On the design of a real-time knowledge-based system for managing logistics operations

Over the past 10 years, various kinds of logistics information systems have been developed to store and process all sorts of data and information to support daily logistics operations. However, the logistics planning or decision-making of logistics activity is still executed manually. In this paper, a real-time knowledge-based system (RKBS) is designed to support logistic service providers in making decisions during the stage of logistics planning and operation by extracting, sharing and storing real-time logistics knowledge. The proposed system, which is suitable for usage in different business processes in a warehouse operating environment, is developed by integrating radio-frequency identification, online analytical processing, case-based reasoning technologies, and a branch-and-bound resource-route-optimizing programming model. Through applying the RKBS in GENCO, a US-based logistics service company, the overall logistics servicing level is enhanced through accurate decision-making and planning of warehouse operations. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.