Autor: Ann-Kathrin Pallasch

Logistics is one of the biggest trade volume industry sectors in Germany. External factors of influence are pushing the logistics sector to redesign its processes and operating activities environmentally. In the practical experience methodical tools are missing which help to identify environmental potential for optimization, to evaluate it and to document quantitatively the realized improvement. One possibility to combine the environmental and the financial point of view in intralogistics is demonstrating a novel reference model. With this model weaknesses can be identified and appropriate goals and activities can be defined to improve them. The combination of the reference model with a data base system affords to simulate and to review the effects of the activities just before their operational realization. The application of the reference model and its benefits for the contract logistics enterprises will be characterized in this article.

In the field of automobile production, automation has been implemented since the nineteen-seventies. In logistics, however, robotics has only been used to automate logistics processes with low complexity. These include processes with a high repetition rate and a highly standardized goods portfolio. In cooperation with EASY-ROB, BIBA has developed a new strategy for an intuitive programming of robotics that might be used to fulfill rather complex tasks. The operator defines the process type and important parameters via a common tracking system. Based on this data, a simulation tool calculates the movement of the robot and executes a collision control. Finally, the simulation tool generates the corresponding machine code and the robot starts its process. The intuitive programming excels at a favorably cost-benefit ratio. A demonstrator, focusing on the unloading of pallets has been presented on the CeMAT 2011. After a very brief introduction, interested visitors were able to operate the ...

From today, convenient concepts have to be developed and opposed against prospective skills shortage in logistics companies. To make young adults interested in education and training in this field, a platform has to be designed, where all appropriate offers can be found. The development project “Competence Atlas for Logistics in the region of Bremen” worked on an application, which can be applied as well on a Multitouch-Table as in the Internet (www.Komptenzatlas-Logistik-HB.de). It is an exemplary platform that gives information in German and English to diverse target groups.

Particularly the logistics branch is subject to constant change - the competitive pressure is steadily increasing. The prevailing challenge for research and development in the area of logistics is to detect and satisfy potentials of improvement regarding long-sighted and long-lasting aspects. The concept of the Logistic Factory of the Future includes needs and major fields of action for the development of innovative product solutions. The area Automation as part of the Logistic Factory of the Future and the implementation using the example of the Parcel Robot are presented in this paper.