Chemical Engineering June 2018 - 15

ability. Finally, Brown states that the
aging fleet of drivers and the difficulty
in attracting new drivers into jobs
that require the transport of potentially
hazardous materials are putting
further stress on chemical distributors.
" Driver shortage is a big issue, "
he adds.
Digital evolution
Beyond physical security, cybersecurity
is increasingly important as connected
devices become more ubiquitous
in trucks, trains and warehouses.
Advanced telemetry and smart GPS
devices provide information to distributors
about the location and status of
their fleet, while radio-frequency identification
(RFID) and advanced barcoding
technologies are contributing to
more connected warehouses. While
the NACD has begun early discussions
about the potential use of autonomous
vehicles, Brown emphasizes
that they have not yet developed any
official positions on the topic. " There
are just so many variables and hazard
scenarios that require driver interaction.
But I'd imagine at some point,
autonomous trucks might be utilized
within the yards of large facilities or
moving trailers back and forth into position, "
he adds.
Smart wearable devices and augmented
reality are two emerging areas
of development for the logistics sector.
Honeywell Safety and Productivity
Solutions (SPS; Fort Mill, S.C.;
www.honeywellaidc.com) offers
voice-directed systems integrated
into headsets that guide personnel
through a set of complex, standardized
tasks on checklists for preventive
maintenance or inspection work. " This
replaces paper-based work, which
is prone to human errors and inefficiencies.
The voice system guides
users through their tasks and ensures
compliance with documented workflows, "
says Bruce Stubbs, Honeywell
SPS director of supply chain industry
marketing. Augmented reality is an
emerging technology just beginning
to find a place in the logistics sector,
but Stubbs says it is most applicable
for training workers. " The supply chain
cannot necessarily move much faster,
so companies are looking for ways to
increase throughput and efficiency.
But improvement can only happen
when work is measured and data
captured, " he continues.
The adoption of advanced technologies
is essential for producers
of hazardous chemicals or sensitive
pharmaceutical ingredients, since
products must meet stringent quality
benchmarks and companies must
comply with frequently changing government
regulations. " The pressures
for better transparency, accuracy,
productivity and safety are driving the
need for greater connectivity in the
supply chain, " says Stubbs. " In Europe,
for example, manufacturers of
pharmaceuticals and other controlled
substances, like explosives, are required
to accurately track their shipments
throughout the entire supply
chain. They need to document each
time a shipment passes through various
stages or changes hands, " he
adds. Honeywell SPS has developed
cloud-based track-and-trace platMEET
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Chemical Engineering June 2018

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Chemical Engineering June 2018
