Autonomous Co-operation of “Smart-Parts”—Contributions and Limitations to the Robustness of Complex Adaptive Logistics Systems

In logistic markets, there is an increasing use of new Autonomous Co-operation technologies, like RFID or sensor networks (Riedel et al. 2008). These elements, which are called “Smart-Parts”, are enabled to interact by the appliance of the new technologies (e.g. RFID-chips) in logistic processes, making own decisions without an external control of a superior hierarchic entity. The technologies allow autonomously acting parts getting smaller and the number of logistic systems including “Smart-Parts” is by trend increasing. This higher number of elements consequently results in a higher degree of complexity. Hence, those systems can be described as Complex Adaptive Logistics Systems (CALS). However, the dynamic of these CALS with “Smart-Parts” results in an impossibility to forecast the system’s reactions and behavior due to the fact, that “Smart-Parts” render own decisions, based on information they got from other elements and finally based on the behavior of other system’s elements. Hence, the unpredictability of the system’s future state leads to the problem of achieving its robustness based on the balancing of its required stability and flexibility. Therefore, the question arises how “Smart-Parts” affect a CALS’ robustness as there is a link between them in the way that “Smart-Parts” influence Autonomous Co-operation, Autonomous Co-operation influences adaptivity and finally adaptivity influences robustness (“Smart-Parts” → Autonomous Co-operation → Adaptivity → Robustness). Therefore, the paper intends to analyze the possible effects caused by “Smart-Parts” and Autonomous Co-operation in order to identify contributions and limitations to the CALS’ robustness. So, the paper proceeds as it follows. Firstly, the need for robustness in CALS as the balance of the system’s stability and flexibility is outlined. Secondly, the concept of Autonomous Co-operation in CALS will be described. Thirdly, an evaluation of Autonomous Co-operation regarding the contributions and limitations to robustness will be accomplished.