Riccardo Manzini is Associate Professor of Logistics for the Department of Industrial and Mechanical Engineering at University of Bologna, Italy. Professor of Reliability & Maintenance at University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Italy. His academic research deals with planning, design, optimization and control of production systems (both industrial and service systems) with particular reference to logistics systems, storage systems, supply chain and distribution networks,reliability modelling and maintenance system management. Author of many scientific and technical papers and contributions on logistics, maintenance and reliability engineering, production systems design and optimization. He is the first author of the book: Manzini R., Regattieri A., Pham H., Ferrari E. (2010) Maintenance for Industrial Systems. London: Springer London Ltd., 978-1-84882-574-1.He is the originator and chairman of the International Workshop on Food Supply Chain (www.foodsupplychain.diem.unibo.it). He has carried out several research projects in co-operation with - and funded by - private and public companies on logistics, industrial plants and maintenance problems. He is a referee of several international ISI journals for Springer, Elsevier, Taylor & Francis, etc.