# Synchromodal Supply Chains for Fast-Moving Consumer Goods
## 2 Literature Review
### Strategic Tradeoffs in a Synchromodal Supply Chain  
Even though synchromodality is an emerging concept, several research projects have already demonstrated how supply chain objectives can be achieved by avoiding empty capacity, reacting to disruptions, and reducing transportation by trucks in favor of slower modes [11]. For example, [PERSON] et al. studied the effects of disturbances on the operational planning of container transportation in a synchromodal network. The developed linear model optimizes the transportation flow and involves container consolidation. Additionally, the authors proposed to measure the severity of a disturbance as the additional cost incurred by updated planning [35]. [PERSON] and [PERSON] presented an approximate dynamic programming model for selecting freights in intermodal long-haul round trips. The approach was tested based on data from a Dutch logistic service provider [36]. [PERSON] et al. proposed a model based on a predictive flow control approach. In this study, the authors aimed to model cooperation among stakeholders, which is important within the framework of synchromodality. The model considered flow optimization as well as consolidation in multiple interconnected subnetworks [37]. [PERSON] et al. studied the location of consolidation centers in China to improve the internal and China-Europe rail transport efficiency. First, the authors established criteria to preselect some candidates and used the information about railways, highways, and national roads to build a graph-based model. Then, they used a K-shell method to evaluate the importance of each node and a MILP model to find the best location [38]. [PERSON] et al. proposed parallel optimization between transport and storage, highlighting the importance of considering the synchronization of operations across different levels. The authors used a case study to show how the proposed approach could increase the utilization of rail transport, resulting in a reduction of emissions and total cost savings. The total cost equation included transportation and inventory but did not consider the cost associated with facilities' operations [16]. [PERSON] et al. developed a MILP model to plan hinterland freight transportation. The model allowed mode switch from truck to barge and could improve coordination by rescheduling the shipment flows [39]. In a recently published study, [PERSON] et al. considered a global synchromodal transport network. The authors proposed a hybrid stochastic approach to match shipments. The performance of the developed approach was evaluated in a numeric experiment with synthetic data [40]. \begin{table}
\begin{tabular}{c c} \hline \hline
**Advantages and Value of Synchromodality** & **Reference** \\ \hline A flexible, efficient, and sustainable transportation strategy & [28] \\ An efficient, sustainable, and reliable transportation network & [29] \\ Alternatives and options for flexibility and responsiveness & [30] \\ Real-time design and coordination of value chains in the transportation system & [31] \\ Flexibility in changing different modes, emission reduction & [32] \\ Efficient transportation service based on real-time information & [17] \\ Cost and emission reduction without sacrificing the service level & [33] \\ Efficient, reliable, flexible, and sustainable services & [11] \\ Dynamic mode adaptation based on real-time information & [2] \\ Carbon footprint reduction and increased efficiency & [34] \\ \hline \hline \end{tabular}
\end{table} 
Table 2: Advantages of synchromodality and potential value it can bring. Synchronodality requires treating supply chains in an integrated and flexible way. Therefore, it is crucial for a framework and the underlying model to incorporate strategic decisions that affect total cost and supply chain performance. Table 3 classifies the related work based on the strategic decisions allowed by a model.