scope:

Introduction and preconditions

In the guideline VDI 2520 "Introduction to corporate logistics" the term "logistics" is defined as follows:

A comprehensive logistic system is regarded as the total material flow of a Company including external logistic partners and the corresponding flow of Information.

Aflow diagram is in general used to illustrate how the advance and accompanying flow of Information interlocks with the material flow. In conclusion, recommendations are given for the introduction of a logistic system on the basis of a logistics work plan. This ends with the Step "Revision and control" which includes reconsidering the target values.

This new VDI guideline "Practice-oriented characteristic values for logistics in small and mediumsized companies" continues from this point and provides the user with general suggestions for the devel opment of a practice-oriented system of characteristic values.

However, a system of logistic characteristic values must be individually tailored to meet the requirements of each Company as the priorities among the logistic activities, depending on the type of Company and the sector, may vary greatly. Thus a deliberately restricted selection of logistic characteristic values is presented here to serve as a basis for the development of an individually balanced system of characteristic values in any Company.

A hierarchic Classification and a representation of the dependencies between the individual characteristic values has also been excluded, as these also vary from Company to Company and cannot be represented with general validity. This, of course, does not mean that, in the development of a characteristic value system, one can dispense with a hierarchic Classification of these values.

Having created the basis for the control of corporate logistics with the aid of the characteristic values given here, a system of logistic characteristic values can be developed from this which will meet all scientific requirements.