Image  Department of Manufacturing & Industrial Engineering
 University of Peradeniya

Logistics and Supply Chain Engineering (LSCE)

LSCERC is the first of its kind of research cluster formulated in Sri Lanka to promote research on Supply chain engineering which is one of the emerging areas in the world. The main focus of LSCERC is to adapt the developments in the other engineering disciplines to logistics and supply chain. Currently, the group is working on adapting IoT platforms to enhance supply chain traceability, reconfiguration of supply chains due to disruptions, process mapping of cross-border logistics, enhancing the supply chain sustainability and reduce post-harvest losses of fruits and vegetable supply chain of Sri Lanka, and studying the dynamics of the currency supply chain of Sri Lanka. This cluster has already established local and international collaborations with the University of Wollongong, Australia; Mays Business School of Texas A&M, USA; RMIT, Australia; University of Melbourne, Australia; Aarhus University, Denmark; Derby University, UK; VIT, India and MPI, New Zealand.

Most of the research team are also members of the Chartered Institute of Logistic and Transport and work closely with the Sri Lankan chapter.

Team


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Ongoing Research projects


  1. Design and development of a DSS to select an optimal fleet size for beverage distribution in Sri Lanka to meet dynamic changes in demand patterns
  2. Analysing GHG emissions of post-harvest losses of banana supply chains in Sri Lanka
  3. Benchmarking of cross-border logistics processes in Sri Lanka with the rest of the world
  4. Use data analytics to analyse Big Data and data analytics to evaluate the supply chain performance
  5. Reconfiguration of global supply chains due to risks
  6. Adopting IoT to enhance supply chain visibility
  7. Optimization of fleet size of Inter Terminal Transportation (ITT) of containers in Colombo Port

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Completed projects


  1. Process mapping of cross-border maritime logistics processes in Sri Lanka – jointly with University of Wollongong, Australia

    2. Launch of Interim Report on Cross-border Logistics Process Mapping

    Academics at LSERC at DMIE, University of Peradeniya and University of Wollongong have collaborated to conduct a research into cross-border logistics processes in Sri Lanka. The initial stage of the research consisted of a process discovery conducted through literature, in depth interviews and site visits. SLFFA assisted the research team by providing access to their experienced staff. The researchers also got assistance from Sri Lanka Customs, SLPA and other authorities and associations involved in cross-border logistics processes in Sri Lanka. The researchers presented their findings to the main stakeholders of the project at an online webinar conducted on December 18th, 2020. The session was attended by key figures in cross border logistics including, Director General Customs, Additional Director General of Customs, Chairman of Ports Authority, officials from SLFFA including current and past president and the chairman of CILT Sri Lanka. The researchers plan to continue the research through a thorough analysis of the processes and a benchmarking with another country. The research team includes Prof. Asela Kulatunga CMILT of University of Peradeniya who is also the current chairman of the CILT central chapter, Dr. Senevi Kiridena of University of Wollongong and Mr. Namal Bandaranayake MILT of University of Peradeniya.


  2. Traceability of fruit and vegetable supply chain of Sri Lanka – jointly with NIPHM Sri Lanka

  3. Design and development of DSS for vehicle routing problem with split delivery

  4. Investigating the feasibility of railway based freight transportation in Sri Lanka

  5. Analyzing GHG emissions of post-harvest losses of banana supply chains in Sri Lanka

    6. Virtual Workshop on Exploring the Opportunities and Challenges in Addressing Food Losses and Waste in Sri Lanka and their Climate Change Impacts

    On 7 May 2021, the Ministry of Agriculture Sri Lanka/National Institute of Postharvest Management along with Life Cycle Assessment and Management Research Cluster (LCAMRC) & Logistics & Supply Chain Engineering Research Cluster (LSCERC) of University of Peradeniya held a virtual workshop on “Exploring the opportunities and challenges in addressing food losses and waste in Sri Lanka and their climate change impacts”. The Workshop was supported by the New Zealand Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) in support of the objectives of the Global Research Alliance on Agricultural Greenhouse Gases (GRA).

    Forty experts from academia, industry, and government agencies participated in the workshop (see Figure 1 for a breakdown of the participants). Speakers and participants discussed the progress of the on-going GRA-funded small project, “Strengthening Sri Lanka’s efforts to quantify and mitigate greenhouse gases related to postharvest losses” and explored ideas to develop a more extensive research programme to address food loss and waste issues in Sri Lanka and the broader aspects of climate change.

    >> Summary Report