Autor: Matthias Hülsmann

Guaranteeing the quality of products and processes within supply chains is essential. Nevertheless, quality management is still restricted to production processes while logistics processes are normally not considered. IT infrastructures for exchanging quality data are often missing. Those needs can be addressed by using sensor systems in combination with a cross company exchange of sensor data based on EPCIS. In order to realise this approach, sensor systems, the EPCIS standard, decision support systems and business models need to be further developed.

In light of the current trend towards higher customer demands on logistics performance on the one hand and reduction of internal logistics cost on the other, key performance indicators (KPIs) gain importance. This article provides managers by means of a concise model with sound grasp of the interdependencies between logistics factors and its time-wise interactions. Concrete management measures are being derived from the model in order to improve KPIs sustainably. As a matter of fact, the model highlights the key role of program planning for the management of logistics performance.