Johannes Fottner

Prof. Dr.-Ing. Johannes Fottner is a full professor of Technical Logistics at the Technical University of Munich (TUM), affiliated with both the TUM School of Engineering and Design and the TUM School of Management. He holds a doctorate in mechanical engineering from TUM (2002) and has extensive industry experience, including leadership roles at Swisslog Group (2002–2008) and MIAS Group (2008–2016). His academic work focuses on material flow optimization, RFID technology integration, and practical applications for SMEs. He leads the Logistics Innovation Center (liz) and RFID Application Center Munich (RFID-AZM) at TUM.

Research interests include:

• Control and optimization of material flow processes using RFID
• Logistics planning with digital tools
• Human factors in logistics automation
• Sustainable logistics systems and circular economy
• AI-driven decision-making in supply chains

His articles emphasize cutting-edge topics like AI integration in healthcare logistics, digital twins for long-lasting systems, and AMR communication protocols. Awards include the 2003 Rudolf Schmidt-Burkhardt Memorial Prize. He actively bridges academic research with industrial practice, particularly in SME contexts. Current projects explore self-optimizing supply chains and predictive analytics for logistics KPIs.

Key contributions also include:

• Development of modular warehouse allocation algorithms
• Standardization of screw conveyor designs across global industries
• Advocacy for system-level thinking in construction automation

Led TUM's 2024 Fachtagung Schüttgutfördertechnik conference and collaborates internationally on robotics in construction and recycling. Active in professional societies like VDI, serving as deputy chairman of its Production and Logistics Society.