Logistic assistance system

A logistical assistance system (LAS), (English: decision support systems), is a computer-aided aid to support problem-solving processes in the logistical environment of experts and to integrate people's knowledge about logistical processes and relationships in a system. Logistical assistance systems are not intended to relieve the experts of the decisions, rather they are intended to support experts in the decision-making process by providing suitable assistance. Logistic assistance systems contain functions and operating procedures that are tailored to a specific task and present the user with transparent, understandable and assessable information. Logistic assistance systems are implemented in a variety of ways in the corporate environment. Since there is still no uniform standard for the structure of logistical assistance systems, the approach of a development model is used below to outline the core components and functions.

Development model of a logistic assistance system

For a uniform development model for logistics assistance systems, it is necessary to describe the function of the information and method base, the delimitation within the human-machine interface and the areas of application of assistance systems.

Information and method base

The information and method base is part of a coordination system and consists of the depicted reality in a model system. For this purpose, the section designated as relevant is mapped in a model from reality. This manipulable model is the basis for the disruption-related decision-making process, which has an informal feedback on the production system and thus on reality. The method base for the assistance systems consists of a manipulable representation of reality, a system load model, a knowledge base, a control model, a task model, a process model and an influence model.

Man-machine interface

The definition of the human-machine interface can be defined analogously to the degree of division of labor between human and machine (iS degrees of automations). The work to be done is as follows:

Generation and processing (including filtering) of information: This includes the analysis and integration of the data in order to support the human operator in his limited cognitive and perceptual abilities. The process goes beyond the registration of input data in terms of acquisition automation.
Generation of alternatives: This process describes the transformation of data into decision alternatives. Several decision alternatives are generated here, from which the person can choose one or more.
Evaluation of alternatives: The decision for a certain alternative can be supported by an assistance system in that it evaluates all possible alternatives. This evaluation is based on criteria that the person has previously determined.
Choosing Alternatives: In this process, an alternative is chosen; H. the decision is made.
Monitoring the execution of the decision: With this type of decision support, the decision made is monitored with regard to compliance with previously defined target criteria.
Control of decision execution: Controlling decision execution processes goes beyond the feedback process. The assistance system not only includes reactions in which the person is asked to complete tasks that require the implementation of the decision made by him, but is also aimed at checking the selected decision and recommending its revision. This recommendation can go so far that the human intended decision cannot be carried out.

Areas of application

The area of application can be divided into three sub-areas:

Strategic Network Design: This includes tasks of site planning, the design of transport networks and the layout planning of storage and production sites.
Tactical planning (supply chain planning): This includes tasks of sales planning, production planning, distribution and transport planning, and procurement planning.
Operational control (supply chain execution): This includes tasks of order processing, transport monitoring (tracking and tracing) and container management.

These three sub-areas can be applied to the three basic levels of logistical action by supporting systems, locations or networks with an assistance system. These can in turn be applied to three sub-processes of operational service provision in a company: procurement (logistics) and distribution (logistics) as well as production (logistics).

Logistical assistance systems can not only be used in these classic company areas: (simulation-based) logistical assistance systems also show their benefits in major projects such as extensive construction projects or the preparation of the Olympic Games.

Research and Development

The challenge of a logistic assistance system lies in the status recognition, the support of the decision-making as well as the implementation in the form of a balancing of the z. Partly contradicting objectives of a production system to achieve high logistics performance and low logistics costs. New objectives of logistics assistance systems concern ecological issues, methods of risk avoidance and the linking of internal ( intralogistics ) and cross-company ( supply chain management ) issues. In addition, the topic of Industry 4.0 is gaining in importance and opens up new perspectives and degrees of freedom in the context of logistic assistance systems.

Research projects from the logistics environment, which include the further development of logistics assistance systems. a. the following:

InKoRISK - Integrated scheduling and transport planning supported by collaborative risk management in the automotive industry: Development of a logistical assistance system to reduce inventory risks at transshipment points
E²Log - energy efficiency in logistics and production: Integration of an ecological evaluation into the logistic assistance system ECO2LAS, which was awarded the elogistics award 2011
SCE - Supply Chain Execution: Resource-saving and efficient allocation of wooden boards to orders in the furniture industry
VILOMA - Visual Logistics Management: Intuitive processing of information from several logistics partners to support the planning and control of processes in the supply chain

literature

A. Kuhn, B. Hellingrath, H. Hinrichs: Logistic assistance systems . Huss-Verlag, Munich 2008.
M. Minor: Experience management with case-based assistance systems . Dissertation from the Humboldt University in Berlin 2006.
AP. Sage: Decision Support Systems Engineering (Series in Systems Engineering) . Wiley, New York 1991, p. 344.
E. Turban: Decision Support and Expert Systems: Management Support Systems. 4th Ed. Prentice-Hall, Englewood Cliffs NJ 1995, p. 887.

Web links

Individual evidence

↑ Bernd Hellingrath, Axel Kuhn: Supply Chain Management. Optimized collaboration in the value chain. Springer-Verlag, Berlin 2002, p. 142 ff.
↑ Axel Wagenitz, Jan Cirullies, Christian Schwede, Ulrike Beißert: Concept of a simulation-based assistance system for risk protection in large projects. Using the example of large-scale plant engineering and the construction industry. In: Wilhelm Dangelmaier, Christoph Laroque, Alexander Klaas (eds.): Decision support from planning to control. 15th ASIM Conference Simulation in Production and Logistics. Paderborn, 9. – 11. October 2013: HNI publishing series, pp. 491–503.
↑ Katja Klingebiel, Yuriy Gavrylenko, Axel Wagenitz: Adoption of simulation techniques for mastering logistic complexity of major construction and engineering projects. In: A. Bargiela (Ed.): 24th European Conference on Modeling and Simulation, ECMS 2010. Proceedings, June 1st - 4th 2010, Kuala Lumpur 2010, pp. 491-503.
↑ AKJ Automotive: Presentation of the elogistics award 2011 as part of the annual AKJ Automotive congress in Saarbrücken. Press release. Saarbrücken, March 23, 2011.
↑ Josef Kamphues, Sven Groß, Benjamin Korth, Markus Zajac, Tobias Hegmanns: Service-oriented reference architecture for logistic assistance systems for simulation-based decision support. In: Wilhelm Dangelmaier: Simulation in Production and Logistics 2013, 09. – 11. October 2013, HNI, Paderborn 2013, pp. 145–155.
↑ Viloma Consortium: goals Viloma. (No longer available online.) Archived from the original on October 23, 2017 ; accessed on October 23, 2017 (German). Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. @1@ 2

[Teilgebiete-1] Bernd Hellingrath, Axel Kuhn: Supply Chain Management. Optimized collaboration in the value chain. Springer-Verlag, Berlin 2002, p. 142 ff.

[Großprojekte-2] Axel Wagenitz, Jan Cirullies, Christian Schwede, Ulrike Beißert: Concept of a simulation-based assistance system for risk protection in large projects. Using the example of large-scale plant engineering and the construction industry. In: Wilhelm Dangelmaier, Christoph Laroque, Alexander Klaas (eds.): Decision support from planning to control. 15th ASIM Conference Simulation in Production and Logistics. Paderborn, 9. – 11. October 2013: HNI publishing series, pp. 491–503.

[Olympic_Winter_Games-3] Katja Klingebiel, Yuriy Gavrylenko, Axel Wagenitz: Adoption of simulation techniques for mastering logistic complexity of major construction and engineering projects. In: A. Bargiela (Ed.): 24th European Conference on Modeling and Simulation, ECMS 2010. Proceedings, June 1st - 4th 2010, Kuala Lumpur 2010, pp. 491-503.

[ECO2LAS-4] AKJ Automotive: Presentation of the elogistics award 2011 as part of the annual AKJ Automotive congress in Saarbrücken. Press release. Saarbrücken, March 23, 2011.

[SCE-5] Josef Kamphues, Sven Groß, Benjamin Korth, Markus Zajac, Tobias Hegmanns: Service-oriented reference architecture for logistic assistance systems for simulation-based decision support. In: Wilhelm Dangelmaier: Simulation in Production and Logistics 2013, 09. – 11. October 2013, HNI, Paderborn 2013, pp. 145–155.

[6] Viloma Consortium: goals Viloma. (No longer available online.) Archived from the original on October 23, 2017 ; accessed on October 23, 2017 (German). Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. @1@ 2