ABSTRACT
This chapter outlines the problems relating to inventory in a production and marketing chain. It explains the principle of distribution resource planning (DRP-II) and the basic principles behind route planning. The global capacity planning, takes the availability of people, machines and materials into consideration, as well as the availability of financial means for allowing the production and distribution to run without interruptions. The chapter summarizes the advantages and disadvantages of different transport modalities. It chapter describes the purpose of a transport management systems (TMS) system. P. Tanja shows that different software functions should be present within a TMS for each phase of the transport process. The following phases in the transport process can be identified: preparation, planning, control, financial processing and management information. The chapter demonstrates logistics problems faced by the back office side of e-commerce. The e-commerce working group of a professional council in logistics has studied the consequences of e-business for logistics.
