Title :
The past, present, and future of supply-chain automation
Author_Institution :
Dept. of Mech. Eng., Nat. Univ. of Singapore, Singapore
fDate :
6/1/2002 12:00:00 AM
Abstract :
We trace 20th-Century developments in the area of supply-chain automation and discuss the history of automation from the viewpoints of material-flow, information-flow, supervision and control, and relationship automation and identify future directions. The main message is that it is important to make balanced investments in all four facets of automation: material-flow, information-flow, supervision and control, and relationship automation to maximize shareholder value. to maximize shareholder value. Just in time to enhance 21st-century industry, material-flow, information-flow, supervision and control, and relationship automation are reaching maturity
Keywords :
factory automation; investment; materials handling; production control; stock control; global manufacturing; information-flow; investment; just in time; mass production; material-flow automation; supervision; supply-chain automation; Assembly; Automatic control; Communication system control; Investments; Manufacturing automation; Marketing and sales; Procurement; Production facilities; Raw materials; Supply chains;
Journal_Title :
Robotics & Automation Magazine, IEEE
DOI :
10.1109/MRA.2002.1019490