ABSTRACT
One aim of the logistics function is to ensure short lead times (see Section 1.3.1), with the ancillary objective of reducing lead times in the information flow for planning & control. Small companies can successfully and economically incorporate the information flow into their logistics without having to resort to computerization, although they will quickly find that they have to process large quantities of data. It is therefore not surprising that software designed to support logistics tasks started to be developed at a very early stage. Today, planning & control tasks are almost always computer-aided in companies above a certain size.
In practice, people (whether intentionally or unintentionally) often draw no distinction between the actual planning & control system and the computer-aided information system for planning & control, i.e., the logistics software. In recent years, this has led to unnecessary misunderstandings, and even to arguments and decisions based on prejudice. This chapter focuses on the main possibilities and limitations of the computerization of tasks and processes associated with planning & control. We shall first consider the historical development of logistics software and the extent to which it is used at present. This will be followed by a discussion of the types of software available and an attempt at classification. The chapter ends with some important notes concerning the implementation of logistics software.
