Toolbox

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The computer program Toolbox (Version 1.2 June 2012) contains the majority of the quantitative methods worked on at the chair as well as numerous additional functions. A full version of the Toolbox with all functionalities and examples of the functionalities can be found here.

General presentation

The Logistics Toolbox is a software with numerous methods of logistics and related fields. The development took place at the Chair of Business Administration, esp. Logistics at the TU Dresden.
Conceptually, the Toolbox is a combination of application and teaching program. Although the focus basically is towards the results of the process, interim results and a demonstration of the process is additionally given. This is the reason why the program is suitable both for purely result-oriented solutions as well as for didactical purposes.

Simple operation is achieved by avoiding the separation of input and output. Output data and solutions are therefore always visible at the same time and always match each other, which is enabled through an automatic update after each input.

More than three dozen methods of logistics and its environment in procurement, production and distribution have been implemented and can be divided into the following areas or groups:

Procurement: parts classification, requirement resolution, demand forecasting, order quantity calculation, stochastic inventory, quality management
Production: linear optimization (program planning), lot-size calculation, scheduling, capacity calculation, machine scheduling
Distribution: determination of shortest paths, flow calculations, transport (quantity) planning, trip planning, round trip planning, location planning

From the concept and the contents of logistics Toolbox arise - in addition to purely problem solving oriented application - numerous possibilities of application in teaching. The most important are shortly explained in the following:

Possible application for learners

Possibility of rapid verification of manually calculated final results
Tracing error sources in your own procedure (possible by issuing numerous intermediate results)
Simple design of new tasks (incl. solution) in addition to the known tasks from lecture and exercises, e.g. for exam preparation
Easier get to know of the characteristics of the process by the "play through" of various variants and observing the reaction of the result

Possible application for teachers

Demonstration of the application of the taught methods on problems within a more realistic scope
Tools for quick and precise design of quantitative exercises and exam questions for students
Facilitating the increased focus on the selection of the method and interpretation of results in teaching (e.g. in the form of a new course)

Features / concepts

Help texts for each page with explanations of the input and output fields and the variables used
Options, data from other applications (e.g. MS Excel) or other fields of the Toolbox to import or export
Issue multiple intermediate results and procedures
All-in-a-glance - concept: input and output data are simultaneously visible
Automatic update of all results after each data modification
Simple operation with a mouse click on the displayed values

System Requirements

Installed Software: Sun Java JRE V1.3 to JRE 8 (free download here)
Hardware: no special requirements

Jupyter-Notebooks for the Book "Strategisches und operatives Logistikmanagement: Distribution"

Here you can download the jupyter notebooks for the traditional transportation problem and the traveling salesman problem.

Subsequently, you will find links to access the tutorials for installation purposes: