Experiences of different approaches in logistics

This paper focuses on the problems of logistics from several viewpoints relevant in practice. Empirical observations are extracted from different branches of industry. Based on these observations the authors classify a set of approaches. They consider that an appropriate approach in future is the integrated paradigm having a basis on traditional industrial engineering discipline supported by information, communication and calculational technologies. This paper is associated with an on-going Esprit II project 2277-CMSO (CIM for Multisupplier Operations).