The Worlds Greatest Short Stories By Guy De Maupassant

On the other hand, how do we account for the audience reaction being contrastingly different with some viewing a particular piece of literature as a tragedy and others viewing it as a comedy? This is where the environment influences come into play. Not every behavior we have is innate, B.F. Skinner (1904-1990) suggested a strong role of learning in behavior and that experience shapes behavior by pairing stimuli and reinforcers, i.e. any event that strengthens the behavior that it follows (Kolb and Whishaw). Particular experiences with tragedy that we have throughout our lives are paired with particular stimuli and reinforcers, like seeing certain types of video clips on the news, and thereby elicit certain behaviors from us. In the book, The World’s Greatest Short Stories, analysis of the stories for tragic elements based on the theory we were studying lead to quite contrasting views from my fellow classmates and myself. One of the stories that was found to have controversial audience responses was, The Necklace, written by Guy de Maupassant. The story told a beautiful young lady, Matilda, who was never satisfied with her meagre standard of living and desired more material wealth. The tragic flaw arises when she borrow a supposedly expensive diamond necklace from a friend and loses it. She and her husband decide to lie and replace the necklace in secret, rather than own up to the mistake. In the end, Matilda and her husband spend most of their lives working offShow MoreRelatedLet Majorship English4572 Words   |  19 Pagesthe power of imagination 2. What feeling is expressed in this line â€Å"My heart leaps up when I behold a rainbow in the sky†? A. Surprise C. Fear B. Happiness D. Anger 3. What is Chekhov’s most recognizable achievement in his short stories? A. His cryptic use of symbolism B. His attention to the inner lives of his characters C. His references to biblical scriptures D. His use of allegory 4. In the Iliad, whose death brought Achilles much sorrow and grief? A.

The Pure Products Of America - 1395 Words

Anna Baldwin Dr. Shaheen Literary Analysis The pure products of America What is the American Dream? In the poem, To Elsie, William Carlos Williams asks us the many questions lurking beneath the pavement of our perception behind the American dream: what are the ‘pure products of America’ and what is the reality of this imagined concept? Through the use of texture and form, Williams perfectly depicts with cynical aptitude the recycled degradation of society. In To Elsie, a depraved America is personified through the history and conception of a woman named Elsie. The poem begins in the muck and destitution of the lower-working class. When a woman is raped, a child named Elsie is born out of wedlock and that child grows to become a housemaid of a rich doctor’s family. Almost in cycle, she becomes the subject of prying eyes and perverse fantasies of rich men. Elsie is thus a symbol of America used and corrupted by the debauched society we live in. From the very beginning, the poem’s diction is designed as a method of psychology to detach the mind of the reader from the picture portrayed. In the introductory line, â€Å"The pure products of America†¦ go crazy—† (l.1, l.2), the mind of the reader is manipulated by use of the words ‘pure products.’ There is an emphasis of stressed R’s consonants, especially in the words ‘products’ and ‘crazy’, giving essentially a v ery raw and industrial grinding roll of the tongue. When one thinks of the word product, they areShow MoreRelatedCompany Analysis : Company Values And Vision882 Words   |  4 Pagesquality line of hypoallergenic supplements in the market. The industry leader in manufacturing excellence and quality control within their product lines. Commitment to producing the most complete line of research-based, hypoallergenic, nutritional supplements. Pioneer in the production of research-based and clinically relevant formulas. Business Market Region(s) Pure Encapsulations was acquired by Atrium Innovations in 2004. Atrium Innovations is headquartered in Montreal, Canada and has offices andRead MoreProgessives and The Pure Food and Drug Act Essay862 Words   |  4 Pagescentury America entered a new age that many historians call the Progressive Era. During this time period, the American Political system changed its view on how America should be brought about. It provided a purification of the American government through direct democracy. This era included many social and political reforms, which were brought about due to monopolies, and trust corporations. One the key pieces of legislation that was a prime example of the progressive era, was the Pure Food andRead MoreStrengths And Weaknesses Of Nestle725 Words   |  3 PagesStrengths Supreme examination and advance competence. Very strong geographic incidence. One of the best geographically spread revenue sources. Unrivaled product and brand portfolio Environmental sustainability efforts. Ownership of some of the most recognizable brands in the world. Nestle has been repeatedly recognized as the worlds largest company providing bottled water and have set up facilities to work on water resources ethically. Weaknesses Criticism over high water usage, selling contaminatedRead MoreShea Butters African Origins1719 Words   |  7 Pages2007). With a such a need for a natural product within the African America communities, the Shea Butter Beauty product can grow to be a respectable brand, that offers natural ingredients, healthier skin, competitive price and customer satisfaction. Analysis also revealed that shea butter exports from Africa have increased since the 1990s (Elias Garney 2007), because of the high demands cosmetic use and as ingredient for natural skin in Europe and North America. Also because of the poor tree productivityRead MoreWilliam Carlos Williams s The Twentieth Century833 Words   |  4 Pagesnation, a new culture was rising in America: a culture that both afforded comfort and thrived on capitalism. There were many critics of this new America, including poets Ezra Pound and William Carlos Williams. The aforementioned poets reflected on a fast changing America through exploitation. As an American, Poet William Carlos Williams believed that the twentieth century culture in America was at a decline. With modern inventions and the growth of a capitalist America, suburbanites and rural AmericansRead MoreTo Elsie by William Carlos Williams1008 Words   |  5 Pagestone and imagery Williams tells of a self-alienating America that has lost perspective of its most treasured ideology, the American Dream, due to its violent and unstable tradition. Williams tone is a key component to understanding the message that he wishes to convey to the reader. In the first stanzas of the poem Williams diction is often general and seemingly flaccid as he tries to articulate his understanding of the pure products of America go[ing] crazy (Williams 1-2). Using phrases suchRead MoreEssay about Chile1177 Words   |  5 PagesChile The country of Chile is located in western South America. The conditions vary with the mountains, deserts, and beaches. Climate The climate is one condition that may vary within different regions. The country extends a long distance from north to south. There is a lack of rainfall to the north. there the air is able to hold much of the moisture. Middle Chile has hot, dry summers and cool, moist winters. The temperatures arent often extreme. The warmest month, January, averagesRead MoreEthnocentrism : The World s Leading Super Power1067 Words   |  5 Pagesnumber one. As the world’s leading super power we have become full of our self and almost to the point of narcissism. All over the world people flock to our shores on the basis of land of the free and home of the brave. Because of these qualities America has a sense of ethnocentrism. Ethnocentrism comes from the Greek word â€Å"ethnos† meaning people and â€Å"centrism† meaning center. The word literally means self-centeredness’ which makes indivualas feel that there way or view point are supiror than othersRead MorePhysical Good Difference from Pure Service1089 Words   |  5 PagesProduct in marketing term has 2 combination tangible and intangible products. Product maybe a physical goods or service or combined of both. Product can be 100 percent emphasis on physical goods- cars, golf club, soft drink- to 100 percent emphasis on service- internet service provider, postal service. But we will call all of this as product. Good is physical thing, it can be seen and touched. You can try on fur coat or eat pat thai in street shop. A good is tangible. When you buy it, you ownRead MoreGovernment Regulation1301 Words   |  6 Pagesmonitor prices and products to make sure society and consumers are not taken advantage of. Regulation has been put into place to inhibit growth of monopoly by making restraint of trade illegal and by imposing the possible threat of felony charges with the intent to conspire. Industrial regulation places limits on the prices and rates firms can charge within a selected industry. These regulations attempt to produce or avoid outcomes which may or may not otherwise occur. Pure monopolies/monopolies

Scheduling Manufacturing Operations Free Essays

string(73) " important to understand the distinction between planning and execution\." ABSTRACT Without true finite capacity scheduling, any implementation for manufacturing execution, whether it is ERP, SCM, or MES, cannot realize the goal of enterprise efficiency and agility. All aspects of OM for manufacturing execution fall behind the lead of FCS, which is the bridge between planning and execution. Real tangible return on assets rests with FCS. We will write a custom essay sample on Scheduling Manufacturing Operations or any similar topic only for you Order Now INTRODUCTION Integrating a diverse collection of resources to accomplish a goal is an issue that has faced humankind since the first city arose and food and services needed to be provided to the populace. The modern challenge for operations management (OM) is the speed and volume that data is presented to OM systems. This explosion of data holds the promise of efficiency and agility unrealized in the past, but it forces the attention of analysts and engineers to convert the flood of data into a useable form to move from planning to action. All the systems such as MES, SCM, and ERP are information hungry beasts that must be fed with the right information at the right time to direct enterprise resources. OM requires a well-coordinated dispatch of its resources to realize efficiency and agility. This paper addresses the need to look at OM from an information-centric perspective as a necessary complement to emerging process-centric views. This discussion moves to the execution systems, also treated from an information-centric perspective, and concludes with a discussion as to why finite capacity scheduling (FCS) is the key to OM for manufacturing execution. WHEN DATA BECOMES INFORMATION Despite the advances in information technology, notably object-oriented software, systems continue to be defined by functional decomposition. Functional decomposition creates complex definitions with fragile coupling and cohesion that are on one side of a great chasm from the reality of the methods that are used to build modern information systems. Information itself is an under designed component of modern systems. Information is a series of objects made from atoms of data. Data becomes information only through context and inferences derived from context. A good example is the use of spreadsheets to attempt to understand data rather than the use of application software designed to with the operational context in mind. Figure 1: Hierarchy of Data Fusion Inferences Figure 1 shows the hierarchy of inferences through a process called data fusion. Data fusion simulates the cognitive processes used by humans to continuously integrate data from their senses to make inferences about the external world. Information systems collect data though sensors and other assets, and in the hierarchy of data processing, multiple data sources are combined to approximate or estimate the condition of some aspect of the enterprise operation. This is the first translation of data to a level of inference. Parametric data is processed to begin specific identification of a situation. As more parametric data are collected, different aspects of the situation come together to allow a contextual analysis of an increasingly complex set of conditions. Once integrated, the situation can be compared to the goals or desired state of the system. Parallel to the types of data processing are the types of inference. With raw data an inference can be made of the general condition. While this level of inference rarely points to a specific correction action, it does begin to isolate what subsystems require attention. The next level of inference will reveal a specific characteristic behavior of the system. With more integrated data, the identity of an operational system or process is revealed. The next inference is the behavior of a process, which then leads to an assessment of a situation. At the highest levels of inference, the performance is assessed to determine the deviation from the performance goals, acceptable risks, or desired state. Data fusion is not a new concept, having its origins in simple scouting, but has come into its own since WWII. The use of data fusion systems as an information springboard for systems design places execution aspects of OM firmly into a modern framework of information systems engineering. WHAT WAS OLD IS NEW AGAIN As mentioned in the introduction, operations management has been, and remains, one of the greatest organizational challenges throughout history. OM arises from the need to coordinate diverse resources to meet the needs of a complex system. The concept of the plan-execute-control model, a â€Å"discovery† made by analysts in the late 1990’s, appears in the historical records of systems management, one of the earliest mentions circa 4th century BC in China. One of the more versatile models in modern systems management appeared in 1977 as a result of a joint effort between Dr J. S. Lawson of the Naval Electronic Systems Command and Dr. Paul Moore of the Naval Postgraduate School. Figure 2 shows the Lawson-Moore model, adapted by the author for general resource management. SENSE is the collection of raw data or other collateral information about the observed environment. PROCESS takes the data through the inference hierarchy, integrating data within the context of the tasks required of the managed resources. The situation as best can be determined with the resources is then compared to the DESIRED STATE. The DESIRED STATE is the result of planning, which drives the allocation of resources to tasks. The plan exists in generalities, except for enterprises where goals are achieved with simple tasks assigned to few or uncomplicated resources. DECIDE is the point where the comparison of the situation to the goals will dictate what corrective actions are needed to bring the performance of the enterprise in line with the plan. ACT is the direct management of resources to alter enterprise performance to close the gap between the current state and the DESIRED STATE. The Lawson-Moore model is a closed-loop execution model, continuously integrating data, making inferences about the environment, and managing resources to meet goals of the plan. The Lawson-Moore model does not address planning, but it does unite planning and execution. To develop an execution system, it is important to understand the distinction between planning and execution. You read "Scheduling Manufacturing Operations" in category "Papers" Figure 2: Lawson-Moore Model (aka Lawson Model) PLANNING AND EXECUTION Planning and execution are related, but not one and the same. Planning does not occur during execution; the plan should be formulated to allow for variations and alternate execution strategies. Business (or manufacturing or service) processes are set in place, serving as doctrine that unites actions within the enterprise. Processes should be compiled for all resource management, and serve as a set of procedures designed to achieve the best results from a united enterprise, while allowing for inspired actions and initiatives. The enterprise doctrine exists so that laborious planning for each individual operation need not repeated with every new plan. The more complex or unstable composition of enterprise resource, the greater the need for standardized procedures. This becomes the foundation of repeatable performance, reducing human variations to the least contributor of performance variations. Planning cannot deviate greatly from doctrine, and execution will fail without doctrine. It is possible that execution will look so different from the plan that the uninitiated will see no similarity, but if the goals of the plan are achieved, then the execution is successful. The next section will unite the inference model with the Lawson-Moore model to develop an information-centric execution model. DATA FUSION AS OPERATIONS MANAGEMENT SYSTEM Figure 3 shows the execution system that arises from merging inference and the Lawson-Moore model. For main components exist in this system: information collection, execution environment, human-machine interface (HMI), and evaluation. Information collection includes sensors and all other information gathering, and is a critical component to the resources managed by the OM system. The HMI is the primary means by which operators interact with the OM system. Evaluation is the component that applies performance measurements and other measures of effectiveness to determine the degree to which the execution system is meeting the goals of the plan. The execution system performs the data fusion, situation definition, and resource management. Figure 3: Data Fusion as Execution Environment Data flows from sensors contained in resources through data filtering to begin building inferences. Filtered data enters three levels of information processing. Level 1 processing aligns data in time, insures consistent units of measure, and accounts for any other physical aspects of the data. Data from different sources are aligned or correlated in order to develop meaningful inferences (e. g the color of the box has little to do with its volume, but its height, length, and width has a direct bearing on computing volume). The final function of Level 1 is identifying the situation for further processing in Levels 2 and 3. Level 2 assesses the situation within the context of the fusion process in use and available information from Level 1. Level 2 may require algorithms to augment sparse or missing data. Level 3 evaluates the situation and may direct actions to modify the use of resources to minimize deviations from plan goals. The communications between the three processing levels is continuous, forming an information loop within the execution environment to adapt to changes in the external environment. Short term and long term (historical) databases form the decision support system for the OM system. Corrective action can be automatic or require operator intervention as dictated by operation procedures. THE COMMON DENOMINATOR The integrated systems view for the enterprise is emerging as analysts focus on process-centric models and away from product- and information-centric models. Evidence is the REPAC model from AMR, shown in Figure 4. Recognizing the shortcomings of the functions intense MES and SCOR models, AMR developed a model that is focused on the business processes while supporting component assembly. Comparing that process-centric model with the information-centric model, common elements emerge. The main theme in REPAC COORDINATE is the need to schedule detailed activities from PLAN, utilizing feedbacks from EXECUTE and ANALYZE. These are the same themes addressed by the Lawson-Moore model. In both models, the key element is the ability to manage resources at the individual operations to achieve the goals set by the plan. This level of resource management is achieved by dynamic capacitated scheduling, supported by the real-time data from the environment and comparisons to the desired state established by the plan. Figure 4: AMR REPAC Model FCS: THE KEY TO OPERATIONS MANAGEMENT Whether OM is approached from a process- or information-centric model, finite capacity scheduling drives how resources are deployed to perform the tasks required to achieve the goals of the plan. The sequence of operations, the materials and labor required for operations, and the output of the operations all require supporting resources to act in sync with the business of implementing the plan. Finite capacity scheduling with the ability to account for multiple resource constraints and complex scheduling goals will be scalable to schedule both the lowest level of operation and the supporting resources. Planning is at best an approximation of the resource needs because planning cannot develop a precise quantification of labor, material, or time to meet the goals. Execution cannot begin until the set of actions, well matched to the available resources, is developed to load the operations and develop a timeline for the actions. Execution cannot continue unless the scheduling component can receive the feedback from the resources and develop alternative sets of actions that will best meet the goals of the plan. Only true finite capacity scheduling, design for real-time use, can integrate the planning and execution together to meet the enterprise objectives. CONCLUSION For manufacturing OM to achieve the goals of efficiency and agility, all aspect of planning, execution, and control are necessary to create an effective system. The bridge from the plan to the actions of the organization is dynamic resource management. For an organization with any degree of complexity, procedures need to be in place to establish the general guidelines of operations. In this imperfect world, the plan and procedures must be flexible enough to adapt. The control side provides data and accepts corrective action, but a dynamic element must exist in the OM system that allows for accepting a situation assessment and rapid response to degrading performance. The planning side requires feedback from the OM layer to create future plans. The baseline provided by planning drives the selection of enterprise operations, but the synchronization of these operations, and the alternative actions needed when the exceptions arise, comes from the power of true finite capacity scheduling. FCS is the means by which OM for manufacturing execution becomes a reality. How to cite Scheduling Manufacturing Operations, Papers

ICT in Logistics Management-Free-Samples for Students-Myassignment

Question: Discuss about the ICT in Logistics Management. Answer: Distribution and Logistics Management Logistics management is a component of the supply chain management that meets demands from consumers by ensuring efficient planning and control in the movement of goods, services, and information from the point of production to the respective destinations (Nilsson, 2006). This process is important for companies because its aids in the reduction of costs related to movement of goods and services and it ensures that customer service is greatly enhanced. The management of logistics commences with the accumulation of raw materials from the respective suppliers to the delivery of products to the customers. Logistics managers adhere to the needs of their consumers as well as the standards that have been set up for the entire industry by following a provided process strategy, and implementing it according to the set plans. Logistics management requires that all the activities take place in time. Failure of this could lead to customer dissatisfaction. Incidentally, delayed deliveries may lead to loss of buyers. Moreover, there is need for the products to be transported properly to avoid damages. If there is poor logistics management, expenses may increase leading to losses being incurred. To resolve these problems, it is paramount that organizations implement logistic management practices that will save time, minimize costs, and ultimately increase customer satisfaction. This is possible by the use of information and communication technology in logistics management (Sai, 2016). The information and communication technologies can be applied in transportation of products, warehousing activities, the management of inventory, and in customer services. It makes the processes more efficient, saves time, and increases the customers levels of satisfaction. In the supply chain and logistics, different information and communication technologies has been seen to play a great role. The different technologies used are listed below. There is the use of Automatic Identification Technology (Auto ID). This is a technology that enables data to be entered directly into a computer without using a keyboard. It makes use of devices that are microprocessor controlled and logic controllers that are programmable (Majekodunmi, 2014). Technologies that employ Auto ID include; Radio Frequency Identification (RFID), voice recognition and bar coding. This technology is mainly used in tracking goods to ensure timely dispatch to the customers (Jones, Chung, 2016). Auto ID aids in providing accuracy in matters of package locations, saving time and costs, and it provides efficient data analysis and storage (Zeibig, 2006). Radio frequency identification aids in identification of the location of the products and aids in the capturing of data. RFID systems are very important especially in hostile environments where other technologies such as bar codes may be unable to survive. They communicate the data in regards to the inventory through the use of radio waves wirelessly from the objects that have been tagged to the reader. There are various components that make up the RFID system. These include; radio frequency tags (RFTs) which are made of an antenna and a chip that is a semiconductor, a single or multiple read or write devices that are referred to as readers, the readers also have an antenna, the host computer system, and an application software (Ahsan, 2011). RFIDs have been used by different suppliers from India to export their merchandise to retailers such as Walmart. These suppliers, by using the RFIDs are able to gain visibility in the movement of their products in the supply chain. This makes them more competitive. They also assist the manufacturers to manage their inventory better (Saleem, 2012). Bar coding technology is in the form of parallel lines that have different thickness, that are arranged in a sequence, containing spaces between them (Sellinger, 2012). The bars are information that has been presented in a coded form and is read using a scanner. The first time bar codes were used was in an American supermarket in 1952 (Reynolds, n.d.). The bar code contains information about; name of the manufacturer, manufacture date, details about the product, and country code. Different industries that make use of bar codes include; electronics, retail, pharmaceutical, automobiles, and consumer goods. Bar coding therefore aids during distribution to track goods in transit to consumers (Hutton, Ding, Wellman, 2017). Proctor and Gamble Company initially used bar coding technology to track the movement of goods as they were being shipped to retail outlets from their factories (Hunt, Puglia, and Puglia, 2007). However, they were not able to be proactive in preventing shortages in their stores. Hence, they shifted to the use of RFID to track their products. As a result, because they were able to track even individual products, they were able to stock their stores on demand and avoid shortages. Consequently, they predicted that this move would aid in reducing their expenses by $400 million annually ("Technology Trends in Logistics and Supply Chain Management", 2017). Another company that has made use of RFID technology is Ford Motor Company. Initially, the workers in the assembly line had to call and order for parts replenishments when they ran out and then waited for long periods of time to receive them. The company, in a bid to solve this problem, put RFID tags on every parts bin. This has in turn helped because workers in the warehouses are aware when the parts are running low and they automatically deliver those parts to the workers in the assembly lines ("Technology Trends in Logistics and Supply Chain Management", 2017). This has aided in saving time and increasing the income earned by the company. The voice interactive system is used mainly in warehousing operations. This technology enables the workers to pass on information to the central computer without making use of a keyboard. It is very efficient because it enables the operators to keep on working as they are communicating data to the system. They are therefore able to perform various tasks in the warehouse such as inspection of goods, picking up and packing the products while still interacting with the system. As such the workers are able to feed data to the system such as the item IDs while forklifting the products and driving the products away. The central computer, on the other hand, will update the data in real time. It is therefore very efficient in that it saves time while increasing productivity and reducing errors (Newsom, 2013). Communication technology is extremely vital in the achievement of success in logistics management. It enables organization to become highly competitive by increased accuracy and speed in the process of communication. Electronic data interchange (EDI) is a communication technology that assists to move data and information between computers. It can be used in the electronic movement of documents that are used in business processes such as cheques, invoices, and challans (Choe, 2008). This is a significant technology because it aids in elimination of errors that can be brought about by the use of physical documents or loss of the documents. This technology is superior to the use of emails in passing information because the EDI message is created by the use of one software and another software is used in the interpretation while emails are composed manually and the interpretation is also manual. This technology is significant in the supply and logistics management because; it ensures that transactions are faster and enables documents to be transferred in the supply chain in real time. By use of this technology a company can achieve just in time inventory management. Because the transactions that occur are paperless, transaction costs are considerably reduced. It also reduces the time taken in the order cycle. Finally, it improves the relationships that exist between different corporate parties thus reducing competition levels. Therefore, this is a technology that aids in the management of inventory. Another technology that is used in logistics is called Very Small Aperture Terminal (VAST). Today, the use of satellite channels of communication has become very significant in providing data in real time. There is an antenna that is fixed on the vehicle to enable the carrier of the goods to be tracked. Consequently, the consigner, driver, and consignee are able to communicate (Raghav, Vaithianathan, Murali, 2015). Because this communication occurs in real time, all the stakeholders are able to have an update of where the goods carrier is located and the location for the delivery. Walmart makes use of this technology to ensure control in the movement of inventory. This technology aids both in the transportation process and leads to improved customer service. Another transportation technology is the use of Geographical Positioning Systems (GPS). This system aids in the process of tracing the movement of inventory. It provides higher levels of accuracy when put in use in the developed countries where with the assistance of Geo Stationary Satellites, a truck can be traced in terms of longitude and latitude to the accuracy of one meter. As soon as this location is identified feedback can be sent back to the consigner and the consignee using different means. Geographic Information Systems (GIS) is another communication technology that aids in providing the exact location of the consignment in any location on earth as long as it is stored in geography related databases. When integrated with GPS, GIS can track the inventory to a specific street in any given town. Web based Tracking is another technology that aids in tracking inventory. It aids in improvement of customer services because it allows clients to access the status reports about their consignments. This report can be downloaded by the clients through internet connection. The data provided by this technology enables the company to plan schedules for dispatch as well to follow up with their clients on matters regarding payments. This is an important technology because it brings trust between the customers and the companies and ensures that the customers receive their consignments in good time. This technology has been highly used by Indian companies such a Blue Dart and Fed-Ex. Another communications technology that is used in warehouses is the Automated Guided Vehicle System (AGVS). This is a system that incorporates the use of optical and magnetic systems of guidance. An operator is not required when using this system. There is an energized wire that is laid on the floor of the warehouse that guides the equipment carrying inventory. The wire is used to direct the magnetic system. In the recent past, there have been Automated Guided Vehicle Systems that work without the need for the energized wire and they therefore do not follow one fixed route alone. These systems can be able to carry out all the activities of handling inventory in the warehouse without the need for human control. They can also be used together with robots. In such instances they are able to pick the exact requirements provided in an order by a customer (Jaiganesh, Kumar Girijadevi, 2010). Another technology used in warehouses is the use of Information Directed System (IDS). This system makes use of a centralized computer that controls the equipment that handles inventory (Gattiker, 2006). The equipment and the computer make use of radio frequency to communicate. An operator feeds the movements that need to be undertaken to the computer, which in turn passes the tasks to the different equipment. This technology increases the productivity in the warehouse because the system can perform different jobs that involve the handling of inventory using just one equipment. These jobs include; loading different vehicles and picking orders. An information technology that is used in supply chain and logistics management is the use of Enterprise Resource Planning. This is an integrated software that aids to bring a difference in the working of employees and it encompasses all the operations in the business (Babu Bezawada, 2012). It requires enough time to plan before using it because it is very expensive and complex. The enterprise resource planning software can be adapted to suit a given business. Ramco Systems in India is one company that has adapted ERP to suit the business environment in which it operates. This software enables an organization to respond to customers quickly, reduces costs related to inventory and logistics, and leads to improved service provision by the company both internally to its employees and externally to other stakeholders such as customers and suppliers. Other companies that have incorporated the use of ERP include; Colgate and Nestle. These companies have been able to save costs related to inventory. Another information technology tool used in logistics management is the use of Distribution Requirement Planning (DRP). This technology incorporates sophisticated planning methods and takes note of the characteristics of the distribution system with emphasis on the different distribution stages in the process ("Distribution Requirement Planning (DRP)", 2014). The requirement for the inventory of finished goods is determined by the distribution requirement planning systems. The demands for consumers in different markets are put into consideration and the different distribution centers. This system aids in the consolidation of the different shipments to various places that are in different geographical locations. This in turn aids in the reduction of costs associated with the distribution of products. The use of this system helps companies to reduce the levels of inventory in their warehouses and minimize distribution costs. A technology that is very important in inventory management is the Automated Inventory Tracking System (AITS). This is an information technology tool that provides information on the levels of inventory in real time (Sople, 2007). It is used in feeder, retail stores, and major warehouses. The data regarding the levels of inventory remaining are conveyed to the suppliers directly once the level of stock in the major warehouses are checked. This is for the purpose of replenishments before the stock runs out to prevent delays and losses being incurred. The process of replenishment by the supplier takes different times based on the rate at which the particular product is selling in the retail stores, the amount of inventory already in transit, and the amount of safety stock. This tool is vital because it aids in the optimization of stock in the supply chain. Walmart uses the Automated Inventory Tracking Systems throughout their supply chain to control their inventory. Another technology that is being used the transportation of inventory is the drone. This technology has not yet began being used that much but it is continually growing. Drones have a great potential for growth. This is because they can be much faster that vehicles. They have an ability to access densely populated areas without having to pass through the congested urban roads. Moreover, they can save costs because their operating budgets are much lower than when using other means of transport. Advanced machine learning and analytics is another very important technology in this day and age. Today, there is so much data that is in existence. Companies are gaining a great competitive edge by making use of this data. They are analyzing this data and identifying patterns that exist then they are using this information to make business decisions. Currently, computers have been programmed to produce certain reports and dashboards that are already pre-determined. However, there are other consumer trends and market insights that need to be uncovered. This is where machine learning comes in and it is able to identify these patterns. When combined with supply chain management, this technology will aid in converting the existing data into actionable intelligence for the businesses. The company can therefore be able to improve product demand through accurate forecasting, create a chain of supply for the orders coming in, and be able to predict patterns, trends and performance. Clearly, technological advances are being used to increase profit margins as well as improve the logistics operations. The ability to share information in real time has become vital in the achievement of efficiency. One of the biggest issues that logistics managers have is information distribution. This happens because there are many levels in the logistics process that have their own platforms for sharing the information instead of this information being shared all through. The different levels in the supply chain include; distribution, procurement, and manufacturing. It is therefore paramount that the supply chain adopts a policy of integration. Today, many companies are looking to integrate all their internal operations from management of inventory, warehousing, transportation and all other components of the supply chain. Incidentally, there is a technology known as SaaS that enables companies to integrate their different operations. In turn, they enjoy better management of their inventory, faster shipping, and reduced costs associated with warehousing activities. This report has shown the ways in which technology is used in logistics management in the process of distribution, inventory management, warehousing and in customer services. All the technological applications have been seen to reduce costs incurred, save on time, increase the levels of productivity, and increase the levels of customer satisfaction. Companies should analyze the different information and communication technologies that are in existence in order to incorporate them into their companies based on their different logistic activities. This will increase the companies competitiveness and improve their efficiency levels References Ahsan, K. (2011).RFID Components, Applications and System Integration with Healthcare Perspective. Babu, Bezawada . (2012). Enterprise Resource Planning.SSRN Electronic Journal. Choe (2008). The effects of EDI usage on production performance through the changes of management control systems.Production Planning and Control, 570-580. Distribution Requirement Planning (DRP). (2014).Encyclopedia of Production And Manufacturing Management, 166. Gattiker, U. (2006).The Information Security Dictionary: Defining The Terms That Define Security For E-business, Internet, Information And Wireless Technology. Springer Science Business Media. Hunt, Puglia, Puglia. (2007).RFID: a guide to radio frequency identification. John Wiley Sons. Hutton, Ding, Wellman. (2017). The Effects of Bar-coding Technology on Medication Errors: A Systematic Literature Review.Journal of Patient Safety. Jaiganesh, Kumar, Girijadevi. (2014). Automated Guided Vehicle with Robotic Logistics System.Procedia Engineering, 20102020. Jones, Chung. (2016).RFID and Auto-ID in Planning and Logistics: A Practical Guide for Military UID Applications. CRC Press. Majekodunmi (2014).Utilizing automatic identification tracking systems to compile operational field and structure data(Doctoral dissertation, University of Maryland, College Park). Newsom, J. (2013). Interactive Voice Technology (IVR) Is Widely Applicable.Medical Care, 1026. Nilsson, F. (2006). Logistics management in practice towards theories of complex logistics.The International Journal of Logistics Management, 39. Raghav, Vaithianathan, Murali. (2010).General Economics for the CA Common Proficiency Test (CPT). Pearson Education India. Reynolds, T.History of Barcode Scanners.Barcodesinc.com. Retrieved 3 October 2017, from https://www.barcodesinc.com/articles/history-of-barcode-scanners.htm Sai, S. (2016).Logistics Management: Concept, Significance and Key Activities.YourArticleLibrary.com: The Next Generation Library. Retrieved 3 October 2017, from https://www.yourarticlelibrary.com/business/logistics-management/logistics-management-concept-significance-and-key-activities Saleem, H. (2012). Review of Various Aspects of Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) Technology.IOSR Journal Of Computer Engineering, 01-05. Sellinger (2012). Bar CodingNot Just in the Supermarket Anymore.The Canadian Journal Of Hospital Pharmacy. Sople, V. (2007).Logistics management. Pearson Education India. Technology Trends in Logistics and Supply Chain Management. (2017).Daily News. Retrieved 3 October 2017, from https://dailynews.lk/business/technology-trends-logistics-and-supply-chain-management Zeibig (2006). Radio Frequency Identification (RFID).Controlling, 50-51.