Autor: Christian Toonen

Nowadays, a well-designed capacity supply is essential for a company’s competitiveness. In this situation, a flexible and efficient capacity control is among the most important measures. In this paper, we presented the potential of reconfigurable machine tools. Based on this, we described the concept of the throughput time harmonizing capacity control. Moreover, we evaluated the theoretical potential of this capacity control approach in a simulation experiment. In further steps, we will analyze the total potential in different simulation studies.

The investigation of dynamical properties considering job shop systems often employs discrete-event simulation. How-ever, to apply advanced analysis methods like Fourier and correlation analysis to the temporal evolution of important variables, time series are required, which comprise data taken in equally measured timesteps. Therefore sampling is applied. This paper investigates the definition of an optimal sampling rate, which ensures high quality data at a minimum of sampling efforts. Furthermore, errors occurring due to deviating sampling rates are investigated and summed up in qualitative error curves.

Job-shop-productions are facing high requirements due to the high diversity of manufactured products, changing lot-sizes and strongly cross-linked material flows. This situation is intensified by dynamic effects which are caused by non-linear dependences between the system’s parameters. The complex dynamics can affect the logistic performance of the system by varying stock-levels, rising cycle times or decreasing capacity utilisation. This paper describes an approach to analyse the effects of the factory planning process on the system’s dynamics, whereat the focus will be on the planning subtasks of dimensioning and structuring. This is expected to improve methods of design for job-shop-productions.

Modern information technolgies are essential for efficient processes in logistics. Concepts which base intensively on IT have become known as e-logistics. This article discusses the idea of e-logistics and relates it to different concepts within services in logistics. Therefore necessary technologies to realise e-logistics are introduced. As an example the technologies and developments of tracking-and-tracing are detailed.

Against the backdrop of increasing importance of ecological aspects within all company functions, logistics has to be repositioned to comply with upcoming ecological challenges. This article introduces the concept of ecologistics and its measures within all fields of corporate logistics. As an example distribution logistics is detailed in its effort to consider ecological relevant aspects within the planning and control and the configuration of logistical structures.