Modeling and analyzing logistic inter-dependencies in industrial-enterprise logistics

Despite spending considerable effort on the design and operation of production planning and control systems, manufacturing companies experience logistic performance deficits. Frequently, these are due to inconsistencies between the logistic objectives the companies set themselves and the planning and control actions they take to achieve the objectives. Analytical models of logistic processes are applied to obtain a better understanding of the process behavior. Models of this type often do not succeed in clearly establishing the relationships between the planning and control actions the processes can take and the logistic performance measures. The paper presents qualitative influence models that identify these interdependencies within individual logistic processes and across process boundaries. Coupled with a qualitative evaluation of the effects of the planning and control measures on the logistic performance of the processes, the models facilitate objective-oriented logistic performance management.