Prof. Dr. Bernd Noche | Transport Systems and Logistics
Personal Details
The department of Mechanical Engineering of Duisburg-Essen has founded the Institute for Product Engineering for advanced research in product life cycles. Prof. Dr.-Ing. Bernd Noche is member of this institute and responsible for Logistics Engineering and the design of modern Supply Chains. He studied Cybernetics Engineering at the University of Stuttgart and worked serveral years in the Fraunhofer Society as a research engineer in the field of computer assisted logistic systems where Computational Methods had to be developed for the emerging field of logistics. In 1986 he became CEO of an IT based consulting company, focussing on the application of simulation based techniques in industry, trade and services. With his dissertation about the design of a decision oriented simulation environment he was entitled to use the doctor’s degree. In the year 2000 he responded a call for a software oriented professorship in logistics at the Gerhard-Mercator University of Duisburg.
Besides his research activities he is working as an evaluator and consultant for several international companies and governmental institutions.
Teaching
As a professor in Mechanical Engineering teaching in logistics engineering is directed to the development of technical systems such as warehouses, assemblies, conveyors and the operation of all kinds of logistic nodes. Due to his experience on Computational Methods the teaching especially of simulation technology and information systems is an enrichment for the Institute of Production Engineering. Special focus is directed towards organizational aspects of logistic systems and ergonomics.
Two master courses – Production and Logistics as a mechanical engineering study and Logistics Engineering as an interdisciplinary study are backed with eight different lessons which present a combination of theory, real life problems and in depth investigation. Prof. Noche is also envolved in the application of new teaching methods. He has developed logistic games and is presenting them in different universities as well as in industry on a management level.
Introducing Production Systems with the EUROKRAN game
Research
The application of Computational Methods in general to the field of logistics is the main focus of research. Long lasting research experience has been collected in the following fields:
- Distribution networks
The design of distribution networks as an important part of Supply Chains is an activity which is still in progress. Especially integrated solutions are needed linking production, warehousing, transporting and distributing by considering the variability of the processes and organizational structures such as locations, allocations and routing. - Logistic oriented execution systems
The management of logistic chaines requires a variety of algorithms and tools for the daily operation. Therefore advanced scheduling is needed not only for production but also for order picking, service and fleet management. Execution systems also deal with slitting and cutting optimization and forecasting technology. - Acceptance Management
With new technologies it is possible to improve the process of acceptance and maintenance. Discrete event simulation allows to test software as well as technical equipment. With additional means such as video cameras testified acceptance procedures are developed. - Energy and logistics
Within urban systems the distribution of energy and value streams becomes more and more important. Therefore attempts are made to understand the logic of business traffic and to develop new concepts for combining new century demand for energy and careful consumption. - Flow of persons
Based on a long lasting experience of the simulation of passenger flows on airports experience is shared in new application fields such as shopping malls, big events, railway stations, hospitals and buildings design. Main focus is directed to the design of normal daily activities but emergency situations are under investigation as well.
Most research work activities are devoted to the development of new algorithms and heuristics. Very much attention is paid to the design of IT based solutions capturing knowledge offering the ability to provide the memorized information to users who are forced to improve their output in a competing environment.
Scheduling Slitting optimization
Images of the Computational Factory
Results of the research work can be found in several branches and companies: Automotive industry, Chemical industry, Logistic Service providers, Consumer goods, Food industry, Mail and parcel distribution systems, Foil industry, Steel industry, Paper industry, Airports and Hospitals.