Download Example of Pictorial Reporting: Stage 1 Establish Pareto Zones

Potential Value Adding capacity to
logistics by utilising Geographical
Information Systems
Presented by
Lorraine Hall
Logistics Research Fellow
Monash University, Melbourne, Australia
Themes and Trends

Geographical information systems (GIS)

management

information technology

logistics

strategic planning

innovative uses in planning,modeling &
reporting
GIS: Defined

“a computerised system for the collection,
storage, manipulation (analysis), and output
of information that is spatially referenced”.
– (Obermeyer & Pinto, 1994)
GIS: Background

Use spatial referencing as organising
framework

can be used to display data on maps as a
picture

were first developed to replace conventional
maps in large planning depts 1960’s onwards

today can utilise increased capacities in
standard desktop PCs
Strategic Planning & GIS

Planning is not a static event

strategic planning is a continuous activity
which aims to anticipate change

GIS provides the means to ‘visualise’

internal & external whereabouts of key info customers, suppliers, markets etc.

distribution networks, product flows can then
be overlaid

What if’s can also be modeled
Logistics & IT: Rate of Change

“not sufficient that managers become
computer literate,

they must now become ‘information literate’

having just mastered the art of how to get
data -

most still have to learn how to use data”
– (Drucker, 1997)
Logistics: Information Needs

Focuses on the ‘time’ & ‘place’ utility

GIS provides means to - interrogate, project
or interpret ‘time’ and ‘place’ data

now easily accessible due to PC access

has lead to increased usage of once elitist
tools
Data a key corporate asset

Companies now recognise data as a major
asset - even a competitive weapon

IT strategies will frequently include datawarehousing / data mining

“Hallmark is better able to meet the stores’
needs by providing the right products at the
right time…….”
– (Marshall, 1997)
Data-warehousing as an enabler
to GIS

Data warehousing can enable the use of data
in GIS - common data to all

seamlessly accessing data across functional
boundaries

“..up to 90% of all data held by business, is
spatial data, which can be unlocked by GIS”
– (Grimshaw, 1994)
GIS as a synergistic information
source

Capable of harnessing multi-disciplinary data

can turn into synergistic information

facilitates collective decision making

visual presentations using a common
presentation tool and system

parallels to MRPII, in that it forces the holistic
review of data and full cooperation by default
GIS already in use

Many current logistics systems include GIS
already - very few recognised

may not be accessible to the user as such but have potential to be

early recognition of GIS can avoid
unnecessary duplication throughout entire
organisation

digitising, geocoding and field data collection
are expensive ‘one-off’ costs
GIS data requirements

Spatial data required throughout
organisations is fundamentally similar

Data characteristics and customer
management can lead to improved planning
& decision making with GIS
Opportunities for GIS in
application in logistics

Real-time opportunities - GPS, quicker
responses improved enlightened decisions

as with use of Internet; GIS presents
unforeseen applications

some actual & potential applications in
logistics follow:-
Example of Pictorial Reporting: Stage 1
Establish Pareto Zones
Example of Pictorial Reporting: Stage 2
Allocating Pallet Areas
Example of Pictorial Reporting: Stage 3
Thematically mapped data using pareto colour
codes
AVL / GPS Tracking of Vehicles
A picture paints a thousand words

Human beings mostly share common
interpretation of a visual projection or picture

less subjectivity than when reviewing lines of
text or numbers - hence our use of graphs GIS using maps goes one stage further

Globalisation - language barriers can be
minimised by using graphics
Current Logistic Trends

Increasing time pressures on the supply
chain

GIS has the capacity to coordinate internal
and external data

“It is only outside the business where there
are resultant opportunities and threats” (Drucker, 1997)

the drive ‘to automate’ is now changing ‘to
informate’, the organisation
Conclusions

GIS presents many possibilities with its
capacity to model geographical data

Natural foundation tool
– temporal and spatial matches with time and place
utility of logistics
– cross-functional capacity provides opportunities to
work collaboratively

Early recognition of tools as GIS is vital

Innovative use can empower logisticians
Thank your for listening
The End