Fraunhofer Institute for Material Flow and Logistics (IML)
The Fraunhofer Institute for Material Flow and Logistics (IML), founded in 1981, addresses current logistics issues of high economic, ecological and social relevance. The institute, based in Dortmund, has made a name for itself in Germany as a leading authority in holistically oriented logistics research. With a market volume of 223 billion euros and 2.8 million employees, logistics is the third strongest economic sector in Germany. Efficient logistics networks ensure economic growth and participation in international economic processes.
The Fraunhofer Institute for Material Flow and Logistics offers extensive research and development infrastructure
The institute maintains an extensive research and development infrastructure on site, such as the LivingLab Cellular Transport Systems or the Innovation Laboratory ‘Hybrid Services in Logistics’. The Fraunhofer IML pushes the digitalization of logistics together with industry in numerous research and innovation projects as well as in the new Enterprise Labs – think tanks of applied logistics research.
The Fraunhofer IML’s members are Prof. Michael ten Hompel (Managing Director, Department of Material Flow Systems), Prof. Uwe Clausen (Department of Logistics, Transport and Environment) and Prof. Michael Henke (Department of Corporate Logistics). 260 scientists as well as 250 doctoral candidates and students, supported by employees in workshops, laboratories and service areas, work at the institute in all fields of internal and external logistics.
Fraunhofer Institute for Material Flow and Logistics (IML)
What is a Warehouse Management System / WMS?
A Warehouse Management System (WMS) is an indispensable software for the control and administration…
TUP.SML ensures smooth intralogistics processes for Lusini
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What is warehousing? Overview and definition
In German, the English term “warehousing” is increasingly being used, which is in it…
PPE in logistics – protective and safety gloves
The logistics industry in Germany is the third largest economic sector after the automotive…
AutoStore: Storage technology from Norway
AutoStore is a Norwegian storage technology and, according to the company of the same name, is…
Advance Shipping Notice
An Advance Shipping Notice (ASN), also advice note or avis, is a piece of preliminary information…
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) in the Warehouse and in Intralogistics
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Industrial trucks – definition, function and variants
Industrial trucks, also known as ground conveyors or floor conveyors, are vehicles used to…
Definition and overview for the use of digital twins in logistics
A digital twin is the image of a real object or process in virtual/digital space. In this type of…
A new location and a cross-site software package for Canyon
TUP implemented two large-scale projects for the bicycle manufacturer Canyon. In a short time, a…
Breuninger combines six locations in a state-of-the-art multi-channel warehouse
Branch store delivery and direct customer delivery have their very own requirements. This duality…
Overview of LogiMAT – Trade Fair for Material Flow and Distribution
Logimat is a trade fair for the fields of material flow, information technology and distribution.…
Advantages and definition of the transhipment type cross docking
There are various handling methods for inventory in the shipping area. One of these handling…
Definition of replenishment in transport and intralogistics
Replenishment is a fundamentally important process in today's enterprise resource planning. With…
Microfulfillment – definition and overview
Microfulfillment describes the decentralized and also customer-oriented execution of processes such…
Overview of VDA 5050 – the VDA communication interface for AGVs
VDA 5050 is the definition of a communication interface for Driverless Transport Systems. Currently…
Overview of VDA 5050 – the VDA communication interface for AGVs
VDA 5050 is the definition of a communication interface for Driverless Transport Systems. Currently…
Regulations and labeling for the transport of dangerous goods by truck
Around the world, hazardous goods are transported every day. For Germany alone, the total volume…
The factor Light in warehouse and logistics
The illumination of distribution centers is a rather rarely addressed aspect of warehousing. The…
What is an item number? Development, areas of application and definition
An item number is used to differentiate, categorize and uniquely identify retail items. It is…
Overview and definition of the identification technology barcode
Coded information can be stored in many different ways. In addition to mechanical, magnetic and…
Definition and overview of the logistic process shipping and the common shipping types
What is included in the business process of shipping?The transport of goods from a company’s…
Overview of the term logistics – definitions, specializations and job descriptions
Table of contents Introduction Logistics definition and the 6 R Areas in logistics Processes in…
Definition of the software principle ‘clean architecture’
Clean architecture' is an IT application implementation style. At the heart of clean architecture…
Definition and advantages of context-aware frontend architecture
Reasons for context-aware frontend architecture User interfaces must meet more and more diverse…
Definition – tugger train and tugger train systems
Tugger trains are means of transport that are used in intralogistics processes, primarily in…
What is Business Intelligence – structure, requirements, advantages and disadvantages
Business Intelligence - Definition Traditionally, Business Intelligence (BI) is a collective term…
What is a Warehouse Management System / WMS?
A Warehouse Management System (WMS) is an indispensable software for the control and administration…
TUP.SML ensures smooth intralogistics processes for Lusini
The Lusini Group is one of the leading hotel and catering suppliers in the non-food sector in…
What is warehousing? Overview and definition
In German, the English term “warehousing” is increasingly being used, which is in it…
PPE in logistics – protective and safety gloves
The logistics industry in Germany is the third largest economic sector after the automotive…
AutoStore: Storage technology from Norway
AutoStore is a Norwegian storage technology and, according to the company of the same name, is…
Advance Shipping Notice
An Advance Shipping Notice (ASN), also advice note or avis, is a piece of preliminary information…
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) in the Warehouse and in Intralogistics
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Industrial trucks – definition, function and variants
Industrial trucks, also known as ground conveyors or floor conveyors, are vehicles used to…
Definition and overview for the use of digital twins in logistics
A digital twin is the image of a real object or process in virtual/digital space. In this type of…
A new location and a cross-site software package for Canyon
TUP implemented two large-scale projects for the bicycle manufacturer Canyon. In a short time, a…
Breuninger combines six locations in a state-of-the-art multi-channel warehouse
Branch store delivery and direct customer delivery have their very own requirements. This duality…
Overview of LogiMAT – Trade Fair for Material Flow and Distribution
Logimat is a trade fair for the fields of material flow, information technology and distribution.…
Advantages and definition of the transhipment type cross docking
There are various handling methods for inventory in the shipping area. One of these handling…
Definition of replenishment in transport and intralogistics
Replenishment is a fundamentally important process in today's enterprise resource planning. With…
Microfulfillment – definition and overview
Microfulfillment describes the decentralized and also customer-oriented execution of processes such…
Overview of VDA 5050 – the VDA communication interface for AGVs
VDA 5050 is the definition of a communication interface for Driverless Transport Systems. Currently…
Overview of VDA 5050 – the VDA communication interface for AGVs
VDA 5050 is the definition of a communication interface for Driverless Transport Systems. Currently…
Regulations and labeling for the transport of dangerous goods by truck
Around the world, hazardous goods are transported every day. For Germany alone, the total volume…
The factor Light in warehouse and logistics
The illumination of distribution centers is a rather rarely addressed aspect of warehousing. The…
What is an item number? Development, areas of application and definition
An item number is used to differentiate, categorize and uniquely identify retail items. It is…
Overview and definition of the identification technology barcode
Coded information can be stored in many different ways. In addition to mechanical, magnetic and…
Definition and overview of the logistic process shipping and the common shipping types
What is included in the business process of shipping?The transport of goods from a company’s…
Overview of the term logistics – definitions, specializations and job descriptions
Table of contents Introduction Logistics definition and the 6 R Areas in logistics Processes in…
Definition of the software principle ‘clean architecture’
Clean architecture' is an IT application implementation style. At the heart of clean architecture…
Definition and advantages of context-aware frontend architecture
Reasons for context-aware frontend architecture User interfaces must meet more and more diverse…
Definition – tugger train and tugger train systems
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What is Business Intelligence – structure, requirements, advantages and disadvantages
Business Intelligence - Definition Traditionally, Business Intelligence (BI) is a collective term…
Key figures and key figure systems
Table of contents for easier navigation of the post: Key figures Functions of key figures…
Definition of business rules and fields of application of BRMS solutions
Business rules describe rules that are defined for automated processes or for processes whose…
Rack zones – Overview
A storage rack, both in intralogistics and retail, can be divided into different horizontal racking…
Single-stage picking – order-oriented, parallel picking
With parallel picking, an order is divided between different picking zones and processed…
Radio Frequency Identification (RFID)
Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) is a technology for the unambiguous and contact-free…
Turnover rate and Rotation of goods: Fast and slow movers
The inventory turnover, also known as the inventory turnover rate or inventory turnover…
Definition and overview of goods issue in intralogistics
Just as with goods receipt, goods issue is an interface between internal and external materials…
Goods Receipt in intralogistics – definition and overview
The design and scope of the goods receipt are relevant for the performance of a warehouse. If the…
Movement strategies within warehouse operations
The aim of utilising movement strategies is to adhere to specified guidelines in warehouse…
Putaway processes in logistics
In the putaway business process, articles are picked up, transported and stored in the warehouse.…
Allocation strategies for warehouse and picking systems/warehouse operation strategies
In a company, it is vital to set goals before developing strategies and to monitor their…
Adaptive IT in intralogistics as a tool for digital transformation
Adaptive IT describes a modular system for modelling software. Individual software components can…
Storage techniques in intralogistics
Depending on the nature of the stored goods and the frequency of use, different storage techniques…
Swarm intelligence – What we logisticians can learn from ants – Part II
You may think estimating the weight of an ox, as described in Part 1 of this article, is hardly a…
When risk minimization becomes a risk in logistics
Logistical decisions are ultimately economic decisions. This applies, for example, to major…
Cloud computing: IT infrastructures and logistics
Cloud computing describes the provision of IT infrastructure. These can consist of servers,…
The Internet of Things (IoT) and intralogistics
The Internet of Things (IoT) describes the networking of physical objects (fitness bracelets, smart…
Point of sale / stationary trade – definition
Point of sale / stationary trade - a definition: The point of sale (PoS) is the place where the…
SAIL – the system architecture for intralogistics from VDI / VDMA
"Innovation and Standardization" is the title of a working group of the Intralogistics Forum of the…
Production, dispatch and intralogistics: the rush order
A rush order is an order - in production, shipping or in intralogistics - which for various reasons…
Enterprise Resource Planning – the five most important questions when choosing an ERP system
An Enterprise Resource Planning System (ERP for short) is used in many different sized companies.…
The packaging logistics
Packaging logistics is a sub-area of logistics; it is a link between production and distribution.…
Two-dimensional codes: stacked codes, matrix codes, QR code, DataMatrix code
The one-dimensional bar code is commonly used to label goods and services. However, since the data…
Advantages and disadvantages: centralized and decentralized warehouse
In distribution logistics, the determination of warehouse locations represents a strategic…
Artificial intelligence (AI) and logistics
Artificial Intelligence (AI) can be defined as intelligence that originates exclusively from…
Artificial intelligence (AI) and logistics
Artificial intelligence (AI) can be defined as intelligence that emanates exclusively from machines…
Out-of-Stock – the gap in the shelf
Out-of-stock typically refers to a shelf space in the stationary retail trade which no longer…
The production cycle
In a broader sense, a production cycle is the production process that begins with the raw materials…
Inventory in companies and in logistics
In the inventory, the assets of a company are determined on a key date; in this way, assets and…
Insulated packaging: Maintaining the cold chain in the supply chain
Insulated packaging is used for products that are sensitive to temperature or environmental…
Uses of Blockchain technology in logistics / intralogistics
Blockchain is an enabling technology. Just like the Internet, it harbors technological properties…
Storage maintenance costs – warehousing costs or storage costs
Trading companies and manufacturing companies usually have a warehouse or distribution centre. Raw…
The Jidoka principle in production and logistics
The Jidoka principle describes the ability of a machine, a plant or an entire system to switch…
Point of sale systems, warehouse management and branch logistics
A cash register system, also known as a POS system, is software that documents a specific financial…
Set-up time in production and intralogistics
If a machine or a production site, i.e. individual facilities or entire production lines, is set up…
The range of storage
The range of storage is a key figure which expresses the internal security of supply by own stocks…
Cyber-physical systems and logistics
Cyber-physical systems, or CPS for short, are system units or components that are linked together…
Logistics management and the supply chain
The integrated planning, organization, management, processing and control of the entire flow of…
Vogel’s approximation method
The approximation method according to Vogel is a heuristic procedure that is mainly used in…
The screw conveyor / spiral conveyor for bulk material
Transport systems are needed in warehouses to transport goods. For this purpose, there are various…
Opportunity costs in logistics
Opportunity costs, also known as alternative costs or foregone costs, express a foregone benefit in…
CPFR – Collaborative Planning, Forecasting and Replenishment
CPFR stands for Collaborative Planning, Forecasting and Replenishment and is a further development…
Networked Production: Computer-integrated Manufacturing
Computer-integrated manufacturing, or CIM for short, stands for computer-controlled machine and…
At a glance: the enterprise resource planning system
An enterprise resource planning system is a software that ensures a smooth flow of commercial…
The picking time in intralogistics
The picking process itself and the associated picking time are usually a conglomerate of personnel-…
Picking method Pick-by-robot
The picking type Pick-by-Robot means the picking of goods, carried out by so-called…
Multicopter: Drones as parcel carriers of the future
Goods delivery by automated or even autonomous drones? What we know at best as a vision from…
Picking type Pick-by-Scan (also Pick-by-PDT)
The picking method Pick-by-Scan is a paperless picking process that is supported by a portable data…
Human-machine interfaces in the industry
The human-machine interface represents the analog or digital interaction interface between a…
Kanban and swarm intelligence at management level
In manufacturing and industry, a supply concept called Kanban(Japanese for card or sign), invented…
The picking method Pick-by-Vision
Pick-by-Vision is a picking process in which a picker uses data glasses and context-related…
Product Lifecycle Management (PLM)
The term Product Lifecycle Management, PLM for short, describes a holistic approach to pooling…
The control center in intralogistics
The control panel in intralogistics represents a central point of a warehouse management system and…
Augmented Reality in logistics and service
Augmented Reality (AR) describes the computer-aided extension of human perception of reality. From…
Exoskeletons in logistics and production
Exoskeletons, also known as outer skeletons or support robots, are support structures worn on the…
Smart Data
Smart Data stands for the detailed and structured result of an analysis of unstructured data masses…
The Supply Chain Management (SCM)
Supply chain management (SCM) stands for the monitoring process as well as the coordination and…
Logistics – Definition
The term logistics stands for the planning, control and monitoring of the material and immaterial…
Key figure system in intralogistics
Although a complete bundling of all key figures arising in warehouse and distribution systems is…
Effects of shipping options on loyalty to the online store
Buying on the Internet offers almost endless possibilities and shipping options. Whether books,…
Conveying aids in intralogistics
In intralogistics, conveying equipment is used to combine individual goods into larger load units.…
Order picking times – Dead time
Dead time is an unproductive but unavoidable so-called auxiliary time, which arises during picking…
The (hanging) bag sorter
The Pouch sorter / Bag sorter belongs to the category of logistic sorting and distribution systems.…
Order picking – process steps
Picking stands for the combination of predefined orders from a warehouse assortment. The process…
Advantages of RFID technology over barcodes
What advantages does RFID radio technology have over barcodes? This question has also been on the…
The picking travel time
The order-picking way time is the sum of the time required for picking a single order or batch;…
The storage location management
The storage location management ensures that a storage location is recorded or occupied in width,…
Perfect Order Fulfillment
The so-called Perfect Order Fulfillment stands for the perfect degree of fulfillment of the…
Overloading of trucks – dangers and fines
A wide variety of goods are transported on Germany's roads every day. According to the Federal…
The process-oriented warehouse planning
The process-oriented warehouse planning already takes into account in detail key positions relevant…
Last-mile logistics in e-commerce – challenges and solutions
Online commerce has shown considerable growth in the past decades. The B2C sector in particular…
Materials management in production and logistics
Materials management controls the material flow within a company as well as order-related material…
Lean management: the 5S-method
The 5S method originates from Japanese production and was first used by the car manufacturer…
The end of the 6 Rs of logistics? – Part 2
The classic logistics view is limited to the now famous 6 R's with regard to its tasks - as already…
The end of the 6 Rs of logistics? – Part 1
The tasks of logistics and the logistician are memorably explained with the famous 6 Rs. The 6 Rs…
Overview of two-stage picking
In contrast to single-stage picking, with two-stage picking several orders are bundled into one…
Swarm intelligence – What we logisticians can learn from ants – Part I
Surely you use a navigation system. So then you are already relying on the performance of ants and…
Optimization through process chain management
Process chain management serves to organize business processes in intralogistics and other…
Distributed Order Management
Distributed Order Management basically the consideration of all companies involved in an order as…
Vertical integration in the retail sector
Vertical integration stands for retail companies that exert influence over various stages of the…
Inventory costs
Inventory costs are costs that arise from the movement of product goods in the warehouse or…
No-Line Commerce
No-line commerce represents the highest level of development in e-commerce at present. All…
Functions of the warehouse
When considering the functions of a warehouse, the purpose of the warehouse arrangement is in the…
Definition – Omni-Channel
Omni-Channel focuses on the further development of multi and cross-channel distribution paths in…
Inventory management in intralogistics, incl. stock and stock reconciliation
Inventory management stands for the complete digital recording of all stock movements in…
Definition – Cross-Channel
Cross-Channel enables a cross-distribution channel purchasing process in which customers combine…
Definition – Multi-Channel
Multi-Channel describes the possibility to offer commerce (B2B and B2C) on several distribution…
Ergonomics in the warehouse
Ergonomics in the warehouse aims at the adaptation and creation of workstations which, taking into…
Reverse logistics
While logistics represents the production route to the customer, reverse logistics, also known as…
E-Commerce: the online marketplace
E-commerce, or electronic commerce, is the term for electronic commerce on the Internet. The…
Specifications and requirement documents in intralogistics
The specification sheet generally contains the project requirements predefined and described in…
CMR: the consignment note
The term CMR comes from the French, Convention relative au Contrat de transport international de…
What can logistics accomplish?
In recent decades, the term "logistics" has developed into a general term. This is a good thing.…
Stock Keeping Unit (SKU)
The acronym SKU, Stock Keeping Unit, describes a clearly identifiable storage unit. A storage unit…
Picking times – base time
In picking, the base time is the time required for picking. It only describes organisational…
What is the logic behind supply chain management?
At the center of managementis the individual as an acting being, as homo agens. In supply chain…
Material flow control as a service for a distribution center
Material flow control, also known as material flow computer or material flow control system (MFCS),…
Automated guided vehicles (AGVs)
From the technical committee of the VDI (Association of German Engineers), automated guided…
Cut-off time in intralogistics
In intralogistics, the cut-off time describes the time at which an order must leave the warehouse…
The Newsvendor Model in SCM
Many supply chain management (SCM) approaches can be explained using the Newsvendor Model (NVM).…
Function and advantages of the ant algorithm
The Ant Algorithm, also often called Ant Colony Optimization (ACO) in the literature, is an…
The cost of unused opportunities in supply chain management
No company can afford not to have the cost side under control. The figures from financial…
Ship to Line / the direct provision of goods
In the case of ship to line or direct provision of inventory, the supplier/manufacturer assembles…
Definition – The Milk Run Concept
The milk run concept is a method for optimizing inter-company procurement logistics, often used in…
The degree of utilisation/the capacity utilisation
The degree of capacity utilisation describes the proportion of the capacity used by…
Definition of Accounting / Bookkeeping
The term accounting describes the comprehensive recording, storage and analysis or evaluation of…
Buffer line
A buffer section is used to intercept jams within the material flow, to avoid bottlenecks and idle…
Information in intralogistics
Information describes the meaningful content of a message, which is of value for the recipient. The…
Returns processing
Returns handling describes several processes in the return of goodsordered - mostly - online. They…
Storage capacity/storage economy
Storage capacity is defined as the maximum number of loading units that a warehouse can hold. It…
Host system (ERP system)
The host system (usually an ERP system) is a central data processing system that can be accessed…
Definition of order processing in intralogistics
Order processing includes all formal processes such as order transmission, data processing and…
Heijunka lean method
The Japanese lean method Heijunka pushes a production where the production flow of the parts market…
Assortment width and assortment depth
The assortment available in a warehouse and in the retail trade is subdivided into the assortment…
Modularization of materials handling equipment – approach to a standardized system architecture
The current market development shows the following challenges: New component technologies require…
Lean Production
Lean Production describes a method with the goal to react quickly to outside influences on…
The distribution center
A distribution center is an interface in the form of a building complex that functions exclusively…
Order throughput time
When an order is received in a logistics centre, it passes through various processes until it is…
The barcode – EAN, GTIN and GS1 standard
Barcodes have successfully established themselves over other systems in recent years. The barcode…
The Bullwhip effect
The bullwhip effect describes coordination and communication problems in multi-stage supply chains…
Temperature-controlled logistics (environmental measurement)
The market for temperature-controlled logistics in particular has been growing in volume over the…
Overview and definition of ident carriers
In order to be able to identify an object without any doubt throughout the entire logistics chain,…
Production management
According to business economist Werner Kern, production management is an operational service…
Data Mart: the local warehouse database analysis
Data mart describes the use of a database that is only a department-specific part of the overall…
Overview – Serial Shipping Container Code (SSCC)
Each shipping unit, which can be a pallet or a carton, for example, is automatically assigned a…
Defintion and advantages of consignment
The term consignment refers to a form of delivery of goods in which the supplier acts as consignor…
FEM 9.831 Calculation basis for stacker cranes for high-bay warehouses
FEM 9.831 is a standard for the use of stacker cranes in high-bay warehouses. The standard…
Distance selling contract
A distance contract is a contract concluded between an entrepreneur and a consumer by means of…
Definition of Same Day Delivery
Same Day Delivery means that inventory is delivered on the same day it was ordered. Ordered today,…
Master data
In intralogistics, master data, also known as primary data or reference data, is data that contains…
VDI 3601 – Warehouse Management Systems
In Guideline 3601 - "Warehouse Management Systems", the Association of German Engineers (VDI)…
Batch formation in picking
Batch formation during picking, also known as batch picking or multi-order picking, is a form of…
Storage and retrieval machine
A storage and retrieval machine (SRM) is a storage device with which load units can be stored,…
The beginnings of logistics
Even before the invention of the wheel, materials were transported, handled and stored. Even then,…
Definition – Value chain
A value chain describes how value is created through a chain of activities and combined in…
Sorter (Packing) – Basics
After the picking business process, the product is passed on to the sorter (packing department).…
Lean Management
Lean management also has several sub-categories, such as lean thinking, lean production and lean…
Single-stage picking – basics
During picking, a certain quantity of articles is picked from an assortment and put together.…
Definition – Transshipment logistics
Goods handling is a function of intralogistics and takes place between the external goods flow and…
Picking – definition and picking methods
Picking stands for the assembly of goods and merchandise according to specified orders from an…
Overview of common manufacturing principles
Different principles can be applied in manufacturing. Some products are manufactured according to…
Push system and pull system in supply chains
Supply chain management refers to the value chain from the supplier to the end consumer. Depending…
Modernization: retrofit in intralogistics
Term retrofit refers to the modernization of machines and equipment. It includes the terms…
Material throughput time
The material throughput time is the time required to run through all business processes, for…
Time strategies: throughput and delivery time reduction
Besides the just-in-time and just-in-sequence methods, other time strategies can be used to ensure…
Mobile and stationary loading units
Loading units are collections of goods that are transported, transhipped or stored as they pass…
Potential analysis in intralogistics
A potential analysis is a comparison of company performance with the given expectations for said…
Performance analysis in logistics
A performance analysis examines various service points in logistics for their contribution to value…
Transport strategies: Overview
Transport strategies are used to execute existing transport orders. Transportation strategies can…
Continuous conveyor / discontinuous conveyor
Both the continuous conveyor and the discontinuous conveyor belong to the conveyor technology…
Overview of linear sorter systems
The linear sorter, or shoe sorter, is an automated sorting and distribution system on which the…
Electronic Product Code (EPC)
The electronic product code EPC is an international product identification. Each product can thus…
Decision making for discontinuous conveyors
In a transport system that does not convey continuously, the decision as to whether a transport…
Procurement logistics
Logistics encompasses all tasks for planning, controlling, providing and optimizing processes along…
Basic warehouse planning – actual state analysis and target concept
Once the target has been set, an actual state analysis including the identification of weak points…
Overview of “Last-in-First-out” and “First-in-First-out” storage strategies
LIFO (last-in-first-out) and FIFO (first-in-first-out) are two different strategies for storing and…
The Kaizen System
The Kaizen system is a Japanese management system that provides for a continuous improvement…
Kanban system
The Kanban system is a planning system for production control. the Kanban system is often split…
Definition – Automated Storage and Retrieval System
An "Automated Storage and Retrieval System" (short: AS/RS, sometimes also "Automated small parts…
Rack zones – bending zone
A rack can be divided into vertical zones based on the scale of an adult (average size of 1.70 m).…
Rack zones – gripping zone
A rack can be divided into vertical zones based on the scale of an adult (average size of 1.70 m).…
Rack zones – viewing zone
A rack can be divided into vertical rack based on the scale of an adult (average size of 1.70 m).…
Cross-docking
There are different types of handling goods in the shipping area. One of these is called…
Just-in-time – Definition
“Just-in-time” refers to a type of delivery in which the required goods are delivered…
Procurement logistics – Just in sequence
"Just in sequence" refers to a type of delivery in which the required goods are delivered to the…
Overview of person-to-goods picking
Person-to-goods picking (also: man-to-goods picking) describes a picking method in which the…
Overview of goods-to-person picking
Goods-to-person picking (also: goods-to-man picking) describes a picking method in which the…
Single-stage order picking – order-oriented, serial picking
With order-oriented, serial picking, order items are successively processed according to orders.…
Sorter (Packing) – Process steps
The process steps that are carried out in the course of the (sorter) packing process include order…
Sorter – Packaging
Definition of Packing The packaging is the merging of storage units to form a complete unit. In the…
Enterprise Resource Planning System (ERP System)
As an application program, an enterprise resource planning system (ERP system) supports all task…
Production data acquisition
Operating data is data from organisational and technical areas of a company. This includes order…
Overview of application interfaces (APIs)
Interfaces have the task of connecting IT systems with the environment, i.e. other facilities,…
Inventory management
Inventory management refers to the administration, planning and control of material flows within a…
Definition of intralogistics
The term intralogistics was created in 2004 by the "Forum Intralogistics" of the VDMA (German…
The basics of warehouse planning – Determining the objectives
In the past, when planning a warehouse, the main focus was often exclusively on the resulting costs…
The importance of material flow
According to VDI, "material flow" is the interlinking of all processes involved in extracting,…
Transport management – The material flow computer
The material flow computer calculates the fastest route through the materials handling equipment…
The manual sort order fulfilment
Manual Sort Order Fulfilment (MSF) is a software-supported, manual sorting system. The basis is a…
Single-stage picking without IT system support
Picking without IT system support requires a manageable assortment of articles, which is clearly…
Storage location management – The importance of EDP in warehouse organization
In modern warehouses with a certain amount of goods, the warehouse processes are usually…
The evolution of warehouse management
Warehouse management has undergone a tremendous development from its beginnings until today.…
Definition of business processes
Business processes can be used to visualize business-relevant procedures of a company. A task that…
Definition – Contract logistics
Logistics includes all tasks for planning, controlling, providing and optimizing processes along…
Function of a laser scanner
An precisely focused and finely bundled laser beam is used as a light source for the laser…
Functionality of a CCD Camera
CCD stands for Charge-coupled Device. Within a CCD camera, light-sensitive elements (CCD sensors)…
Advantages and disadvantages of pick-by-voice
Pick-by-voice, also known as pick-to-voice, is an advanced form of paperless picking. A mobile data…
Application of a storage location management solution
With a growing warehouse, usually not only the number of articles increases, but often a dynamic in…
The definition of the term “Storage”
The storage process can be divided into further sub-processes for better comprehension. On the…
External storage
In the case of external storage, storage takes place outside the company. The counterpart is the…
Definition – Webshop
A web store (also online store, e-shop) can be described as a sales and communication-oriented…
Integration of stationary trade into the value chain of e-commerce
In recent years, the integration of stationary trade into the value chain of e-commerce has become…
Information encoding with binary codes
The main purpose of encoding data is to store, transport, and automatically read data at the…
Definition of the barcode
Encoded information can be stored in many different ways. In addition to mechanical, magnetic and…
Inventory management – Order processing: Dispatching order data
When new order data is received from the commercial system, the order information (header / item…
Definition of transport logistics
Logistics comprises all tasks for planning, controlling, providing and optimizing processes along…
The modern material flow control
The Material Flow Control System (MFCS) or the Material Flow Computer (MFC) is very often described…
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