, the DSS will provide real-time recommendations for selecting the most suitable operators by promoting a gradual technology introduction, increasing industrial performance, and ensuring the well-being of the workers.

Advances in Production Management Systems, 2024

Industry 4.0 and 5.0 paradigms have been crucial for companies in employing digital technologies ... more Industry 4.0 and 5.0 paradigms have been crucial for companies in employing digital technologies as an ally for men to free them from dangerous and routine tasks in favour of higher value tasks, putting humans at the centre of the organization as the decision maker. However, on the one hand, the new industrial systems shift to new tasks requiring more 'cognitive' than 'physical' efforts; on the other hand, the approaches to assess the cognitive workload and ensure the physical well-being of the operators are far to be considered easily applicable. For this reason, this research reveals current research trajectories and explores the cognitive workload using subjective and objective indicators. The discussion highlights cognitive ergonomics and advocates for a harmonious balance between human and machine capabilities. It identifies factors contributing to cognitive overload in manufacturing and maps their interconnections. The analysis of recent research trends reveals a growing adoption of new approaches requiring the adoption of physiological measurements (e.g., electrocardiogram (ECG), electroencephalography (EEG), Electromyography (EMG), etc.). Finally, this investigation offers insights into future research directions, urging a nuanced exploration of industrial activities and addressing cognitive workload across organisational layers in the context of Industry 5.0.

Proceedings of the 28th Summer School "Francesco Turco", 2023

To meet the 1.5°C global warming limit, net-zero emissions targets have been set all over the wor... more To meet the 1.5°C global warming limit, net-zero emissions targets have been set all over the world. In this context, two green gases, i.e., biomethane and hydrogen, are of utmost relevance. Biomethane is generally obtained through the upgrading of biogas produced by anaerobic digestion. It represents a renewable alternative to natural gas and has several applications in sectors such as transport and energy. Similarly, hydrogen is a key element for decarbonising the global economy. It has applications in sectors such as energy, transport, and construction. Most hydrogen is produced from non-renewable sources generating significant emissions. Therefore, finding alternatives to produce low-carbon hydrogen is an urgent challenge. Although the "green hydrogen" route (i.e., electrolysis fuelled by electricity from renewable sources) is very promising from an environmental perspective, its high electricity consumption represents a barrier to its large-scale implementation. In this regard, the so-called "steam biogas reforming" route represents a viable alternative. It consists of producing hydrogen from biogas obtained from anaerobic digestion. Hydrogen production from biogas replaces the production of biomethane. To this concern, this paper aims to identify the best green gas production route among biogas-tobiomethane and biogas-to-hydrogen from an environmental point of view. Consistent with this purpose, an analytical model was developed to assess each alternative based on the direct, indirect, and avoided emissions. The results showed that the decarbonisation of the green gas production routes and the environmental convenience of either alternative is strongly affected by multiple aspects related to the energetic assets of the country considered.

Procedia Computer Science, 2024

In the present context of global decarbonization, the steelmaking sector plays a key role. It is ... more In the present context of global decarbonization, the steelmaking sector plays a key role. It is indeed one of the so-called hard-toabate sectors. The high emissions from steelmaking depend on the use of the Blast Furnace-Basic Oxygen Furnace (BF-BOF) route, which generates 1.8 tCO2eq per ton of Liquid Steel (LS). The production of direct reduced iron (DRI) to power an electric arc furnace is currently the most adopted solution to achieve the decarbonization goals. This alternative, based on the use of natural gas, offers a decarbonization potential of about 34% compared to the BF-BOF route. The most promising alternative, however, consists of using electrolysis-based hydrogen (H2) to produce DRI. This solution would drastically reduce direct and indirect process emissions but requires a radical energy transition. In the current transition phase, waste-based H2 production routes could be attractive, but their potential need to be evaluated with respect to the steelmaking process. To this concern, the objective of the present work is to assess the decarbonization potential of three waste-based H2 production routes (i.e., gasification, incineration and anaerobic digestion-based) with respect to the electrolysis-based steelmaking route. An environmental analytical model was therefore developed to evaluate the total (i.e., direct, indirect, and avoided) greenhouse gases emissions associated with the production of 1 ton of LS by employing the different routes. A sensitivity analysis was also carried out to understand the benefit provided by each waste-based H2 alternative in the current energy transition phase. The results obtained confirmed the need for radical emission reductions from electricity generation to make electrolysis-based H2 production environmentally favorable and revealed a high decarbonization potential for waste-based routes in the current energy transition phase.

The hydrogen production route currently identified as most promising from an environmental point ... more The hydrogen production route currently identified as most promising from an environmental point of view is water electrolysis. This process does not produce direct emissions and is potentially zero-emission if fuelled by electricity from renewable sources. An electrolyser, however, has a high energy consumption (on average of 5 kWh/Nm 3 H2). This is a barrier to the implementation of electrolysis on an industrial scale. In this regard, the so-called Waste-to-Hydrogen routes represent a valuable alternative. They consist of treating waste to obtain hydrogen as a primary product. This paper aims to evaluate the decarbonisation potential of two MSW-based hydrogen production routes: a WtE plant coupled with an electrolyser (WtE+El) and a gasification plant with a syngas treatment unit to produce H2 (WtH2). Consistent with this end, the potentials of two hydrogen production routes were compared with the two most discussed hydrogen production routes. The first is the SMR process, considered the most widely used alternative for hydrogen production. The second is water electrolysis, considered the most promising from an environmental point of view. To this concern, an environmental analytical model was developed to evaluate each alternative based on its associated emissions. The results obtained from the application of the model showed that the best hydrogen production route from an environmental point of view is the WtH2 route. It shows a total emission amount of 1.18 kgCO2eq/Nm3H2, which is 8.5% lower than the SMR route, 31% lower than the El route and 63.2% lower than the WtE+El route.

Procedia Computer Science, 2023

Investigating the dynamics of human-machine interaction and its impacts on production performance... more Investigating the dynamics of human-machine interaction and its impacts on production performance is a key issue in the context of Industry 4.0 because the concept of the "operator 4.0", i.e., an operator integrated into a cyber-physical system, implies the need to manage complex human-machine systems. One of the most concerned fields on this topic is human reliability analysis, as the Human Error Probability (HEP) estimation by considering different work environment aspects. To this concern, the present work's purpose consists of assessing human error's impact on a manufacturing system by considering the different Performance Shaping Factors (PSFs) that affect the HEP. To this end, an analytical model has been developed to evaluate the human error in an inspection task to be accomplished in a full-real industrial case study. The HEP was estimated as a function of PSFs, including three different dimensions (i.e., task error proneness, operator's capabilities and characteristics of the work environment in the production system). It was found that the most impactful PSF affecting HEP depends on the working environment conditions in the production system. In this regard, the model shows that assuming an equal variation in the attributes related to all dimensions, the changes in working environment conditions from a physical and psychological point of view generate the most significant reduction in HEP. Consistently with these results, the average costs for reducing HEP by improving the working environment conditions are significantly higher than the average costs incurred to reduce the HEP considering the task error proneness and operator's capabilities.

Transportation Research Procedia, 2022

Food operations management is the most impactful driver of global environmental challenges, inclu... more Food operations management is the most impactful driver of global environmental challenges, including global warming, climate change, water pollution and loss of biodiversity. According to recent studies, food production systems efficiency and food loss are leading causes of environmental degradation. Although many methodologies to assess the environmental impact of food production have already been investigated, there is an urgent need to provide environmental evaluations in the fruit sector focusing on the most widespread industrial production processes and their corresponding impact. In this context, the operations management in jam production represents one of the most critical issues. Generally, in the most common jam production systems, energy-intensive treatments, including chemical substances, are adopted to extend the shelf-life of the raw materials or finished products, allowing to increase the process performance in terms of production levelling, inventory management, and market policies. In many cases, this approach compromises the sustainability of treatments, reducing the corresponding environmental performance. This paper aims to analyze the most common processes for jam production, comparing their environmental performances and the effects of the related centralized/decentralized strategies to be adopted. The potential impact categories of each process phase have been assessed. Results led to identifying the jam production from fresh fruit by adopting a decentralized production strategy, the best option considering the environmental performance under production capacity constraints

Innovative Food Science & Emerging Technologies, 2023

In the world, a large amount of food is lost or becomes waste along the agri-food supply chain. C... more In the world, a large amount of food is lost or becomes waste along the agri-food supply chain. Circular Economy models in the agri-food systems can reduce the amount of food loss and waste generated in the agri-food supply chain by using them as a new resource. In the case of fruits and vegetables, loss and waste account for 45% in the whole supply chain, being processing stage responsible of up to 18% of losses. A Systematic Literature Review (SLR) has been carried out to investigate the most effective sustainable strategies aiming to reuse the food losses in the fruits and vegetables industry. Four main research areas emerged from the SLR: reuse for human consumption, animal feeding, recovery for matter-energy use, and integration into new business models. A sustainable assessment framework is proposed to compare the different strategies. Among these, the human consumption area includes more sustainable strategies, classified according to four classes (i.e., environment, business, ICT, and consumer behavior). They have been analysed to identify the existing knowledge gaps and open issues. The results show new scientific perspectives and open research opportunities.

Proceedings of the Summer School Francesco Turco, 2022

Sewage sludge is considered one of the most critical resources to be managed in the urban context... more Sewage sludge is considered one of the most critical resources to be managed in the urban context for the transition toward a circular economy. If the one hand, the sewage sludge includes potentially dangerous components to human health and ecosystems; on the other hand, it is rich in nutrients and valuable materials (e.g., phosphorus, nitrogen, etc.), allowing to ensure an energetic production comparable with traditional fuels. Therefore, it is recommended to adopt treatments to reduce the hazardous contaminants recovering energy and matter from sewage sludge. For this scope, the anaerobic digestion treatment is one of the most adopted processes. It allows the biological stabilisation of the treated sludge mass and, at the same time, the recovery of matter (i.e., digestate production) and energy (i.e., biogas production), in total compliance with a circular economy perspective. The biogas produced can be used for various purposes (e.g., electricity production, grid connection, refilling of vehicles, etc.). To identify the best environmental alternative, it is necessary to analyse the chemical and physical characteristics of the biogas, strictly related to features of the sewage sludge adopted as input on anaerobic digestion treatment. To this concern, the objective of the present work was to develop an analytical model that, starting from the physic-chemical characteristics of the sewage sludge to be treated, allows to predict the composition of the biogas and then identify the most effective utilisation under an environmental perspective. The model developed was applied to the case of sewage sludge produced in the metropolitan city of Bari, southern Italy. The results show the model's effectiveness to suggest the most eco-friendly utilisation of the biogas produced starting from the physic-chemical characteristics of the sewage sludge.

ndustrial Engineering and Operations Management. IJCIEOM 2022. Springer Proceedings in Mathematics & Statistics, 2022

In the fourth industrial revolution, the digital network is the basis of smart manufacturing syst... more In the fourth industrial revolution, the digital network is the basis of smart manufacturing systems. In work environments 4.0, the operators’ role is drastically changed. There is increasing utilisation of innovative devices, and new technologies have changed work activities into more cognitive than physical tasks. According to scientific studies in the new industrial era, the operators’ skill to process the information related to a single task plays a crucial role in improving the manufacturing systems’ effectiveness. The methods available in scientific literature to assess the operator’s performance are mainly focused on the cognitive and physical efforts required by the task. In other words, they depend on tasks complexity and neglect human behaviour over time and the workers’ abilities. Therefore, an evaluation including the skills and properness of a specific operator to perform an assigned task needs more investigation. Consistent with this research gap, the paper aims to develop an information-based theoretical model allowing to estimate an operator’s performance index to accomplish an assembly job by evaluating both the tasks’ complexity and the operator’s skill.
The model is applied to an automotive company to test and evaluate the potential applications of the methodology that go beyond the case study developed. The results proved the effectiveness of the model in estimating the operators’ performance, providing a job schedule based on task complexity and workers’ abilities.

IFAC-PapersOnLine, 2022

The fourth industrial transformation can create value for companies. It can bring significant imp... more The fourth industrial transformation can create value for companies. It can bring significant improvements: those who want to be competitive in the market must implement new methods and tools to make plants efficient and productive. Industry 4.0 introduces new paradigms promoting the adoption of innovative technologies. In this context, the material handling system plays a crucial role in increasing the effectiveness and efficiency of the manufacturing systems. This paper proposes a model based on the Vehicle Routing Problem with Time Windows. The model aims to plan a dynamic routing strategy for milk-run to deliver the materials to different working stations, ensuring a materials' distribution consistent with the time slot and minimizing the tugger trains path. A real industrial full case of a worldwide automotive company validates the model. The results of the study show benefits under economic (cost saving of 18%), environmental (allowed to reduce the distance travelled by tugger trains by around 23% for each work shift) and social (organizational development) perspectives.

Proceedings of the 8th International Food Operations & Processing Simulation Workshop (FoodOPS), 2022

Food loss and waste (FLW) are significant opportunities for the agri-food sector. The FLW managem... more Food loss and waste (FLW) are significant opportunities for the agri-food sector. The FLW management includes all activities allowing to prevent, reduce, reuse, recycle, and recover the discarded food from the market during the postharvest supply chain. Although many strategies allow pursuing these actions, in most cases the availability of FLW generated in Primary Processing Centers does not meet the demand of stakeholders able to manage it. To increase the environmental, economic, and social benefits of FLW reuse, suitable strategies have to be adopted. Consistent with this aim, a conceptual model to be implemented in a business-to-business web platform is proposed to support the decision-maker in identifying the best FLW management strategy under a sustainable perspective, adopting a multicriteria decision method. The numerical simulation results proved the model's effectiveness in identifying the most appropriate FLW management strategy within a set of alternatives.

IFAC Papers online, 2015

Sustainable Integrated Waste Management System (IWMS) is one of the big challenges of modern soci... more Sustainable Integrated Waste Management System (IWMS) is one of the big challenges of modern society. The topic is nowadays a priority since it contributes to the goals set by “EU 2020 Strategy”. New web-based technologies are now available to monitor, manage and elaborate information concerning spatially decentralized systems interacting each other by cloud computing. A growing interest is paid to potential applications of these technologies to manufacturing systems and to municipal services ensuring both flexibility and efficiency. The authors propose a Decision Support Systems (DSS) for a Social - Cyber - Physical framework suitable for the strategic planning and operational phases, by supporting public administrators at municipal level in design and plan an IWMS. The main goal of the DSS is minimize the net carbon emissions of the IWMS. The model has been applied to a middle size city located in Southern Italy. A comparative analysis is carried out investigating the optimization of the stand-alone collecting phase and of the overall IWMS. Results in both cases suggest the adoption of multi stream grouping systems for dry recycled fraction and of single stream grouping system for organic and glass fraction. At the same time a different mix of waste collection modalities is found in the two reference cases.

IFAC- PapersOnLine, 2016

Despite increasing automation in modern manufacturing industry, human labor still represents an i... more Despite increasing automation in modern manufacturing industry, human labor still represents an irreplaceable element in many operations which require variety and flexibility, particularly in the case of assembly operations. Concurrently, the majority of developed countries, both European and Asian, has to face the problem of workforce aging. Ergonomic issues are therefore gaining an ever increasing attention by plant managers, given the strict link among productivity, healthy status of aged workers and lost working hours or working days due to ergonomic-related injuries. Technological constraints and productivity requirements often represent the main drivers at the design stage of production systems. Even when ergonomic constraints have been considered, in the production phase different problems, requiring immediate interventions, could emerge, for example in reference to age differences among workers. In these situations, organizational changes can be very effective and job rotation of operators is largely utilized. In the present paper, the OCRA (OCcupational Repetitive Action)-score method is adopted for the ergonomic assessment in case of infrequent job rotations. An algorithm which, implementing different ergonomic criteria, identifies, among all the feasible job rotations, the best solutions in presence of a subgroup of operators requiring lower risk exposure is illustrated. A case study from the automotive industry shows an example of its application.

INTED2022 Proceedings, 2022

The ongoing fourth industrial revolution, also known as Industry 4.0 (I4.0), permeates the worldw... more The ongoing fourth industrial revolution, also known as Industry 4.0 (I4.0), permeates the worldwide economies of most industrialized areas. From the shop floor to the research & innovation level, a critical mass of knowledge workers is required to benefit from the great, mostly unexplored, potentialities of I4.0 technologies. Educating a critical mass of thousands of knowledge / talented workers is the most extensive higher education challenge Europe is facing. An increasing qualitative and quantitative gap between demand and supply of knowledge workers is threatening the chance of success of the re-industrialization of Europe. The main objective of the IE3 project is to design and test innovative courses in Industrial Engineering and Management (IE&M). By introducing cutting-edge learning techniques and tools, the project will support the future generation of knowledge workers. Testing and sharing pilot solutions by the IE3 project will systematically support the development, updating, or redesign of university courses/programs in IE&M throughout Europe. The Body of Knowledge (BoK) for Higher Education in Industrial Engineering and Management is the reference document to support conceptual and implementation processes of designing, updating, or redesigning university master-level programs or course modules in IE&M. The BoK defines Guidelines supporting the renewal processes of IE&M master-level education in Europe and disseminates IE3 project outcomes, giving value to practical experience carried out by project partners during the project development. The BoK is not only a methodology, but it represents the foundation upon which Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) can develop their strategies, policies, procedures, and tools to renew courses and programs in an evolving environment. The Bok refers to contents and knowledge constantly evolving according to a rolling redesign approach.

Proceedings on 18th International Conference on Industrial Systems – IS’20, 2022

The evolution of production environments towards Industry 4.0 paradigm led to a workload shift fr... more The evolution of production environments towards Industry 4.0 paradigm led to a workload shift from physical to more cognitive activities, leading operators to perform tasks more cognitive-oriented. According to recent scientific studies, the typology of tasks as well as their complexity in smart factories will significantly change with the increased role of automation and artificial intelligence. Consistently to this trend, in the future work environments, operators will frequently interact with ever-smart machines. Under this perspective, the operators of smart factories, so-called "smart-operators", will manage an increasing amount of information and data during the decision-making processes. In scientific literature many studies are available on the evaluation of the operators' effort for the accomplishment of a physical-oriented task, but clear gaps are present for the evaluation of the operators' capacities and effort involved in cognitiveoriented tasks. In this paper, an analytical model allowing to evaluate, based on the operator's experience and on the complexity of the cognitive-oriented task to be performed, the Information Processing Rate (IPR) of a specific operator is presented. The results of the numerical experiment carried out proved the effectiveness of the model to provide the IPR of the operators by varying their experience and to evaluate if an operator is eligible for the accomplishment of a cognitiveoriented task. A potential application of the model is in the design phase of a cognitive-oriented task to predict the feasibility of its accomplishment by focusing on the capacities of operators.

International Joint conference on Industrial Engineering and Operations Management - IJCIEOM 2024, 2025

Procedia Computer Science 6th International Conference on Industry 4.0 and Smart Manufacturing, 2025

IFAC-PapersOnLine, 2024

Advances in Production Management Systems, 2024

Proceedings of the 28th Summer School "Francesco Turco", 2023

Procedia Computer Science, 2024

Procedia Computer Science, 2023

Transportation Research Procedia, 2022

Innovative Food Science & Emerging Technologies, 2023

Proceedings of the Summer School Francesco Turco, 2022

ndustrial Engineering and Operations Management. IJCIEOM 2022. Springer Proceedings in Mathematics & Statistics, 2022

IFAC-PapersOnLine, 2022

Proceedings of the 8th International Food Operations & Processing Simulation Workshop (FoodOPS), 2022

IFAC Papers online, 2015

IFAC- PapersOnLine, 2016

INTED2022 Proceedings, 2022

Proceedings on 18th International Conference on Industrial Systems – IS’20, 2022

Computers & Industrial Engineering, 2025

In the evolving landscape of Industry 5.0 (I5.0), where digital technologies are increasingly int... more In the evolving landscape of Industry 5.0 (I5.0), where digital technologies are increasingly integrated into industrial processes, understanding cognitive workload (CWL) during maintenance tasks has become critical. CWL significantly influences an operator's performance, safety, and overall well-being, especially in complex and demanding environments. The introduction of cognitive and assistive technologies, such as augmented reality (AR), virtual reality (VR), and artificial intelligence, holds the potential for reducing cognitive strain. However, existing research largely focuses on post-hoc CWL assessment rather than on integrating CWL considerations into the design phase of maintenance systems, according to an I5.0 perspective. Additionally, methodologies for accurately measuring and modelling CWL in real-time remain underdeveloped. In this context, assessing the operator's CWL can be a key factor in evaluating design and management alternatives for industrial systems, aiming to ensure the operator's well-being. Reducing CWL should, therefore, be a criterion for evaluating maintenance systems, including task execution methods and how support information is presented. This study addresses these gaps by investigating, through a systematic literature review, the existing methods to evaluate operators' CWL and explores how they can be integrated into managing maintenance operations in the I5.0 context, with a specific focus on scenarios where digital technologies provide support. The identified CWL assessment approaches were categorised into three primary areas: CWL as a factor influencing the operator's performance, CWL as a measure for assessing the effectiveness of solutions, and CWL as a design driver. The findings reveal that AR and VR applications are widely adopted for supporting maintenance activities, but there are no clear results on their potential to reduce the operator's CWL. Moreover, results indicate that practical methodologies for real-time CWL monitoring and predictive modelling are lacking. We highlight the need for robust models to minimize CWL based on task and environmental factors, aligning with I5.0′s emphasis on human-centred design. The study contributes to the body of knowledge by identifying key research gaps and proposing a structured framework for CWL assessment in industrial systems development. It emphasizes the development of integrative methodologies for CWL assessment that are based on both subjective and physiological measurements. It moreover offers practical insights for designing maintenance systems that prioritize operator cognitive wellbeing alongside performance efficiency.

Engineering Report, 2025

The aviation industry has a significant impact on the environment, accounting for 13% of global f... more The aviation industry has a significant impact on the environment, accounting for 13% of global fossil fuel consumption and 2% of annual CO 2 emissions. One of the factors that increase this consumption is engine degradation due to the accumulation of dirt on compressor blades. To mitigate this effect and restore efficiency, compressor washing is essential, but it requires high water consumption. This study analyzes the operational, economic, and environmental benefits of optimizing this process, based on the Blue Economy. Fuel efficiency was assessed using the Fuel/RTM indicator, financial viability using ROI, and environmental impacts using the MIF index. The results indicate a 1.8% gain in fuel efficiency, annual savings of $179,000, a 6.9% reduction in environmental impact, and a 50% drop in water use. The findings demonstrate that sustainable maintenance practices generate economic and environmental gains, contributing to the conservation of water resources in aviation.

Computers & Industrial Engineering, 2025

Rising healthcare demands coupled with declining public funds necessitate increased efficiency in... more Rising healthcare demands coupled with declining public funds necessitate increased efficiency in pharmaceutical procurement. Centralized Pharmaceutical Procurement (CPP) systems offer a solution by leveraging volume-based procurement, where a commission aggregates demand and negotiates lower prices, also improving access to affordable medicines for all. The Hub-and-Spoke (HaS) model emerges as a promising logistics solution, since it employs a central warehouse to streamline distribution and reduce transportation times. In scientific literature, a comprehensive study integrating this model with the entire CPP process is lacking. Therefore, this research aimed to investigate, through a systematic literature review, the aspects that characterise the application of the HaS model as an enabler of CPP policies. The analysis suggests the applicability of the HaS model for centralized pharmaceutical logistics. However, it emphasised the importance of long-term strategies and robust data management systems to guarantee the efficacy of these initiatives.

IET Collaborative Intelligent Manufacturing, 2025

Cognitive workload (CWL) assessment has gained increasing importance in Industry 4.0 and 5.0 sett... more Cognitive workload (CWL) assessment has gained increasing importance in Industry 4.0 and 5.0 settings where humanmachine interactions are becoming more complex. Despite growing attention, a comprehensive CWL assessment that integrates methodologies, technologies and case studies is still lacking. This study reviews 69 articles related to the CWL assessment, selected from the Scopus database. The review identifies five primary methodologies for the CWL assessment: physiological measures, subjective evaluation (e.g., NASA-TLX), performance evaluation, cognitive load models and multimodal approaches. The analysis shows an increasing trend towards multimodal approaches that combine subjective assessment methods with physiological measures obtained from electroencephalography, eye tracking and heart rate monitoring devices. Additionally, emerging technologies such as advanced sensors and specialised equipment are increasingly considered in case studies that address the CWL assessment in current work environments. Results reveal significant advancements in physiological and multimodal assessment methods, particularly emphasising real-time monitoring capabilities and context-specific applications. Case studies underscore the key role of CWL management in assembly, maintenance and construction tasks, demonstrating its impact on performance, safety and adaptability in dynamic environments. This review establishes a framework for advancing CWL research by addressing methodological limitations and proposing future research directions, including the development of personalised, adaptive systems for real-time workload management.

IEEE Transactions on Engineering Management, 2024

In response to the dynamic and ever-changing landscape of supply chains, which are continually ch... more In response to the dynamic and ever-changing landscape of supply chains, which are continually challenged by internal and external factors, there is a critical need for continuous adaptation, learning, and improvement. Historically, scholars have argued that traditional information systems lack the capacity to effectively support resilience strategies within supply chains. However, advancements in Industry 4.0 technologies may have shifted this paradigm. This paper explores how enabling technologies can support the development of resilient operations at the supply chain level. To that end, a systematic literature review is combined with a multiple case study to understand how these technologies can support the development of elements of resilience. Three distinct sectors from different geographical locations were chosen for this study: an agri-food company in Brazil, a manufacturing firm in the food industry in Canada, and a logistics service provider in Italy. Integrating both theoretical insights and empirical findings leads to the formulation of a research framework, the primary contribution of this study, which serves as a resource for scholars and practitioners aiming to leverage enabling technologies to increase supply chain resilience. The paper concludes with key findings and suggests avenues for future research.

International Journal of Food Engineering, 2024

Agri-food processing industries generate a significant amount of food waste during different stag... more Agri-food processing industries generate a significant amount of food waste during different stages of processing. Sustainable food loss and waste (FLW) management aims to reduce, reuse, and recover the waste generated. To successfully implement strategies capable of pursuing these goals there is the need to connect agri-food processing industries with possible stakeholders in the use of waste generated. Primary processing centres are an example of industries that generate waste from the processing of fruits and vegetables. A model able to increase the environmental, economic, and social benefits of FLW reuse with appropriate strategies is proposed in this study. It is based on a multicriteria decision-making approach and a business-to-business web platform to support decision makers in identifying the best FLW management strategies from a quantity reduction and/or sustainability maximization perspective. Numerical simulations highlight the effectiveness of the model in identifying the best FLW management strategies within a panel of alternatives.

Digital twin supporting environmental performance evaluation according to ISO certification: an application case in the tire industry

Production & manufacturing research, May 7, 2024

The link between digital evolution and environmental sustainability is reshaping how companies en... more The link between digital evolution and environmental sustainability is reshaping how companies enhance their processes, contributing to address circular manufacturing (CM). The extant literature does not explain how to improve the tire production process to limit environmental negative impacts, which are its most critical phases, which Industry 4.0 technologies could be exploited and how they could intervene in the process to facilitate effective data management. This research proposes a framework indicating how digital technologies could support tire producers in reducing the ecological footprint of their operations. The proposed framework addresses ISO 14,046 and 14,067 International Organization for Standardization (ISO) certifications. Digital twin (DT) was chosen as the most suitable technology. The related framework was further detailed according to data-driven CM principles, providing the set of sensors to be embedded on the production process and defining the data and information to be gathered through them to address the requested ISO certifications.

Mapping the relations between the circular economy rebound effects dimensions: a systematic literature review

Journal of cleaner production, Apr 1, 2024

Circular economy (CE) strategies are largely adopted in the manufacturing sector. Nevertheless, t... more Circular economy (CE) strategies are largely adopted in the manufacturing sector. Nevertheless, the benefits of circular strategies could be reduced by the occurrence of the rebound effect (RE), defined as resource overuse due to improved efficiency in a system. Understanding the causes, mechanisms, and characteristics of CE's REs is therefore crucial for the effective implementation of CE strategies in the manufacturing sector. The main gap concerns the limited understanding of the occurrence of RE within CE in manufacturing. To this concern, five domains (i.e., business models, drivers, product lifecycle management (PLM), circular manufacturing ecosystem, and socioeconomic aspects) have been initially identified in the twofold CE-RE domain. Starting from these, the paper aims to investigate and map the relations among these dimensions and unveil the related type of RE for each of them. To address this objective, a conceptual map, grounded on a systematic literature review (SLR), has been obtained to explore the five dimensions. The conceptual map showed the relations between the five dimensions and the possible occurrence of RE types (i.e., direct, indirect, economy-wide, and transformational). It turned out that the five dimensions are closely related. For example, socioeconomic aspects were influenced by the adoption of circular business models and have a role in PLM strategies. Instead, from a RE perspective, socioeconomic aspects dimension, linked to business model and PLM ones, could generate direct and indirect RE. The driver dimensions related to circular manufacturing and business models could cause economy-wide and transformational RE. The map of the relations obtained offers an initial framework to be exploited to prevent and mitigate possible CE's REs occurring in manufacturing.

Assessing the decarbonisation potential of waste-to-hydrogen routes in the energy transition phase: an environmental analytical model

Journal of cleaner production, Apr 1, 2024

Hydrogen (H2) plays a crucial role in current climate change and energy crisis challenges due to ... more Hydrogen (H2) plays a crucial role in current climate change and energy crisis challenges due to its versatility and low environmental impact, leading to a projected growth in its demand. However, meeting this demand while reducing environmental impact requires innovative solutions, which can support the current energy transition phase and the subsequent large-scale implementation of the electrolysis (El) process. Waste-to-H2 (WtH2) routes, which use waste as a feedstock for H2 production, seem to be valuable for this purpose. To this concern, an environmental analytical model was developed in this work to evaluate the decarbonisation potential offered by three WtH2 routes in the context of the European energy transition. The environmental performance of a Waste-to-Energy plant coupled with an electrolyser, an MSW gasification plant with a syngas treatment unit (Gas-H2) and a Steam Biogas Reforming (SBR) process were therefore compared to that of the most widespread fossil-based H2 production route and the most environmentally promising one, i.e., Steam Methane Reforming and El, respectively. A sensitivity analysis was conducted to assess their environmental performance depending on the state of progress of the energy transition, and the results obtained were then applied in two scenarios, corresponding to the early (i.e., 2020 scenario) and advanced (i.e., 2030 scenario) stages of the European energy transition. The obtained results showed that the SBR offers negative total emissions in many contexts, that the Gas-H2 route is a valuable alternative to fossil-based H2 production, and that the El route is very favourable in contexts where energy is mainly produced from renewable sources. Moreover, it was observed that, especially at an early stage of the energy transition (i.e., 2020 scenario), the use of WtH2 routes could have significantly supported the production of low-carbon H2 and savings in terms of carbon emissions right acquisition. Although, as expected, H2 production from El will become the better alternative from an environmental perspective at an advanced stage of the energy transition process (i.e., 2030 scenario), WtH2 technologies will continue to be able to support the decarbonisation of H2 production.

Collaborative robots in small and medium-sized enterprises: a field-based feasibility model

International journal of manufacturing technology and management, 2024

The Industry 4.0 (I4.0) revolution has led to new concepts and transformations toward technologic... more The Industry 4.0 (I4.0) revolution has led to new concepts and transformations toward technological innovations. In the manufacturing sector, the use of collaborative robots (cobots) has significantly increased in the last few years, enabling them to work safely alongside humans in a shared workspace. Within this perspective, small-and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) have been facing several challenges compared to large organisations regarding the adoption of cobots. Based on the literature, this paper aims to introduce a techno-economic feasibility model to evaluate the viability of using cobots in a shared workplace, with a focus on SMEs. Consistent with the paper's aim, a conceptual model was developed, supported by experts' opinions using the Delphi method. The results of this work incorporate contributions to both the academic and industrial communities.

Sustainability, Apr 3, 2024

This paper presents a case study conducted at a food supply centre in a shopping centre in São Pa... more This paper presents a case study conducted at a food supply centre in a shopping centre in São Paulo city, Brazil. A waste digester was developed based on specifications provided by GE for the generator, and the cost of electricity production from food waste generated in the region was subsequently assessed. Results show that 1,368,750 m 3 biogas was produced for the year, which provided a reduction of 14% of electricity consumption and is equivalent to USD 854 thousand per year. The amount of carbon credits is equivalent to 10,775 metric tons of CO 2 and 51,840 tons of organic waste humus per year. The energy produced by biogas from food waste had a unit cost of 0.10 USD/kWh. At the end of the project, a profit of USD 3.087 million was achieved, which is equivalent to an ROI of 433%. There is a reduction in energy costs by USD 854 thousand per year and a payback of 1.01 years. These indicate that biogas production from food waste is economically viable.

Comparing the decarbonization benefit provided by waste-based hydrogen routes to green steel production process: an analytical model

Procedia computer science, 2024

An Environmental Analytical Model to Assess the Decarbonization Potential of Municipal Solid Waste-Based Hydrogen Production Routes

Springer proceedings in mathematics & statistics, Dec 31, 2022

Energies, Sep 13, 2023

Small-scale hydropower plants (SHP) have been losing competitiveness compared to other renewable ... more Small-scale hydropower plants (SHP) have been losing competitiveness compared to other renewable sources in the global electricity matrix due to technical, environmental, regulatory, and economic issues. In this context, and to contribute to the development and strengthening of SHP's integration into the country's electricity matrix, this study proposes the Balanced Scorecard (BSC) as a strategic evaluation tool for SHP projects from the prospecting phase to the pre-implementation phase, taking into account financial and non-financial performance indicators. This study aims to structure a strategic map of the SHP source composed of economic, socio-environmental, institutional, and technical perspectives, adapted to the four perspectives of the BSC, with the required performance indicators for the strategic evaluation of SHP. The development of a computer program allowed data visualization from eight case studies focusing on indicators or perspectives that jeopardize the project's strategic viability. The results showed that (i) the adaptation of the BSC methodology for the strategic evaluation of SHP feasibility proved effective and (ii) the developed computer program demonstrated robustness and effectiveness in analyzing SHP, even in different stages of development and with different technical and environmental characteristics. Finally, the strategic evaluation of SHP feasibility is an effective tool in assisting decision makers, indicating the positive aspects and weaknesses of the project under evaluation and providing a better understanding of the asset and the areas of development that deserve greater attention to improve its performance.

A Model for the Evaluation of the Information Processing Rate of Smart Operators

Springer eBooks, 2022

IoT-based milk-run routing for manufacturing system: an application case in an automotive company

International Journal of Production Research

The Internet of Things (IoT) provides new opportunities to improve manufacturing lines' p... more The Internet of Things (IoT) provides new opportunities to improve manufacturing lines' performance and in-plant logistic processes. The digital milk-run system represents the new frontier to optimize material handling strategies but is still not fully exploited to address material distribution depending on the time slots required by the manufacturing lines. Therefore, to fill this gap, this paper investigates the actual integration of the milk-run system with an IoT system. An analytical model for planning a dynamic routing strategy for tugger trains to deliver the materials to different workstations of a production line has been developed. The proposed model provides a materials distribution consistent with the time slot required by the manufacturing line, ensuring the minimisation of the total distance of the routes. An algorithm developed in Python is proposed to solve the NP-hard problem (nondeterministic polynomial time problem). The model has been applied to a real case of a worldwide automotive company to validate and prove its efficacy and efficiency. Indeed, compared to the current in-plant logistic strategy, (i) the inventory stock of each workstation was ensured, (ii) the average utilization rate of the tugger trains' fleet was improved, and (iii) the daily path was minimized.

Assessment of carbon emissions’ effects on the investments in conventional and innovative waste-to-energy treatments

Journal of Cleaner Production

In the current scenario of transition to a Europe-wide circular economy (CE), the Waste-to-Energy... more In the current scenario of transition to a Europe-wide circular economy (CE), the Waste-to-Energy (WtE) treatments represent a smart solution to generate renewable energy, reduce landfills and ensure sustainable waste management. The costs and environmental impacts of existing WtE treatments are very different for each available technology. In many cases, their identification is affected by a set of variable boundary conditions strongly dependent on local municipal requirements. In light of these considerations, the paper aims to compare the investment in three different WtE treatments (i.e., incineration, gasification, and flameless oxy-combustion) to identify the best solution to support the current transitional phase towards a CE condition. An overall yearly cost analysis was developed by varying local municipal requirements, including investment, operating, and carbon emissions costs. The overall yearly cost and the revenues, due to energy sales and tipping fees, allowed to evaluate the profitability of the investment in the plant lifetime to identify the best WtE treatment. The investment profitability was evaluated by adopting the Net Present Value (NPV) method by estimating the cash flow statement over the entire plant lifetime. The performance of the three WtE treatments, classified as “conventional” (i.e., gasification and incineration) and “innovative” (i.e., flameless oxy-combustion), were compared in a case study concerning Southern Italy's Metropolitan City of Bari. The applied methodology showed, in this case, that gasification, at the moment, has to be deemed as the most sustainable treatment for MSW management. Moreover, the study proved a high dependence between the carbon price and the profitability of the investment and, thus, in the next future the innovative oxy-combustion technology will gain an advantage over all the other technologies, when carbon price will be higher than 44 €/tonnesCO2.

Green strategies to reduce the environmental impact of jam production

Transportation Research Procedia

The Body of Knowledge for Higher Education in Industrial Engineering and Management: Experiences from the Erasmus+ IE3 Project

INTED2022 Proceedings

RECENT ADVANCES IN CONTROLLING, MONITORING AND OPTIMIZATION OF THE FRICTION STIR WELDING PROCESS

No part of this digital document may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted i... more No part of this digital document may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means. The publisher has taken reasonable care in the preparation of this digital document, but makes no expressed or implied warranty of any kind and assumes no responsibility for any errors or omissions. No liability is assumed for incidental or consequential damages in connection with or arising out of information contained herein. This digital document is sold with the clear understanding that the publisher is not engaged in rendering legal, medical or any other professional services.

Smart and Sustainable Supply Chain and Logistics – Trends, Challenges, Methods and Best Practices. EcoProduction, 2020

The topic of green mobility is very interesting and indispensable to consider due to European pol... more The topic of green mobility is very interesting and indispensable to consider due to European policy and climate changes. Cities are now actively starting to address these issues by implementing a range of different strategies, such as bringing in congestion charges and parking fees to internalise the negative impacts of transport (E. Commission in How can cities address future mobility challenges? 2019), improving and promoting the use of public transport (PT), encouraging nonmotorised transport with dedicated pedestrian-bike paths, and restricting the access of certain vehicles to the city centre. The main objective of hereby chapter is to evaluate actual state in terms of green mobility in selected European countries such as Poland, Ukraine, Italy and Norway. Authors endeavor to assess the availability, comfort, technical condition, safety, environmental friendliness, amenities in the cities from the point of view of existing public transport such as trams, buses, urban scooters, city bikes, electric kick scooters, carsharing.

Advanced Applications for Artificial Neural Networks, 2018

Neural network (NN) model is an efficient and accurate tool for simulating manufacturing processe... more Neural network (NN) model is an efficient and accurate tool for simulating manufacturing processes. Various authors adopted artificial neural networks (ANNs) to optimize multiresponse parameters in manufacturing processes. In most cases the adoption of ANN allows to predict the mechanical proprieties of processed products on the basis of given technological parameters. Therefore the implementation of ANN is hugely beneficial in industrial applications in order to save cost and material resources. In this chapter, following an introduction on the application of the ANN to the manufacturing process, it will be described an important study that has been published on international journals and that has investigated the use of the ANNs for the monitoring, controlling and optimization of the process. Experimental observations were collected in order to train the network and establish numerical relationships between process-related factors and mechanical features of the welded joints. Finally, an evaluation of time-costs parameters of the process, using the control of the ANN model, is conducted in order to identify the costs and the benefits of the prediction model adopted.

In Springer Lecture Notes in Management and Industrial Engineering, 2016

The warehouse management problem is a critical issue in Operation Management. In modern competiti... more The warehouse management problem is a critical issue in Operation Management. In modern competitive market, many firms are automating their basic warehouse activities in order to be cost effective. However, traditional mechanized warehousing systems (MWS) still represent the 75% of the overall installations. In MWS, forklifts are adopted for the load handling. The adoption of efficient "internal logistic strategies" could help in reducing time required and costs of warehousing activities. In recent years, many firms adopted green supply chain practices (GSCP) in order to improve their environmental performances while also achieving economic goals (Wu et al., 2015). Furthermore, in planning Smart City logistics, warehousing in port or railway station storage areas is being receiving wide attention since they contribute effectively to a sustainable development of modern cities. Under this perspective, an optimal "internal logistic strategy" allowing to jointly minimizing jointly costs and environmental impacts of warehousing activities has to be adopted. The aim of this study is to develop a Nonlinear Integer Programming Model to solve a storage location assignment problem (SLAP) for optimizing the environmental performance of the internal logistic activities in a warehouse. Suitable storage strategies are identified on the basis of the type of the forklifts adopted (internal combustion or electric engine equipped) as well as the sizes and the weight of the loads to be handled.