“Autonomic Logistics”
By SwizStick • Aug 9th, 2006 • Category: QuickNews, Supply Chain Management
Say, for instance, a particular component of the the fighter jet has or is about to fail. Software on board the aircraft sends a message to the logistics support entity requesting a new part and maintenance.
Obviously a logistics process that can direct its own requirements significantly reduces the risk of supply chain failure.
Riskape has been on a tear since starting up less than a week ago. This post describes a fascinating new trend penned “Autonomic Logistics”, a logistics process where a product could manage its own logistics as well as maintenance requirements. The author is correct in assuming that these concepts being perfected by the military and their partners will lead to commercial industries using them in the future.
Factory machinery could send a message to the logistics partner that a certain part was wearing out and needed replacement. The order would be picked, packed, and sent expeditiously before the worn part became a serious problem. This could also extend to the consumer market. We already have cars with systems that perform their own diagnostic checks sending automatic e-mails to the owner with results of the tests and recommended maintenance.
You know all those consumer “protection plans” the big retailers always try to sell on electronics and other items? Imagine if they developed “self-maintenance plans†where your high-end TV or Home Theater system would not only notify you if something was wrong but automatically take the step of ordering maintenance service and parts. You could be notified via e-mail that a problem was detected, the replacement part ordered, and the date and time a technician would be out to your home to replace the part in question. All without you having to pick up a phone and notify anyone.
Science fiction fantasy? Perhaps not???
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Thanks much for the link! I’ve updated my “About” page so that you can refer to me as something other than “the author”. Thanks for bringing that oversight to my attention. Also, please note the new e-mail address. Thanks.
Re Autonomic Logistics, it is an interesting development, although I think companies like Lockheed Martin are well ahead of the power curve. But RFID should push this along more quickly in the near future.
Your welcome, I was a bit puzzled at the time as to who the author was at your post, so I’m glad you cleared that up. Future links will be attributed to you directly now that you have update your About tab.