a comprehensive SCIS initiates, monitors, assist in decision making, and reports on activities required for completion of logistics operations and planning. The major system modules and their interfaces as illustrated in Figure 5.1 are: 1. Enterprise Resource Planning(ERP), 2. communication systems, 3. execution systems, and 4. planning systems. While Figure 5.1 provides a software-oriented perspective, Figure 5.4 illustrates a more application-oriented perspective. This application perspective is used to discuss each module's specific characteristics and functionality.
The ERP system in Figure 5.4 are the backbone of most firm' logistics information system. This backbone maintains current and historical data and processes to initiate and monitor performance. During the 1990s, many firms began to replace legacy systems with ERP systems designed as integrated transaction modules and processes with a common and consistent database. The database includes information storage capability for both operations (i.e., product and activity based) and financial (i.e., monetary based) transactions. ERP systems facilitate integrated operations and reporting to initiate, monitor, and track critical activities such as order fulfillment and replenishment. ERP systems