By organising the different building blocks so that the various parties and functions are linked by way of the information flows, it is possible to illustrate a system as a model. Within the model each block is defined providing a means of understanding the system being described.
Even though the model is fairly complex, it is relatively easy to see how the parties, functions and information flows relate to one another, simplifying the task of identifying where most can be gained from integration.
The INTACT project aims to develop this model more thoroughly over the coming months. It has already begun this work by extending the model such that it considers suppliers to the freight transport industry (i.e. fuel companies, tyre fitters etc.). In starting this process new parties have been defined along with their accompanying functions and information flows.
A2.3.1 Parties
The parties described in the framework are shown in table A2.1.
Table A2.1: Parties in the INTACT framework
Code Name
P.1 Consignor P.2 Forwarder
P.3 Carrier / Fleet manager P.4 Driver
P.5 Traffic Manager
P.6 Transport Center Operator P.7 Consignee
P.8 Vehicle
P.9 Other Mode of Transport Operator P.10 Authorities
P.11 Support Services Supplier
A2.3.2 Functions
The functions described in the framework are the shown in table A2.2.
Table A2.2: Functions in the INTACT framework Func Code Assoc. Party Code Name
F.1 P.1 Transport Order Issuing
F.2 P.1 Shipment Arrival Control cf F.12 F.3 P.2 Order Planning and Execution F.4 P.2 Order Control
F.5 P.3 Operational Planning (Dispatching) F.6 P.3 Trip / Route Planning
F.7 P.3 Fleet / Vehicle Monitoring F.8 P.4 Trip / Route Execution F.9 P.4 Trip / Route Control F.10 P.5 Traffic Management
F.11 P.6 Transshipment / Storage Process F.12 P.7 Shipment Progress Control (cf F.2) F.13 P.9 Combined Transport Process F.14 P.8 Remote Vehicle & Cargo Reporting F.15 P.8 Vehicle & Cargo Monitoring F.16 P.2 Invoicing
F.17 P.3 Cost & Performance Analysis F.18 P.11 Consumables Cost Issuing
A2.3.3 Information flows
Table A2.3: Information flows in the INTACT framework Code From Func. To Func. Name IF.1 F.1 F.3 Transport Opportunity Presentation IF.2 F.1 F.3 Transport Booking / Transport Instruction IF.3 F.3 F.1 Quotations Information / Instruction Confirmation IF.4 F.2 F.4 Cargo / Consignment Status Request
IF.5 F.4 F.2 Cargo / Consignment Status Report IF.6 F.3 F.5 Pick-Up Delivery List
IF.7 F.1 F.11 Shipping data
IF.8 F.11 F.1 Consignment confirmation IF.9 F.5 F.4 Order Progress Report IF.10 F.4 F.5 Dispatching Status Request IF.11 --- --- ---
IF.12 F.6 F.10 Traffic Information Request IF.13 F.7 F.8 Fleet / Vehicle Position Request IF.14 F.3 F.5 On-line Pick-Up Information
IF.15 F.5 F.3 Pick-Up Order Confirmation /Refusal IF.16 F.8 F.6 Trip / RouteStatus Information IF.17 F.8 F.6 Current Traffic Information IF.18 F.8 F.7 Vehicle Position Report IF.19 F.6 F.9 Trip Alteration IF.20 F.6 F.9 Daily Delivery Plan IF.21 F.11 F.4 Status Request
IF.22 F.9 F.6 Trip / Route Change Confirmation / Refusal IF.23 F.4 F.11 Status Reporting
IF.24 F.3 F.11 Request IF.25 F.11 F.3 Acceptance
IF.26 F.12 F.4 Consignment Status Request cf IF.4 IF.27 F.10 F.6 Traffic Situation Report
IF.28 F.4 F.12 Consignment / Reusable Equipment Status Report IF.29 F.3 F.13 Booking instruction, Status Request
IF.30 F.13 F.3 Confirmation or refusal
IF.31 F.14 F.7 Vehicle / Cargo Parameter Message IF:32 F.15 F.8 Vehicle / Cargo Parameter Display(s) IF.33 F.9 F.15 Vehicle / Cargo Parameter Inputs
IF.34 F.15 F.9 Vehicle Current Route / Location Parameters IF.35 F.9 F.17 Trip expenses / Km / Time Report
IF.36 F.9 F.16 Delivery Proof (Documents) IF.37 F.17 F.6 Cost Report
IF.38 F.16 F.1 Invoice IF.39 F.18 F.17 Cost data
IF.40 F.17 F.9 Vehicle running cost data IF.41 F.6 F.17 Statistical data
IF.42 F.5 F.6 Order-vehicle-driver list
IF.43 F.6 F.5 Vehicle status & position (cf. IF.18) IF.44 F.9 F.8 Trip and route plan
IF.45 F.7 F.6 Trip/route deviation info IF.46 F.7 F.6 Statistical data (cf. IF.41)
IF.47 F.6 F.7 Trip/route plan per vehicle/driver (cf. IF.19, IF.20) IF.48 F.7 F.14 Vehicle/Cargo Status Request
IF.49 F.12 F.11 Shipping data
IF.50 F.11 F.12 Consignment confirmation
IF.51 F.1 F.2 Issue Order Status Information Concerning Control IF.52 F.2 F.1 Consignor Order Status Information
IF.53 F.11 F.2 Inventory Status IF.54 F.11 F.12 Inventory Status
IF.55 F.3 F.16 Forwarding Orders Information IF.56 F.3 F.4 Forwarding Orders Information IF.57 F.4 F.16 Forwarding order status information
The framework describes the procedures in the transport business in a generic way. Only parts that are deemed to be relevant to the INTACT project are included. Figure A2.1 shows the context diagram with the relations to the external environment.
Figure A2.1: Context diagram of the INTACT framework.
P.3 Carrier Fleet Manager P.5 Traffic Manager P.7 Consignee P.2 Forwarder P.6 Transport Center Operator P.9 Other Transport Mode Operator P.1 Consignor P.8 Vehicle P.11 Support Services Supplier P.4 Driver Financial Services Authorities
The INTACT Framework External environment
The party authorities includes functions such as traffic control, technical inspection, social inspection and customs clearance. These elements are naturally of interest to the transport business, but have a minor importance to the daily operation. Future authority control including e.g. electronic tachometer information delivery, will make this party of interest also for the framework.
Financial issues are crucial for the transport business. These issues are however not unique for the transport business, and therefore the problems will be treated as in other business areas.
A2.5 Relations
In the generic framework the functions are connected by information flows as shown in figure A2.2, on the next page. The functions are located to certain parties.
Figure 3.2: The revised INTACT framework P.1 Consignor P.4 Driver F.9 Trip / Route Control F. 1 Transport Order Issuing
P.9 Other Transport Mode Operator
F. 13 Combined Transport
Process
P.6 Transport Center Operator F. 11
Transshipment / Storage Process
F. 3 Order Planning &
Execution P.7 Consignee F. 12 Shipment progress control F. 4 Order Control P.5 Traffic Manager F. 2 Shipment progress control F.10 Traffic Management F. 5 Operational Planning (Dispatching) F.6 Trip / Route Planning F.7 Fleet / Vehicle Monitoring P.8 Vehicle F.14 Remote Vehicle &
Cargo Reporting
F.8 Trip / Route
Execution F.15
Vehicle & Cargo Monitoring
P.3 Carrier / Fleet manager P.2 Forwarder IF.29 IF.30 IF.25 IF.24 IF.23 IF.28 IF.9 IF.1, IF.2 IF.3 IF.21 IF.6, IF.14 IF.15 IF.10 IF.27 IF.18 IF.16,IF.17 IF.31 IF.33 IF.34 IF.19, IF.20 IF.22 IF.32 IF.26 IF.5 IF.4 F. 16 Invoicing F. 17 Cost & Performance
Analysis
IF.35 IF.37
IF.36 IF.38
P11. Support Services Supplier
F.18 Consumables Cost Issuing IF.39 IF.40 IF.41 IF.42 IF.43 IF.44 IF.12 IF.45, IF.46 IF.47 IF.13 IF.48 IF.7 IF.8
IF.49 IF.50, IF.54
IF.51 IF.52 IF.53 IF.55 IF.56 IF.57