The term intralogistics is still comparatively new and was created to clearly differentiate logistical processes that take place within a company from other, external logistics processes.
Intralogistics – definition
Intralogistics includes every form of logistics that is necessary within the company. These include in particular:
- Incoming and outgoing goods
- Flow of goods within the company
- Picking of goods
- Warehouse management , storage systems and internal transportation systems
Intralogistics is thus clearly differentiated from external transport processes. It deals with the organization, optimization and implementation of all those transport and storage processes within a company.
Areas of intralogistics
The logistics within a company is one of the central points of intersection. Especially in manufacturing companies that buy material, store semi-finished and finished products and then send them back again. As a central hub, intralogistics has numerous overlaps with other areas of the company. We will now deal with these in a further sequence.
Business administration and finance
Smooth processes save time and money. That is why well-organized intralogistics is particularly important for those employees who have to keep an eye on the company’s finances and bookkeeping .
Informatics and IT
Logistic processes require state-of-the-art technology in the background. This includes suitable software solutions and innovative IT systems that ensure that the processes can be planned simply, structured and safely using practical programs.
staff
The better the processes in intralogistics are organized, the less staff there is. At the same time, understaffing can lead to problems, which is why it is important to coordinate internal logistics with the HR department on a regular basis.
purchase and sales
Minimum storage costs arise through good planning of the amount that is purchased, for example when we think of raw materials. A high turnover in sales also means that products are not kept in stock for long. Purchasing and sales are therefore also directly linked to intralogistics. This connection is also reciprocal, because in sales it is just as important to be able to rely on the fact that products can then be delivered quickly once they have been sold.
Intralogistics – tasks and processes
The many intersections with other areas of the company already show that intralogistics has to deal with many tasks, which are primarily in the area of process planning and optimization.
Automation therefore also plays an important role in the course of intralogistics as a whole . Technical aids are being used more and more frequently, from simple conveyor belts to complex robot solutions that help to simplify and accelerate processes.
Internal material flow
The central process of intralogistics typically concerns the material . This begins at the time the material is delivered to the company’s premises, where it is transferred from external logistics to internal logistics. The material then passes through various internal stations, typically several production steps, which can also be interrupted by storage times. Finally, the finished product is stored until it is finally sold and passed back to external logistics for delivery to wholesalers or customers.
Practical example of internal material flow
For a better understanding, let’s imagine a simple practical example. To do this, we just think of a tree trunk . This is delivered to the joinery and unloaded there on the edge of the company premises.
From this point on, internal logistics begins to take effect. The tree trunk is first brought to a hall for rough processing, where it is cut to pieces several meters in size. These are then stored to dry. After the storage period, the pieces are cut again differently, depending on which further use they are to serve.
After further storage, concrete furniture is then made from them, which are then stored again and finally handed over to the freight carrier, who delivers them to furniture dealers.
The more optimized the process, the shorter the storage times and the cheaper the storage. At the same time, large machines are required whose idle times must be kept as short as possible.
According to electronicsencyclopedia, good intralogistics accordingly goes hand in hand with solid supply chain management and the ongoing optimization of all processes. This also means that freight carriers, regardless of whether they are delivering or collecting raw materials or products, know exactly when and where they have to unload or load the freight.
