一体化物流信息管理系统【外文翻译】

外文翻译

原文

Integrated Logistics Information Management System Material Source: Author: Henry C.W. Lau An Integrated Logistics Information Management System (ILIMS) that enables 3PL facilitators to the logistics process flow, share information effectively with other parties. ILIMS is essentially a data-oriented LIS that integrates core logistics processes together so that logistics services can be provided online. It is a web-based system, which provides a common platform via the internet that allows different parties to transmit, capture, share and collect the required data or information.

1 The construction of Integrated Logistics Information Management System

A generic operation model is designed here for integrating ILIMS into third party logistics facilitators. It consists of three layers, namely, logistics service, logistic process and logistics information system:

(1) Logistics service

It is essentially the physical activities on the supply chain. It includes warehouse operations, inventory management, distribution, reverse logistics, transportation and freight forwarding services.

(2) Logistics process

It is the collection of inbound and outbound logistics management activities facilitating the materials and information flow on the supply chain. It connects the business with its customers and suppliers. It essentially supports the delivery of the required logistics services. The logistics management activities include order fulfillment processes, customer relationship management, customer and supplier service and procurement and demand management.

(3) Logistics information system

It is a logistics system application for collecting, retaining and manipulating data within a 3PL company. It is a common platform for sharing logistics information to the companies along the supply chain from the customers, the service facilitators to the business partners. This subsystem underpins the upper tiers of the model through automating the logistics processes, supports decision-making processes ranging from strategic to operational and facilitates business transactions. Hence, an efficient LIS allows 3PL to retrieve, store and transform data into useful

information for the right people at the right time. LIS is essentially a key enabler in the delivery of logistics services. Therefore, it is essential when designing LIS that the value-added activities in the logistics process are seamlessly integrated with the corresponding logistics services. Consequently, the performance of 3PL facilitators and all the involved parties in the supply chain can be improved.

2 System architecture of Integrated Logistics Information Management System The multi-tier system architecture of ILIMS is proposed to realise the integrated LIS that segregates the system functions into user-related functions, business-related functions, data-related functions and security control functions. Figure 2 shows the system architecture of ILIMS:

Tier 1 The presentation tier is the user interface of the system that allows users to access the business functions over the internet by using web-browsers.

Tier 2 The application tier contains the business logistics for delivering business functions and logistics services. It interconnects with email services for generating notifications to customers that carry business information like invoices or shipping documents.

Tier 3 The database tier is the information repository for storing and retrieving the business data requested by the business functions or further manipulation for performance analysis. It interfaces with other Relational Database Management Systems (RDBMS) for exchanging data and Online Analytical and Processing (OLAP) applications for producing performance reports based on historical data.

Tier 4 The security tier supports the Virtual Private Network (VPN) connecting trusted parties on the supply chain network for sharing business intelligence like performance management reports. Security Socket Layer (SSL) protocol is deployed for all the internet connections with business parties to provide a minimum level of security control at the system level over the internet.

3 The function of each sections of ILIMS

ILIMS employs a distributed computing design embracing the Distributed Component Object Model (DCOM) technology due to the fact that customers widely adopt Windows and a relatively lower cost of investment is required in implementing the system. The function of each tier is discussed in the following sections.

(1)The presentation tier

This tier allows different parties to access business information through the