Logistic departments are a necessary link in the overall production process. One of the main directions of their activity is information logistics. This is an industry that combines all stages of production - from the supply of materials to the sale of products. Information logistics collects data that is necessary for material production.
Its main task is the collection and timely delivery of information to both production units and the management team. It should be borne in mind that each level of the production process should be provided only with the necessary data for its operation at the right time.
Logistic systems deliver to the highest levels of management the information necessary for developing a company's strategy and policy, as well as for making decisions. The middle link should be provided with data for the successful planning and organization of the production process. Control authorities should also be provided with the necessary data.
Information logistics performs the following functions:
1. Obtaining data in the places where it appears.
2. Information processing and its transformation into a more convenient form.
3. Data warehousing and storage as necessary.
4. Delivery of information to the right consumer.
5. Not all information is necessary in the production process, therefore, information flows in logistics should be filtered. Only the necessary data gets to the consumer.
6. Implementation of simple transformations of information.
7. Management of the entire flow of information and its direction in the right direction.
To carry out all these operations, automated systems for collecting, processing and transmitting information are organized. Their tasks include:
- Uninterrupted supply of information that must be delivered at the right time and place;
- providing all data consumers with reliable information on the movement of products along the supply chain, which will be relevant at a specific time;
- implementation of the ability to manage all key indicators, analyze them and make adjustments;
- ensuring transparency and accessibility of information for all as necessary;
- providing relevant data for strategic planning;
- providing information on costs and their structure;
- identification of problem areas of the production process and the provision of information about them;
- providing the possibility of redistributing resources with a view to their more efficient use;
- assessment of the production process and its results;
- assistance in maximizing the company's profit.
In order to make the work of the logistics system efficient, various developments in the field of information technology are used. This includes the creation and use of computerized networks within the company. They must combine all levels for faster delivery of information. It is also necessary to provide the system with application programs that will allow more efficient collection of information.
Systems for the collection, processing and transmission of data must have certain properties. First, they must be able to support a decrease or increase in the number of users. Secondly, they should enable several users to process information at once. Another important indicator is the ability for each consumer to independently configure the flow of information. The last quality is openness and the possibility of cooperation with other systems for the exchange of information.
Information logistics is an important part of the activities of any company.