Autonomously controlled storage management in vehicle logistics - applications of RFID and mobile computing systems

Abstract

Today, planning and control of logistic processes on automobile terminals are generally executed by centralised logistics systems, which cannot cope with high requirements for flexible order processing due to increasing dynamics and complexity. The main business processes on automobile terminals - notification of vehicles by automobile manufacturer, transport to automobile terminal, storage and technical treatment as well as delivery to automobile dealer - are planned and controlled by centralised application software systems. In the context of this article, an innovative approach to autonomous control in automobile logistics is investigated, considering as example the logistic order processing of an idealised automobile terminal of the company E.H. Harms Automobile-Logistics. Within a simulation study, evidence of the existing application potential of autonomous control in the field of vehicle storage management is provided. Thereupon the technical feasibility of an autonomously controlled storage management system is examined. System requirements for technical implementation of an autonomously controlled storage management are deviated. Thereafter, results of an executed case study concerning the implementation and test of an autonomously controlled, radio frequency identification (RFID) based storage management system are presented and the remaining weaknesses of the implemented IT solution are identified. Finally, further research and development activities are introduced in the form of a wearable computing concept using smart clothes. © 2009 - IOS Press and the authors. All rights reserved.