Logistics Information Systems

Remote Procedure Call

Part of Functional Layer; Encapsulate the data in the apps; Provides an interface to other apps

Components of Info Systems

1) Info Tech- Collection of tech resources used for storage, processing, and communication of info (made up of hardware, software, and data) 2) People- Develop, design, operate, administer and build Info System 3) Processes- Sequence of tasks or activities that produce desired outcomes

Info processing consists of 3 key activities

1) Input- Captures raw data from org or external environment 2) Processing- Converts raw dat to meaningful form 3) Output- Transfers processed info to people or activities that use it

Shared Business Function

Part of Functional Layer; Unifying redundant functionality; Implement functionality once

Adv of Remote Procedure Call

Each app maintains integrity of its data; Multiple interfaces provide different views

Logistics Pulls IT

Achieving operational excellence and improved decision making Increasing globalization and outsourcing Increasing role of customer services Shorter product life cycles New services and distribution channels New products and business models

IT Pushes logistics

Always and everywhere data availability Wearables allow more involvement and transparency Ubiquitous computing and connectivity Data Analytics allows new insights and predictions AI and robots allow for automation and decentralized control and coordination Additive Manufacturing allows co-creation and usage-based value

Sub-Processes in BPMN

An activity whose internal details have be modelled using BPMN core elements; Can be in a collapsed view that hides its details or can be in an expanded view that shows its detail within the view of the process in which it is contained

Disadv of File Transfer

Apps get out of sync; Semantic dissonance occurs

Annotations

Artifacts; Mechanism for the modeller to provide additional text info to the diagram reader; Only human-readable

Data Objects

Artifacts; Mechanism to show how data is required or produced by activities; Represent input and output of a process activity; Associated with flow objects

Strengths of Cloud Computing

Availability of current data for all partners; Reduction of complexity through modular SaaS apps; Flexible usage of services; Omission of infrastructure, license, and software purchase costs

Weaknesses of Cloud Computing

Availability; Security; Data confidentiality; Data transfer bottlenecks

Database Management System (DBMS)

Centralizes data and controls redundant data. Provides interfaces between applications and files

Business Processes

Chains of events, activities, and decisions involving: 1) # of actors and objs 2) Triggered by a need 3) Leading to an outcome that is of value to a customer

Cloud Computing

Computer processing, software and other services are provided as a pool of virtualized resources over a network. Characteristics: On-demand self-service; Ubiquitous network access; Location-independent resource pooling; Rapid scalability

Main Functions of Databases

Creation, Modification, and removal of definitions that define organization of data; Insertion, modification, and deletion of the actual data; Providing into in a form directly usable or for further processing by other applications; Administration

Electronic Data Interchange (EDI)

Data Exchange All electronic types of message exchange for asychronous, automated exchange of messages between IT systems Contains Master and Transaction Data Adv: High reliability; Synchronization between partners; Cost reductions Disadv: High investments for implementation efforts; Know-how needed; Customization when alteration from standards; Challenges in foreign trades

Relational DBMS

Data is stored in tables and related with private and foreign keys

Disadv of Shared Database

Data schema get complex; Apps rely on certain schema; Performance Bottlenecks can cause deadlocks

Blockchain

Decentralized database with immutable, time-stamped Data. Data is stored in groups of data called blocks and those blocks come together to form the chain. Process: 1) Transaction occurs 2) Transaction must be verified 3) Transaction must be stored in a block 4) Block must be given a hash and added to the chain

Event-based Gateway

Decision is driven by events; Condition attribute of the sequence flow must have a value of "none", no other conditions are possible; Single gateway should not be used simultaneously for merging and splitting; A gateway only represents logic, but not action

System Dev Methods

Describe the activities performed at each stage of a system dev project from planning, analysis, design and implementation; Describe roles, responsibilities, deliverables, documentations, project planning and milestones

Adv of Shared Database

Ensures consistency of data; Immediate availability of data in all apps

XOR Split

Exclusive Gateway; Form a set of alternatives, exactly one is chosen; Conditions are attached to outgoing sequence flow arcs are evaluated

XOR Join

Exclusive Gateway; Merges Alternative Paths; For each incoming sequence flow that is signaled, an outgoing sequence flow is signaled

Outside-in approach of RPA

Existing info system remains unchanged; Humans are replaced by agents

Public Cloud

External provider provides service to different enterprises

Adv of File Transfer

Files are a universal storage mechanism; Apps are loosely coupled; No knowledge about internals needed

Principles of Design Thinking

Focus on user outcomes; Multidisciplinary teams; Restless Reinvention

Graphical User Interface Layer

For integration of LIS; Used to gain user inputs into the system and provide restrictions on what the user can and cant do

Information Systems

Formal organizational system designed to collect, process, store, and distribute info

Spiral diagrams work best with

Frequent releases; Numerous changes/updates; Medium to high risk projects; High cost sensitivity; Complicated requirements; Prototypes

Inbound Processing for WMS

Good reciepts mgmt, storage control

4 Layers of integration for logistics application

Graphical User Interface layer; Data layer; Functional layer; Process layer

RFID

Identifies objects based on radio frequencies. Sends pulse of radio waves to the tag and waits for response

Flow Objects in BPMN

In the Process view; Events; Activities; Gateways

Connecting Objs in BPMN

In the process view; Sequence flow (Displays execution sequence of the activities); Message flow (Symbolizes info flow across org boundaries); Association (Used to link artifacts such as text or data objective. Shows inputs and outputs)

OR Split

Inclusive Gateway; Any non-empty subset of outgoing sequence flow arcs is signaled, depending on conditions; Each condition evaluated as true signals an outgoing arc; Default flow is used only if all other conditions are false

OR Join

Inclusive Gateway; Synchronizes all incoming sequence flow arcs that can be signaled

Business Process Model and Notation (BPMN)

Industry Standard; Expressive process modelling language

Dont use Kanban for

Innovations; Stable priorities; External projects

Private Cloud

Internal provider provides services to a single enterprise

Loops

Iterations can be modeled with exclusive gateway; Branching condition of the XOR split acts as the loop conditions; Loop iterations require the creation of new activity instances; There can be many activity instances for a given process activity in one process instance

Disadv of Remote Procedure Call

Less performant and reliable; Still tightly coupled due to direct calls; Integration is often designed as if systems are one app

Event Processing

Part of Distributed Business Processing; Continuous processing, interpreting of rules and matching of patterns

Bots can:

Make calculations; Read and write databases; Extract and process content from documents; Connect system to API's; Copy and paste data; Scrape data from the web; Make files and folders; Open emails and attachments

Disadv of Waterfall method

Making changes is difficult; Excludes the client/end users; Delays testing until after completion

Data Capturing

Mechanisms that transform data in the external world for consumption by a computer. Either directly (by keyboard) or semi-directly (capturing existing typings)

Blockchain Adv

Near-infinite storage capacity; Immutable source; Transparent- anyone can access; No middleman

Trends of IT on Supply Chains

New market entrants Digitalization of logistics process Fragmentation of work Omnichannel interaction Automation and Machines Urbanization Sharing economy Synchromodality Sustainability and Responsibility Creating innovation culture Talent shortfall

The loop of Design Thinking

Observe; Reflect; Make

AND Split

Parallel Gateway; All outgoing sequence flows are signaled; Allows modeling independent, concurrent execution paths; Does not require parallel execution, but allows for arbitrary interleaving and execution in any order

AND Join

Parallel Gateway; Synchronizes all incoming sequence flow arcs; Only if all incoming sequence flow arcs have been signaled, the outgoing arc is signaled

Shared Database

Part of Data Layer; Data is stored in a single data base by all apps; Data schema must handle all the needs of different apps

Data Replication

Part of Data layer; Different systems need same data

File Transfer

Part of Data layer; Integrators ex- and import data in files; Define rules for intervals, naming, transfer, and locking

Service-oriented architecture (SOA)

Part of Functional Layer; Used to unify redundant functions; Modularize apps into subsystems which offer specific service; Loose coupling of modules to use every service in different apps

Info Portals

Part of GUI Layer; Use when info from various systems is needed; Collects data; Displays aggregated info into single user interface

Distributed Business Process

Part of Process Layer; Parts of business function are spread over different systems and business functions from external parties are needed; Introduce a business process management component; Define a business function based on core business functions; Complex event processing software is a system to process events and detect event patterns

Identification Tech

Part of data capturing Tech collecting data without human involvement Basic elements are code, reader or scanner, data encoder

Types of Storage

Primary- Stores small amounts of data that are immediately used by the CPU, volatile Secondary- Stores much larger amounts of data for extended periods of time, non-volatile

Decentralization

Process of disturbing and dispersing power away from a central authority; Creates a fairer and more secure system

Benefits of System Dev

Reduction of the project complexity; Time and cost benefits; Knowledge Transfer; Improved comm between stakeholders

Blockchain disadv

Requires digital handshake to verify a transaction; Performance is lacking compared to traditional centralized database methods; Constant internet access required; New tech, hard to build business around blockchain

Pools

Resource Modelling; Represent business process participants, used to partition a set of activities; Can be business entity or a business role; Interactions between pools are captured through message flow

Swimlanes

Resource Modelling; Used to organize and categorize activities; Often used for internal roles, systems and departments; Flows can cross boundaries

Barcodes

Semi-direct data capture tech (the data is coded within a medium). Also contactless and optical. Kind of data capturing tech

Benefits of Kanban

Shorter cycle times; Requires less organization; Responsive to change; Reduce activities that don't add value

Adv of Waterfall method

Simple and easy to understand; Each phase has specific deliverables and a review process; Works well for small projects where requirements are very well understood; Process and results are well documented and predictable

Spiral diagrams dont work with

Small projects; Complicated to implement; Dependence on risk analysis; High costs

Use Kanban for

Software projects; Frequent priority changes; Internal projects; Strong guidance; Modular structure of deliverables

No SQL/XML-based DBMS

Structured document-oriented databases that allow querying

Data Warehouse

Subject oriented, integrated, non-volatile, time variant collection of data in support of mgmt decisions a copy of transaction data specifically structured for query and analysis

Transport Management Systems

TMS; Support efficient transportation planning and execution on strategic, tactical, and operational levels; Mgmt of transportation means considering criteria, transportation of goods, and processes

SCRUM Method

System Dev Method; Empirical iterative process lasting 2-4 weeks. Steps: 1) Sprint Planning (dividing tasks for next meeting) 2) Daily Scrums (Update of all parties what has been done since last meeting and still what needs to be done) 3) Sprint Review (Presenting the result to the sprint to product owner) 4) Sprint Retrospective (Presenting the result of the sprint to product owner)

Kanban Method

System Dev Method; Steps: 1) Visualize what you do 2) Limit amount of Work in Progress 3) Measure and Control workflow 4) Explicit definition of rules and goals 5) Implement feedback 6) Model to assure CIP

Waterfall method

System Dev method; New phases of development only begin if the previous one is complete; Steps: 1) Requirement specifics 2) System Design; 3) Design implementation 4) Verification and Test 5) System Development 6) Software Maintenance

Spiral Diagrams

System Dev method; Project is divided into phases; Steps: 1) Determine objectives 2) Identify risks 3) Develop next version of the product 4) Review and plan for the next phase

File Systems

Systems that control how data is stored and retrieved in the storage device. Network systems require specific protocols for upload/download

Robot Process Automation (RPA)

Tools that operate on the UI of other computer systems like a human would

Data Processing

Translates raw data into meaningful info for processing. Consists of hardware and software

Object-Oriented DBMS

Treats data as objects; Relations between data are stored as relationships between objs and attributes

Activities in BPMN

Units of work that require time to be performed; Modelled into tasks

Strategic Freight Mgmt Systems

Used in conjunction with TMS; Support analysis, planning, and optimization of logistics network

Gateways

Used to describe control flow, particular branches and merges

Warehouse Mgmt Softwares

WMS; Responsible for managing and supporting activities around warehouses and distribution centers; Used for planning, organization, staffing, directing and controlling the utilization of available resources to move and store materials into, within, out of the warehouse; Type of Warehouse defines WMS features

Outbound processing for WMS

Wave planning, Efficient Packing Planning

When to use SCRUM Method

When requirements are not clearly defined; Probability of changes during development is high; When product owner is fully available; Need to test solution

When not to use SCRUM Method

When sprints couldnt be finished within given timeframe; The team can't work self-organized; When the scrummaster isn't allowed to help org change; Stakeholder never joins sprint review