Mitigation of human error consequences in general cargo handler logistics: Impact of RFID implementation

The paper addresses the quality issues concerning the logistic processes carried out by air cargo handlers and proposes a methodology that allows assessing the performances resulting from different RFID implementation set-ups within an air cargo handler’s warehouse. The performances have been assessed in terms of benefits related to the informatization, i.e. the timely put in place of rework and mitigation measures in the case of human error detection, in order to reduce the severity of the mistakes’ consequences. This problem has been faced by means of a risk analysis. A simulator has been calibrated and validated with the support of expert operators in the field of air cargo logistics. Probabilistic Risk Assessment allowed us to solve the forecasting problem connected to human activities with hazardous characteristics. We applied the proposed method to a real case of study and it allowed us quantifying an average monetary loss for the current scenario (without any RFID implementation) close to the one currently experienced by the air cargo handling company. In the case of different RFID implementation set-ups (intermediate and full), the assessed values are coherent with the company’s operator expectations. In particular, we observed a big improvement for the intermediate RFID implementation set-up, whereas a full RFID set-up seems not worth to be implemented in accordance with the company’s managers’ anticipations.