Exciting Anniversary Edition of the Swiss Logistics Innovation Day

About 60 experts from logistics and supply chain met for the 10th Swiss Logistics Innovation Day of VNL Switzerland (Association Network Logistics) in Altdorf, located between Lake Lucerne and the foot of the Gotthard massif. The idyllic and rural surroundings provided a worthy setting for an event of excellent quality.

(Altdorf) For the tenth anniversary of the Swiss Logistics Innovation Day, around 60 logistics professionals gathered for a successful and interesting anniversary event, which took place for the third time in Altdorf, the capital of the canton of Uri.

Day’s Motto: “How to adopt technology for sustainable supply chains?”

This motto was the focus of all speeches, keynotes, short presentations, and the afternoon workshops. The areas of supply chain management, transport, and warehouse management were equally emphasized. These will form the core topics of VNL Switzerland in the future, along with construction logistics.

Thinking about the product cycle from the end

In a highly interesting keynote, Pouyan Dardashti – CEO of Thommen Group spoke on the topic of “Sustainability through Recycling.” Although his employer thrives on recycling, he illustrated with many examples that the product cycle must be designed to be more sustainable and durable (keyword: circular economy). This also opens up a new perspective for the recovery of materials.

Dardashti explained that the goal must be to use products for as long as possible within their original utility. Recycling should only occur at the end-of-life of the products. To this end, the Thommen Group is also investing in technologies for the best possible separation of valuable materials. He also called for products to be thought of from the end.

Automated Driving

Dr. Christine Mauelshagen, Transformation Manager at UNITY Switzerland AG and Member of the Management Board at Swiss Transit Lab, presented on the topic: “Experiences from 202 Days of Real Operation: Potentials through Automation for the Logistics of the Future.” She introduced a project of the STL Line 13 in Schaffhausen. This line operates autonomously and driverless, initially serving a short route to the Schaffhausen train station with the new neighborhood “Stahlgiesserei,” where 450 apartments have been built. Synergies for logistics are primarily to be found in autonomous driving, which will sooner or later also be adopted in logistics (city logistics).

Impulse Lectures in Pecha Kucha Format

An exciting format consisted of six impulse lectures on various logistics topics in Pecha Kucha style. This presentation format allows exactly 20 slides, each remaining on screen for 20 seconds. This results in a presentation time of 6 minutes and 40 seconds. To preemptively summarize; the six speakers executed it excellently, and the presentations showed good quality despite their brevity.

The speakers and their topics:

Thomas Laarz, Dassault Systèmes:
“I want it, when I want it” – Challenges for Urban Logistics Now and in the Future

Acacio Martins, Adnovum:
Smart Recycling Management: The Data-Driven Path to Sustainability​

Robby Toole, QuantumBasel:
The Buzz of Quantum Computing and Real Applications for Logistics!

Frank Wendt, PROTIVITI Switzerland:
Potentials through the Digitalization of Trade Documents

Moritz Muhl, 7Days Group:
Introduction of a New Warehouse Management System

Wide Obradovic, Prognosix AG:
Always Well Prepared: With AI Algorithms and Decision Support

After the lunch break, participant engagement was required

Prof. Dr. Herbert Ruile, President and Founder of the organizing VNL Switzerland, warned participants in his opening speech that “consuming” would come to an end after the lunch break and that active participation would be required.

In the three workshops on the topics of “Supply Chain Management,” “Transport,” and “Warehouse Management,” six groups worked on various topics, which they presented to the other participants at the end of the intensive and exciting day.

Photos: © Loginfo24