Purpose: Understanding how the structure affects logistical performance and food security is critical in the supply chains of perishable foods (PFSC). This research proposes a system dynamics model to analyze the effects of structures: lean, agile, flexible, responsive and resilient, in the overall performance and of each agent of the PFSC.Design/methodology/approach: Using a system dynamics model and design of experiments it is studied how the different structures and their combination, affect the behavior of inventory, transportation, responsiveness, efficiency, availability and quality-safety of the fresh fruits supply chain and each echelon.Findings: The studies of supply chains have been done for each structure in an independent way; investigations are scarce in supply chains of perishable foods. The structures modeled in this research do not show the better performance in all the metrics of the chain, neither in all agents for each structure. The above implies the presence of trade-offs.Research limitations/implications: The results show the need to investigate mixed structures with the FPSC´s own characteristics; the model can be applied in other supply chains of perishable foods.Practical implications: Management by combining structures in the FFSC, improves logistics performance and contributes to food security.Social implications: The agents of the FFSC can apply the structures found in this study, to improve their logistics performance and the food security.Originality/value: The dynamics of individual and combined structures were identified, which constitutes a contribution to the discussion in the literature of such problems for FFSC. The model includes six echelons: farmers, wholesalers, agro-industry, third-party logistics operators and retailers. The dynamic contemplates deterioration rate to model perishability and others losses.

Purpose: The location of actors and production, transformation, commercialization and distribution facilities generate the configuration of the perishable food supply chain (PFSC). The logistics network design (LND) lead to different supply, storage and distribution environments and result in flows, these logistics operations have an impact on the performance of the chain of fresh agricultural products. Specifically, in the PFSC with seasonality, a temporary imbalance between supply and demand is generated, which affects the balance in the flows and affects the losses, costs and response capacity. This research study that problem.Design/methodology/approach: A multi-echelon, multi-objective and multi-product model is established that determines the configuration of the logistics network of the PFSC with seasonally and allows actors to approach efficiency frontiers, which contribute to their permanence in the markets. The model was applied to the case of the perishable fruit supply chain, in a developing country, Colombia. The population information was taken from government surveys and studies, which allowed parameterizing the model.Findings: The application of model permitted to answer the next questions: How does improve the performance from PFSC through logistics network design? And, How the existence of smallholdings in food production and from retail merchants is preserved? In the perishable food supply chain.Social implications: Where the perishable food supply chain actors are located in non-efficient borders and their sustainability may be affected by competition factors, the stakeholders should focus on increasing food availability and reducing losses to improve access and therefore food security.Originality/value: A new model for the logistics network configurations of seasonal perishable fruit supply chain was development, the optimizing from five objectives with two sub-models is obtained, one for surplus and the other for the deficit moments. The model includes real conditions, such as, fruit loss due T0 and RH by different thermal floors and the means used for the transport of fruits in mountain areas at countries in route of development. The impact over the small producers, retailers and consumers in the times of scarcity or surplus was analyzed.

Context: Owing to the technological breakthrough in the worldwide productive systems, generated by the 4.0 revolution, it is compulsory to make sweeping changes to logistics both nationally and internationally to allow supply chains to enhance their performance and their response time. Hence, the concept of Logistics 4.0 was born. Although many developed countries have implemented the principles of Logistics 4.0, there is still a breach in its study and application worldwide. This article explores the challenges and tendencies in the implementation of Logistics 4.0. Method: Articles published from 2015 to 2021 in the databases of Scopus, Science Direct, Taylor and Francis and Google Scholar, were analyzed by a systematic literature review. The explored publications were found using the search terms: (("logistics 4.0") OR ("supply chain 4.0") OR ("industry 4.0" AND ("logistics" OR "supply chain"))) and ((“blockchain” OR “IoT” OR “Cyber Physical Systems” OR “Big Data”) AND “logistics”) in title, abstract and keywords. Results: It was proposed a conceptualization of Logistics 4.0 including definition, objectives, characteristics, and most representative technologies in its implementation. Likewise, the main challenges and trends that industries could face in the implementation of Logistics 4.0 within logistics systems, and supply chains were identified. Conclusions: Logistics 4.0 is a novelty term that has aroused the interest of researchers, governments, and companies worldwide, due to its promising benefits in reducing response times and increasing flexibility and collaboration in supply chains. However, the lack of a common framework for its study and adoption has hindered its integration in companies and supply chains, specially in those located in developing countries, which must face technical, social, economic, and legal barriers for the implementation of logistics 4.0.

This paper evaluates the incidence of packing asymmetries, resulted from the use of heterogeneous packaging materials by different mango supply chain actors in Colombia, on performance measures of inventory, transportation, and quality. A system dynamics model was proposed based on the literature review on inventory and transportation logistics, the studies on asymmetries in supply chain, packing, and packaging, and the results of the characterization of the fruit chain logistics in various departments of Colombia from 2012 to 2013. We used the proposed model to test the following hypothesis: “The asymmetry in the packaging, derived from the actors’ individual management, creates inefficiencies that may be avoid if the packaging of the fruit is done thinking on the chain”. The developed simulation model allowed us to prove the proposed dynamic hypothesis. Forrester’s model includes four echelons for the supply chain: production, processing, wholesale, and retail, as well as warehousing, transportation and information.