System integration of order processing and scheduling I
Project duration: 2 years, 5 months
Brief description
In phase 1 of the system integration project, an interface is developed between an order processing system (for managing customer orders) and newly introduced standard software for scheduling (run planning). Tailor-made middleware takes over the control, monitoring, and necessary data transformations. Phase 1 also forms the technological basis for the subsequent phases for integrating additional systems, such as the internal and external tracking systems.
Supplement
The interface consists of two modules, which each perform specific tasks – a transformation module for data transformation and an interface control module for controlling and monitoring the data transfer. Both modules are provided in the Microsoft Internet Information Server as WCF (Windows Communication Foundation) services and thus can be used for external applications (e.g., monitoring client). Development occurs in C# on the .NET 3.0 framework with Visual Studio .NET 2005. The control flow is controlled with the Windows Workflow Foundation (WF). The persistence and tracking services provided on the system side are also used for the restarting and monitoring interface. The entire logic of the interface is contained in the two WCF service components. The data transfer between the two linked systems is file-based due to specifications of the standard software.
Subject description
The customer’s orders consist of the transporting of valuables (money) between various locations (addresses of branches, automated teller machines, and the customer depot). This orders can be a pick-up or a supply (or both). Orders are generally time-bound. In order to complete the orders efficiently, orders must be optimally planned within runs (scheduling). For this purpose, the customer orders are first broken up into transport orders, wherein an order represents the relationship between a loading point and an unloading point (e.g., depot/branch). During scheduling, these transport orders must then be broken down into run items (stops) and planned for specific times. The task of the interface is primarily to provide transport orders for the scheduling system and to provide the results of the scheduling system for the subsequent processing of downstream systems. In addition, the interface ensures that customer orders are not processed more than once.