| The movement of goods in and out of warehouses,
distribution centers and final
outlets like retail chains form
an integral part of supply chain
management. With the gradual demise
of ‘just-in-case’ inventory management
and the arrival of the ‘just-in-time’
inventory concept, the logistics
operations have become critical,
and form the backbone of production
and distribution operations. The
function of logistics is to provide
auxiliary service along the value
chain of a product, by transporting
the product to different locations
for value addition, storage and
final consumption. This function
assumes significance in light
of companies moving their manufacturing
locations across different parts
of the world for competitive cost
advantages. Furthermore, the concept
of modular manufacturing and assembly
at different locations has forced
a strategic role upon logistics
to deliver the goods in time.
The function of transporting goods
is provided by transportation
companies who have extensive fleets
consisting of trucks, ships and
planes. The ownership of oil tankers
and other container carriers,
and airplanes in the tourism and
courier industries, involves huge
costs. The fleet is owned by the
companies who manufacture the
goods, or is rented out by transportation
companies. Asset management for
fleet owners means effective utilization
of the fleet, maintenance of the
fleet and prolonging the life
of the fleet. Maintenance management
software packages help achieve
these goals. Since fleets are
mobile assets, the computerized
maintenance system is mostly networked
through base stations and mobile
stations like hand-held digital
assistants and palmtops. Advanced
technologies like RFID help pinpoint
the location of assets for on-the-road
maintenance. The fleet MMS provides
features like data management
of the fleet, including fuel entry,
the running of miles and crew
details. It provides regular features,
like scheduling preventive maintenance
and crew shifts. The fleet MMS
links to the financial parameters
by allowing the entry of billing
and payment of bills for fuel
or on-the-road repairs. Maintenance
Management Software provides detailed
information on Equipment Maintenance
Management Software, Facility
Maintenance Management Software,
Fleet Maintenance Management Software,
Foundation Maintenance Management
Software and more. Maintenance
Management Software is affiliated
with Fleet Maintenance Software. |
