Definition of Intralogistics

The term intralogistics was coined in 2004 by the “Forum Intralogistics” of the VDMA (German Engineering Federation). Since the term “logistics” is generally associated with the transport industry and freight traffic, an equivalent was sought that clarifies the flow of materials within facilities.

According to the definition of the VDMA and the forum, intralogistics encompasses “the organization, control, execution and optimization of the internal material flow, the information streams and the handling of goods in industry, trade and public institutions”.

Intralogistics as the cornerstone of process organization

This definition not only describes the purely technical aspects of internal material flow, but also, and to an ever-greater extent, its process organization and information management. The smooth and efficient interaction of all instances involved in the process is one of the greatest challenges in the implementation of intralogistics systems today.

The core competencies of today’s warehouse management include the planning and design of comprehensive processes, the selection of conveyor, storage and sensor technology, the guarantee of a loss-free flow of information and the precise control of all system components.

For more information, see Information in Intralogistics.

Image source: © TUP.com