The SMART-CM project in simple terms is to undertake a comprehensive review of the entire container door-to-door transport chain so that it can become more efficient, secure, market driven and competitive as well as more environmentally friendly. More specifically, the research is intended to facilitate the development, demonstration, and evaluation of new concepts and processes that will improve the efficiency, user friendliness, and quality of service of existing door-to-door container transport chains operating in different environments and conditions and using a range of technologies and organisational blueprints. SMART-CM has set a number of specific objectives, including the development, testing and validation of a global architecture for container supply chain management. In addition, improvements and extensions to existing global standards for container transport will be proposed.

TNO’s role

TNO is leading the work package that focuses on new requirements and logistics services for global container management. This work package contains three tasks, namely the state of the art of global container supply chain management (led by K&N), the creation of a SMART-CM implementation framework for global container surveillance and control with respect to user needs and requirements (led by DHL) and the drafting of a set of common requirements, with INTEGRITY (led by DHL). Furthermore, TNO will be evaluating the economic and socio-economic results, analysing the financial benefits that result from the simplification of administration, including interfacing with Customs, and defining future scenarios of the socio-economic impact. Finally TNO will be developing an appropriate business model.