In Brief
- Logistics is facing many challenges: the globally networked business world, e-commerce, and individually manufactured products that result in steadily shrinking batch sizes. Solutions include extensive electronic networking of the value-creation chain, automated warehouses, robotics technology, route optimization, and "intelligent" transponder tags for goods(more)
- Transponder tags will compete with bar codes. Not only can they ensure seamless tracking of entire streams of goods they also make it possible to monitor warehouse inventories in real time(see Intelligent Labels and Facts and Forecasts)
- The day is coming when warehouse robots will assemble pallets of goods for delivery according to customers' wishes. Siemens and Kuka Roboter GmbH are currently testing a pilot operation(more)
- A new automatic mail-forwarding system from Siemens will be integrated into mail-sorting operations and help the U.S. Postal Service save hundreds of millions of dollars annually(more)
- In the age of e-commerce, small deliveries will become increasingly common. For future delivery of goods in urban areas when no one's at home there will be a choice of three concepts: box systems, pick-up stations, and automatic storage lockers like Tower24(more)
- Air travel will soon become faster and easier. Innovative baggage conveyor systems like the one at Munich Airport's Terminal 2 enable travelers to make connecting flights in as little as 30 minutes(more)
- A forecasting model based on neural networks can predict product sales with 85 % accuracy. The right reaction to sudden change is vital. That's why tomorrow's software will factor in the dynamics of the entire logistics chain. Siemens' route planner ensures that a delivery travels the shortest and fastest route to the customer, thanks to calculations that are 1,200 times faster than with conventional processes(more)
PEOPLE
Picture of the Future for Automation and Control:
Dr. Carl-Udo Maier, CT SM ICA
carl-udo.maier@ siemens.com
Radio Frequency Identification (RFID):
Michael Schuldes, SBS
michael.schuldes@ siemens.com
Heinrich Stricker, A&D
heinrich.stricker@ siemens.com
Warehouse facility, robots:
Gregor Baumeister, SD
gregor.baumeister@ siemens.com
MobMan, SINAS, robots:
Dr. Gisbert Lawitzky, CT IC 6
gisbert.lawitzky@ siemens.com
Digital assistants:
Dr. Michael Berger, CT IC 6
m.berger@siemens.com
Postal Automation:
Gert Seidel, SD, USA
gert.seidel@siemens.com
Last mile, automated mail delivery:
Matthias Krause, SD
matthias.krause@ siemens.com
Airport baggage handling
Winfried Wittmann, SD
winfried.wittmann@ siemens.com
Learning systems, forecasts:
Dr. Ralph Neuneier, CT IC 4
ralph.neuneier@ siemens.com
Route planning:
Prof. Ulrich Lauther, CT SE 6
ulrich.lauther@siemens.com
Telematics:
Wieland Simon, CC P I&S
wieland.simon@ siemens.com
Enno Pflug, SV
enno.pflug@siemens.com
LINKS
Siemens Dematic, Material Handling Automation Europe/Americas:
www.ma.siemens-dematic.de
www.siemens-dematic.us/ma
MOBY RF identification systems:
Automated mail delivery:
SkyBox, Futurelife house:
www.futurelife.ch/ home/interaktiv/ interaktiv_skyboxmat.htm
Siemens Telematics:
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Chopra, S.; Meindl, P.:
Supply Chain Management, Strategy, Planning and Operation.
Prentice Hall (2003)
