Virtual logistics

Virtual logistics or digital logistics planning is often used as a term in the digital factory environment and describes the software-supported planning of logistical processes and structures. The property of an object that it does not physically exist is generally referred to as virtual . The aim of virtual logistics is to map a complete logistics system in the form of digital models without these having to (already) exist physically. A (partial) automation of the logistics planning should take place through standardized methods and processes and a validation should take place.

Virtual logistics is an integrative component of the digital factory and is "[...] a strategy that maps the transport, handling and storage of logistical goods in their environment in an experimental model that is created using specific methods and tools analogous to the digital factory becomes."

The goal of virtual logistics

The task of virtual logistics is to plan the entire supply chain from the supplier to the place of delivery and all the necessary operational factors such as personnel, equipment, facilities and packaging on the basis of defined standards. In addition to process planning, virtual logistics planning is responsible for planning the layout of the workstations, the plant layout and the plant specifics based on the material flow analysis.

The objects of planning are:

• Supplier locations
• Incoming goods
• Storage locations
• Unloading points
• Empties spaces
• Load carrier contents and
• the determination of the load carrier turnover

Virtual logistics tasks that arise as part of logistics planning before the start of production

• the visualization of the product
• the bundling of the product in part families
• the creation of load carrier concepts in order to optimize the packing density
• the planning of standard times for activities
• the support of the planning in the determination of the suitable standard delivery (JIS / JIT / LLZ / etc.)
• the planning of the standard logistics processes and the material flow,
• the planning of the logistical infrastructure consisting of areas, road and path network, routes and floor conveyor technology
• the determination of the capacities of the logistic infrastructure
• the layout planning and visualization
• the optimization of the surface arrangement
• the optimization of space occupancy
• the parameterization of the standard logistics plans with the optimized logistics stations (physical locations)
• the forecast of logistics costs
• the validation of the driving behavior of the vehicles with the help of drag curve studies
• the validation of the planning with the help of a process simulation (dynamic behavior)
• the material and financial investment planning and
• the logistics and production-oriented product influencing.

In addition to optimizing the actual logistics planning, increasing efficiency is also achieved by anchoring the processes with other trades:

• Assembly / logistics integration when planning the assembly line, set or pre-assembly areas
• Logistics / shell construction integration in the planning of shell construction systems
• Logistics / purchasing integration in the creation of total cost statements

Without the possibilities of virtual logistics, the logistics costs are usually more top-down based on the actual costs of existing products. In this way, important levers in product design suitable for production are lost. Virtual logistics enables a bottom-up-oriented plan cost calculation based on factor consumption. The decisive advantage is that the costs are not estimated on the basis of past values, but are determined with the help of a parts-oriented (parts list), performance-related logistics planning for a new product to be manufactured. The logistics costs can be forecast in the planning phase and the logistics system can be optimized. At this point in time, changes still cause comparatively low costs. In order to be able to sustainably influence the logistics costs, this has to happen in parallel to the product development process in very early planning phases.

Individual evidence

1. ↑ See Heinrich, LJ; Roithmayr, F .: Wirtschaftsinformatiklexikon. 6th edition, Munich, Vienna 1998, p. 558
2. ↑ Jahn, C .; Richter, K .: Coupling of digital and real logistics systems - potentials and perspectives for planning and operation. In: Accompanying volume to the 9th Magdeburg logistics conference "Logistics from a technical and economic point of view", 20./21. November 2003, p. 266
3. ^ Based on Schneider, M., Otto, A .: Tactical logistics planning before start-of-production (SOP), in: Logistikmanagement 8 (2006) 2, p. 63
4. ↑ Cf. Schneider, M .: Virtual logistics in the automotive industry - software-supported planning of logistical processes and structures (part 2). in: ZWF 102 (2007) 3, p. 168