Understanding autonomous cooperation and control in logistics : the impact of autonomy on mananagement, information, communication and material flow

One of the great challenges in flexible production and supply chains is the availability of necessary information at any time and any place. As a result of increasing dynamical and structural complexity of structures and processes in production it is often impossible to make all necessary information available to a central instance in real time and to perform appropriate measures of control in terms of a defined target system. A fast and flexible adaptation to changing basic conditions ought to be achieved by establishing autonomous logistics processes. In this context, several fundamental questions concerning autonomous cooperating logistics processes were investigated: The identification problem - What are autonomous logistics processes and how do they differ from conventionally managed processes? The description problem - Which changes will autonomy cause in order processing? One of the first results is a definition for the term autonomy for applications in engineering science. The constituent characteristics of this definition were considered within the development of the catalogue of criteria in order to describe autonomous logistic processes.; Regarding the modelling of autonomous processes, first requirements for modelling methods were specified. To validate the research results, a production-logistic shop-floor scenario and a practical scenario based on the real business processes of an automobile terminal were developed. Simulation studies concerning autonomously controlled allocation of parking areas document comprehensive opportunities for improvement

one Of The Great Challenges In Flexible Production And Supply Chains Is The Availability Of Necessary Information At Any Time And Any Place. As A Result Of Increasing Dynamical And Structural Complexity Of Structures And Processes In Production It Is Often Impossible To Make All Necessary Information Available To A Central Instance In Real Time And To Perform Appropriate Measures Of Control In Terms Of A Defined Target System. A Fast And Flexible Adaptation To Changing Basic Conditions Ought To Be Achieved By Establishing Autonomous Logistics Processes.

in This Context Several Fundamental Questions Concerning Autonomous Cooperating Logistics Processes Were Investigated:

the Identification Problem: What Are Autonomous Logistics Processes And How Do They Differ From Conventionally Managed Processes?

the Description Problem: Which Changes Will Autonomy Cause In Order Processing?

one Of The First Results Is A Definition For The Term Autonomy For Applications In Engineering Science. The Constituent Characteristics Of This Definition Were Considered Within The Development Of The Catalogue Of Criteria In Order To Describe Autonomous Logistic Processes. Regarding The Modelling Of Autonomous Processes, First Requirements For Modelling Methods Were Specified. To Validate The Research Results, A Production-logistic Shop-floor Scenario And A Practical Scenario Based On The Real Business Processes Of An Automobile Terminal Were Developed. Simulation Studies Concerning Autonomously Controlled Allocation Of Parking Areas Document Comprehensive Opportunities For Improvement.

Insurance intermediaries can help consumers to economize on information and transaction costs in insurance markets. However, competing intermediaries provide heterogeneous information services, which are difficult to assess by incompletely informed consumers. Conduct and performance in the market for insurance information services are analyzed by applying search theoretical and industrial organization approaches. Based on a sample of 927 insurance intermediaries, the factors that affect the quality of the information services provided by them are studied empirically. The results obtained support the main hypotheses derived from industrial organization theories as to the poor working of quality competition under incomplete and asymmetric information on the side of consumers. Thus, public policy should concentrate on increasing transparency about intermediaries’ (in-)dependence from insurance companies and improve consumers’ financial literacy to raise the overall quality in the information services market.

Insurance intermediaries can help consumers to economize on information and transaction costs in insurance markets. However, competing intermediaries provide heterogeneous information services, which are difficult to assess by incompletely informed consumers. Conduct and performance in the market for insurance information services are analyzed by applying search theoretical and industrial organization approaches. Based on a sample of 927 insurance intermediaries, the factors that affect the quality of the information services provided by them are studied empirically. The results obtained support the main hypotheses derived from industrial organization theories as to the poor working of quality competition under incomplete and asymmetric information on the side of consumers. Thus, public policy should concentrate on increasing transparency about intermediaries' (in- )dependence from insurance companies and improve consumers' financial literacy to raise the overall quality in the information services market "Insurance intermediaries can help consumers to economize on information and transaction costs in insurance markets. Conduct and performance in the market for insurance information services are analyzed by applying search theoretical and industrial organization approaches. Based on a sample of 927 insurance intermediaries, the factors that affect the quality of the information services provided by them are studied empirically. The results obtained support the main hypotheses derived from industrial organization theories as to the poor working of quality competition under incomplete and asymmetric information on the side of consumers. Thus, public policy should concentrate on increasing transparency about intermediaries' (in-)dependence from insurance companies and improve consumers' financial literacy to raise the overall quality in the informaiton services market."--BOOK JACKET "Insurance intermediaries can help consumers to economize on information and transaction costs in insurance markets. Conduct and performance in the market for insurance information services are analyzed by applying search theoretical and industrial organization approaches. Based on a sample of 927 insurance intermediaries, the factors that affect the quality of the information services provided by them are studied empirically. The results obtained support the main hypotheses derived from industrial organization theories as to the poor working of quality competition under incomplete and asymmetric information on the side of consumers. Thus, public policy should concentrate on increasing transparency about intermediaries' (in- )dependence from insurance companies and improve consumers' financial literacy to raise the overall quality in the informaiton services market."--Jacket Content: Changing Paradigms in Logistics - Understanding the Shift from Conventional Control to Autonomous Cooperation and Control.- Fundamental Basics and Concepts of Autonomous Control and Cooperation.- Autonomous Control Methods for the Management, Information and Communication Layer.- Autonomous Control Methods and Examples for the Material Flow Layer.