Necessity of applying new technologies in Logistics

Source: Internet
Author: User
   
  Logistics is a hot topic at present. Whether in the transformation of existing enterprises or in emerging industries, logistics management has become a way to improve efficiency and reduce costs. The importance of logistics was actually known two thousand years ago, but in the past it was called a logistics supply problem or a grain supply problem. This problem was once one of the core factors affecting the success or failure of the ancient war. The importance of logistics has never been reduced since ancient times. Why has IT become such a hot topic in recent years? The main reason is the rise of IT technologies. People have a new understanding of logistics and discovered that after applying new IT technologies, logistics has great potential for exploration, which can improve efficiency and reduce costs. Therefore, the logistics mentioned today refers to the logistics concept after the application of new technologies, which is quite different from the logistics concept in the past.

I. Re-understand the concept of logistics
Logistics Management is essentially a management of two parts of resources, one is static, that is, the management of the warehousing process, and the other is dynamic, that is, the management of the transportation process (distribution process. These two parts cannot really improve the efficiency of the logistics process, and the effective use of these two resources is the core of logistics management, which is also the necessity of applying new technologies to reshape the logistics process.
Logistics Management is not the same as enterprise management. It is in an open environment, that is, a cross-enterprise management process, but also in a rapidly changing and competitive market environment, many enterprises have put the focus on efficiency improvement in supply chain management (logistics process ).
The concept of logistics in the past is centered on the enterprise itself. The model is as follows:

The review of logistics capability is carried out through the distribution of warehouses and the transportation capability of the fleet. The resource usage efficiency is related to the management capability of the enterprise. A large part of the cost of the product is used in the logistics process. In the competitive and fast-changing market, it is difficult to adjust the layout of logistics and the cost of logistics.
The development of IT technology, especially the development of Internet networks, has led to a revolution in logistics management, which can reshape the concept of modern logistics. The model is as follows:

The core of modern logistics is the information network. The evaluation of logistics capabilities is carried out by using the efficiency of warehousing and transportation resources. The information network is the center. Storage resources can be rented or directly constructed, and transportation resources can be contracted or established. how to configure resources is determined based on efficiency and ease of management, modern logistics is more efficient and easier to control costs.
It is the revolution of modern logistics concepts that has produced service enterprises known as third-party logistics (3PL), which are more professional and more efficient. In the concept of modern logistics, its efficiency is the core factor, which is the necessity of information network construction. Storage resources are the time and quantity deviation between the buffer supply and demand, while the reasonable allocation of transport resources is to achieve real-time supply. The application of new technologies in modern logistics can truly improve the efficiency of the logistics process, rather than building more and more warehouses or building more fleets.

Ii. Relationship between physical objects and information
Modern logistics is centered on information networks, but the descriptions of Physical flows must be effectively reflected in the information exchange process, and the matching relationship between information and physical objects can be achieved, this is the necessity of adopting AIDC (automatic identification and Data Collection Technology) technology. In logistics operations, the main use of AIDC Technology in the two parts, bar code identification technology and wireless label (RF-ID) technology. Due to the low cost of bar code technology, the current use of bar code, with the development of RF-ID technology, continuously reduce the cost of RF-ID, the use of RF-ID technology manufacturers will be more and more.
The main problem solved by the automatic identification technology (AIDC) is the matching relationship between physical objects and information, so that the physical transportation and warehousing processes can be instantly reflected in the information network environment, this allows the operator to quickly understand the entire logistics process, especially in transit, and improve the operational efficiency of the logistics process and the accuracy of the cargo quantity.
The Relationship Model between physical objects and information is as follows:

In each exchange point in the logistics process, the document information and the bar code information in the physical flow are checked for consistency to ensure that the quantity and time are exactly the same as the requirements, in this way, the physical identifier in the information network can fully describe the entire logistics process.
In practice, each cargo or cargo carrying container is assigned a identification number (ID), that is, the name of the goods in the information network, through the bar code (or RF-ID) technology, map goods to the information network. In the process of logistics management, in order to improve efficiency, it is often because the document information arrives before the physical object. Therefore, the automatic identification technology (AIDC) must be used to ensure that the information can accurately express the physical object flow process in real time.

3. Applying mobile computing technology to transform Logistics Operations
The most important thing in modern logistics is to solve the problems of cost reduction and efficiency improvement. The application of information technology can achieve effective logistics management.
There are two main processes in the modern logistics process: warehouse process management and distribution and collection process management.
To improve the efficiency of warehouse process management, the quantity of goods must be accurate, and the warehouse volume must be effectively used to reduce costs. The core of the distribution and collection process management is to control the time advances, effectively handle various events in the process, quickly respond to customer requirements, and meet customer satisfaction requirements. Reasonable and effective scheduling is very important for the management of distribution and collection processes.
The information system of modern logistics management is generally called the logistic Execution System les to complete the logistics automation process. It consists of three parts. The cross-enterprise document flow processing system, warehouse operating system, and distribution execution system are usually based on the Internet network and complete information exchange and data collection based on the Internet. The model is as follows:

Mobile Computing mainly includes wireless networks and handheld terminals, which must be applied in logistics information systems.
Logistics is the management of goods in the Process of flow. To ensure the real-time supply of goods, real-time data must be recorded to shorten the time difference between information and physical objects, and truly reflect the circulation process of goods. Therefore, it is not enough to use a fixed desktop computer. Mobile handheld devices must be used to track goods. The logistics process mainly involves collecting information on the job site, which is the necessity of mobile computing applications.
The logistics information system or the logistics Execution System (LES), except the document stream processing system is a fixed desktop computer, the other two parts need to use mobile computing technology. The warehouse operating system usually uses wireless LAN and wireless handheld terminals to collect job information.
Distribution execution systems usually use quasi-real-time batch processing handheld terminals, or wireless handheld terminals (such as cdpd, GSM, or GPRS) in wireless WAN ). The new technology used by mobile computing to transform modern logistics can improve the efficiency of logistics operation management.

Summary:
-- Modern Logistics can improve efficiency and reduce costs only when new information technologies are applied.
-- The core of modern logistics is information networks rather than physical facilities.
-- Completes the matching relationship between physical objects and information, and relies on automatic identification and data collection (AIDC) Technology
-- To achieve modern logistics management, Mobile Computing technology must be applied

 

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