GPS based track and trace for transparent and sustainable global supply chains

This paper provides an approach to use a continuous track and trace system based on GPS (Global Positioning System) technology in production networks. Therefore the ild institute for logistics and service management (FOM Essen, Germany) operates a new GPS based track and trace system with the name GPS. LAB. The results of the first trials with the existing system in the context of production planning and supply chain event management are presented in this paper. In a special example the GPS track and trace system is used to identify delays in an inbound logistics process of a groupage freight depot to show the influence of the delay on the routing of last-mile transports. This could be labelled as a last mile event routing (LMER) concept.