Study on Quick Response Distribution Task Management in Agricultural
Products Logistics Based on E-commerce
Chan-jun Zhang, Wei-hua Zhang
College of Economy and Management, Wuhan Polytechnic University, Wuhan, China
(zcj99@126.com, zhangwh1963@126.com)
Abstract - Distribution task management has great
influence on improving quick response ability in
Agricultural Products E-commerce Logistics(APEL). This
paper put forward a collaboration task management model
on quick response distribution in APEL, and explored the
multifactor constraint framework of collaboration
management based on lead time. At last, the participants
selecting and its operation mechanisms on distribution task
collaboration management were analyzed.
Keywords - Quick response distribution, collaboration
task management, agricultural products e-commerce
I. INTRODUCTION
Prior to the 1980s, the central problem in enterprise
management is to handle partnerships with suppliers, and
reduce cost and improve quality. But in today's fast
changing market, the central task has become innovation,
flexibility and speed[1]. Modern APEL becomes more
time stringent, the quick response task collaboration
management of agricultural products distribution reflects
the integrated competition ability of system about speed,
flexibility and service and so on by taking time as the
core. Distribution task often shows a large scale frequent
mobile service, such as position dynamic mobile,
environment complex and changeful, relative time
pressing, task interdependence and multiparticipants[2].
These characteristics make distribution task management
face enormous challenges on response ability in
time-based competition, which may affect the efficiency
of agricultural products e-commerce and its
competitiveness. Combined with quick response idea
based on time-based competition in this paper, the
distribution task management model on collaborative
distribution chain was planned. It also measured the
collaboration management flexibility and adaptability of
distribution task through the time sensitivity marker.
II. COLLABORTATION MODEL ON QUICK
RESPONSE DISTRIBUTION TASK MANAGEMENT
IN APEL
In recent years, agricultural products e-commerce
has demand more and more for logistics distribution. It
not only requires the guarantee for quality, service,
function and low cost in agricultural products distribution
but also concerns more about flexibility and timeliness
requirements. E-commerce can carry out dynamic
management of inter-regional and cross-time demands[3].
But as a business & matter combination in the last
logistics part, the distribution operation management
efficiency and its cost become bottleneck in APEL
development. Therefore, how to collaborative manage
diverse, complex, pressing and many subjects’
distribution task, and regulate its distribution business,
then improve the distribution quick response ability
become the urgent need of APEL.
A. Collaboration Management Model
The quick response distribution task collaborative
management in APEL takes time management as the
core. They make decision on distribution task allocation
and location by time sensitivity marker that linking
distribution lead time, distribution task calibration and its
business driven framework.
The collaboration
management model of distribution task is mainly
composed of five parts, as shown in Fig.1.
Fig. 1. Collaboration model on quick response distribution task management
1) Driving Framework of Distribution Business
This module is the collaboration management center
of distribution task, but also the interface of APEL
platform. It docks distribution task (Tj) and demand (Dj)
in e-commerce by the time sensitivity index (It). In
accordance with the rules of business driven, it
coordinates the information flow, material flow, capital
flow and business flow from the external system. On the
other hand, the scheduling window (Wj) of distribution
task is excavated from the internal APEL platform.
Business driven framework provides two driving ways,
i.e. time driving and value driving. Thus, the quick
response distribution task is divided into rigid response
and flexible response. Among them, the rigid quick
response emphasizes absolute importance of time, such as
quick response distribution of agricultural products
emergency logistics system; the flexible quick response
emphasizes value maximization. It takes time as center,
such as most commercial logistics quick response system.
So, it is an overall balance in service, function, quality,
cost, etc.
2) Lead Time Management in Distribution Chain
Lead time (Li) management in distribution chain is
the premise and basis of realizing quick response. This
module considers mainly about the sameness and
difference of distribution product (P), network (N),
resources (R) and user (U). Firstly, it should build a
hierarchical time tree or time diagram of the task time
including three aspects as time quota, lead time and time
window. And then lists hierarchical time index and
influencing factors according to business process,
business function, profit or value etc. Finally, eliminate
the waiting time of distribution chain from system point
by using the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) and
Delphi methods from both qualitative and quantitative
aspects. According to compressing the plan time,
operation time and reaction time of complain, it protects
the consistent of lead time coordination and quick
response ability with the sensitivity index in distribution
task management.
3) Distribution Task Calibration
This module delineates tags for every distribution
task from four dimensions, i.e. quality (Q), service (S),
function (F) and cost (C). The tags are the parameters that
connecting with other modules. And then structures the
matching features (Tj) of description task record about
every distribution task, as shown in tableⅠ.
4) Distribution Task Assignment and Location
These two modules define the basic rules and
methods of task assignment and location searching,
matching and reasoning respectively. The core is to match
lead time (Lik) and task characteristics parameters (Tjk) of
every distribution task in distribution chain according to
creating business-driven function. And then call
decision-making models and methods under the
supporting of allocation rules and knowledge
management shown as table II. Thus, the complete
collaborative intelligent service system of quick response
distribution task management based on agricultural
products e-commerce is formed.
Fig. 2 Collaborative multifactor constraint framework of distribution task
B. Multifactor Constraint Framework
The quick response distribution task management in
APEL is a dynamic business cohesion and
decision-making on the basis of interaction game
between multiple factors. So, there are many reaction
nodes, multi-constrains optimization and benefits
contradiction problems. As shown in Fig. 2, lead time
management and task-oriented distribution task
calibration are mapped to related products, network
resources and users as well as quality, service, function
and cost respectively according to 1:1, 1: n and m: n
three kinds of relationships. And then matches constraint
rules dynamically on the basis of knowledge
management, decision-making models and methods etc.
The specific plan can be divided into two processes.
First, making the product, network, resource, user
calibration for the located distribution task, and its
related indicators are divided as follows:
product={quality
grade,
quantity,
package
grade}={Pq, Pu, Pp}；
network={distribution line, network node, business
function}={Nl, Nn, Nf}；
resource={human resources, transport resources,
storage resources, handling equipment, circulation
processing equipment}={Rh, Rt, Rs, Re, Rc};
user={production enterprise, processing enterprise,
distribution center, logistics enterprise, customer}={Up,
Ur, Ud, Ul, Uc}.
On this basis, combined with the specific
distribution task, carrying out the distribution task
allocation and positioning according to quality, service,
function and cost. The related indicators are divided as
follows:
quality={weight loss, volume loss, amount
loss}={Qw, Qv, Qa}；
service={information management, tracking services,
after sale service}={Si, St, Sa}；
function={packaging, circulation processing, unit
loading, distribution, information processing}={Fp, Fc, Fu,
Fd, Fi}；
cost={inventory
cost,
transportation
cost,
management cost, information processing cost,
outsourcing cost}={Ci, Ct, Cm, Cp, Co}.
III. THE TASK MANAGEMENT MECHANISMS OF
QUICK RESPONSE DISTRIBUTION IN APEL
In modern e-commerce, the customers’ requirements
for agricultural products distribution become
personalized, diversified and high value increasingly,
but their loyalty has declined[4]. Quick response
distribution task management reflects the demand for
this kind of satisfaction degree and service capabilities
in individuality, diversity and high value[5]. So, in order
to maximize the value creation ability, it must have a
standardized theoretical system, method system and
policies & regulations to establish collaborative
management mechanisms in distribution task
management of APEL.
A. Entities Selection of Quick Response Distribution
The quick response distribution task management in
APEL is a multiagent cooperative combat in
e-commerce information platform. Therefore, how to
achieve efficient multipoint contact in quick response
distribution chain of agricultural products? The reliable
and stable entities selection of quick response
distribution is the key. Under e-commerce environment,
the traditional single point contact of customers &
enterprise becomes multipoint contacts by taking
distribution task as the center[6]. Through the systematic
management, the traditional logistics distribution
subjects of market dispersion, disorganisation and low
efficiency & benefit are integrated. The integration and
optimization ways can be close as well as start with a
loose partnership. ECR and JIT theories are their
organization basis in quick response distribution chain[7].
The different logistics management mechanisms and
market entities are connected via e-commerce network
platform, and to break all sorts of market barriers in
APEL. And it changes the traditional vertical
organization structure to a flat organization structure.
According to integrated management the logistics
transportation, warehousing, distribution, circulation
processing, suppliers, customers and other related
subjects of multilevel, much way and much entities
mode, which help to construct efficient APEL
distribution chain and improve the overall coordinated
quick response ability.
B. Collaboration Management Mechanisms of
Distribution Task
In e-commerce, the demand on quick response
between supplier and demander interacts with
accompanying cost, service, function and quality. It
should improve the quick response and collaborative
optimization capabilities of logistics system from system
point of view on the basis of the mechanisms
management on agricultural products distribution task.
Thereby, the distribution task coordination operation
management norms and mechanisms formed accordingly.
The typical quick response task collaborative
management mechanisms in APEL are shown as the
following.
1) Flexible Matching Mechanism
The quick response distribution task collaboration
management in APEL is a dynamic alliance. It creates
value rely on collaborative services of distribution task
alliance. On the basis of entities selection on quick
response distribution task, it can be constructed as a
flexible distribution task management continuum with
efficient, seamless integration according to the scientific
design of docking strategy and management mechanisms
in all distribution tasks collaborative subjects. First, the
craft center of distribution task is responsible for
decomposing the distribution task, processing plan and
design, delivery time quota and lead time management.
Then, the distribution task convergence center organizes
distribution task cohesion, execution process, optimizes
response time and service, function, quality, cost, etc.
Finally, the flexible response mechanisms are established
combing with e-commerce model of agricultural products
and agricultural production, supply policies, and docking
standards and system parameters of distribution services
organization under the support of modern logistics
information technologies.
2) Dynamic Equilibrium Mechanism
The quick response distribution task synergy of
agricultural products e-commerce is a comprehensive
game in a state of multiagent, multilink and multifactor
constraints. It presents a many-to-many condition as a
whole. And its management level is various and complex.
However, in order to achieve a win-win situation in
participates involved, there must be inevitable exists
confrontation and compromise, which reflects three
dynamic equilibrium mechanisms about power balance,
organization balance inside and organizations outside of
distribution task. The power balance mechanism of
distribution task refers to the organization members hold
in their desires spontaneously and lead to tissue
homeostasis based on their own interests. The
organization balance mechanism inside refers to the
internal mechanism of power allocation equilibrium. The
organizations balance mechanism outside refers to the
dynamic balance between organizations and their
relationships. The dynamic equilibrium of quick response
distribution task based on time-based competition
connects this three balancing mechanisms with lead time
from the whole, and coordinate internal and external,
straighten out the vertical and horizontal relations of the
power.
3) Resources Allocation Mechanism
The quick response in APEL is a special,
comprehensive logistics activities taking sorting and
distribution as main means. Its timely delivery and arrival
are primary purpose[8]. Faced with this complex
distribution system, how to ensure full and effective
utilization of the delivery task resource requirements?
The rational and efficient resource allocation mechanism
is the guarantee[9]. Therefore, the distribution resources
planning system organizes resources requirements for
every optimized distribution task in APEL. And then, it
matches demands and supplies according to the constraint
rules. For example, firstly, it defines the specific
distribution resources for specific task. Secondly, the
collaborative management platform of distribution tasks
carry out the market oriented resource allocation
decision-making with government support. However, all
of this is lead by resources property rights theory,
distribution market mechanism and resources governance
mechanism radically.
ACKNOWLEDGMENT
In the current era of rapid development in
agricultural products e-commerce, its logistics
distribution is the key link of realizing material flow
convert to business flow[10]. It is always the bottleneck
and important link in quick response logistics
development. The collaboration management of quick
response distribution task in APEL emphasizes the
dynamic task decomposition and coordinative
optimization to improve the flexible quick response and
adaptation ability on the task of overall system. On the
whole, the multilevel task tree and its task assignment and
positioned based on the multilevel task tree are used to
support flexible task classification system and business
processes. According to this, the collaboration
management system can realize thickness variable
content management, and improve the quick response
capability.
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