Network Design of the Storage and Logistics Company - Coursework Example

NETWORK DESIGN AND SOLUTION The London Storage and Logistics Company has for some time been attempting to improve its business practices. The current outlook of the company is to provide clients with the most efficient delivery services and adequate temporary storage facilities at a reasonable price. In order to maintain these standards the Storage and Logistics Company needs to re-evaluate its warehouse facilities and delivery processing systems. The following is an analysis of the new network design solution for the Storage and Logistics Company: BACKGROUND DESCRIPTION Scenario: The business scenario of this analysis is based on a storage and logistics company located in London. The company has twenty vans that make deliveries in the Greater London area. The company also has one warehouse located directly outside of London. In this case the company goal is to offer temporary storage and delivery to customers with the best quality of service. Company Profile: The Storage and Logistics Company is a warehousing and delivery corporation located in London. This corporation was first established in 1932. It manages the flow of goods and information for several prominent clients. The company has eight warehouse locations including seven in the surrounding Greater London area and one located directly outside of London. The current warehouse borough locations are Harrow, Hounslow, Kensington and Chelsea, Waltham Forest, Sutton, Lewisham, and Barking and Dagenham. The United Kingdom location is Sunbury. The company operates on a mid-sized level employing four-thousand, five hundred employees corporation wide. Of these five employ three delivery vans, two employ two, and one employs one. Competition Evaluation: Based on what information will go into this case the United Parcel Service and Federal Express could initially be competitors for this company. These companies employ the same geographical techniques that will be employed by the Storage and Logistics Company. REQUIREMENT ANALYSIS Currently, storage and logistics companies need to establish a system that is of low cost. These systems also need to allow the company to expand with the growth of demand. The information technology (IT) system that the company uses should possess the following qualities as directly cited by the IDC (2006: 1): 1. Simple and scalable solutions for painless and low cost storage consolidation that also accommodates the performance requirements of diverse application. 2. Intelligent storage solutions that enhance the reliability and pace of data migration and data protection across multiple tiers of storage. 3. Storage management systems that boost IT staff efficiency and reduce the time required for administrators to configure and manage expanding storage assets. These strategies toward technologies will allow the client to grow at any desirable rate by while being able to manage large and complex accounts. An upgrade in technology will enable the company to track and deliver the desired accurate information for the client at better than acceptable speeds. Competitiveness from this aspect will be unmatched due to efficient and reliable transportation of data. NETWORK ARCHITECTURE AND DESIGN For the purposes of the intended company functions, several implementations should be made on all tiers. These implementations should be established in order to centralize all company data and extend the reach of all company departments. The following are the suggested IT upgrades for the Storage and Logistics Company: 1. A wireless scanners and data input systems should be implemented in all storage facilities. 2. A Delivery Information Acquisition device (DIAD) IV should be implemented into all delivery vans. 3. An online transaction processing system (OLTP) should be arranged for the new IT system. 4. An Extended Enterprise Resource Planning System (ERP) should be integrated into the company’s current information systems. 5. Integrate a Virtual Private Network (VPN) for internal use by the company and clients. Implementing these transactions will enable the company to afford all of the above mentioned benefits. These benefits can be acknowledged to affect the following locations as follows: 1. Clients: a) Will be able to update accounts accordingly without the third party influence of the logistics team. b) Will be allotted real time responses on input to the system. c) Will have access to required account information at any given time. d) Will be able to track required information at any given time. 2. Storage and Logistics warehouses: a) Will be able to provide necessary reports for clients within short time spans. b) Will have access to up to date records and order information. c) Will be able to track and manage the delivery work force without needing actual physical or verbal contact. d) Will be able to integrate all departments in the warehouse with little or no departmental contact. 3) Delivery Vans: a) Will have remote access to the company database and information. b) Will minimize the use of paperwork in everyday duties. c) Will have access to separate warehouse information for the purposes of being able to offer assistance when assistance for timely deliveries. d) Will be able to process more accurate and efficient delivery information. NETWORK DIAGRAM NETWORK CONNECTIONS The entire network will be centered toward an Office of Information Technology. Implemented into the new Extended ERP System will be the use of wireless network with Ethernet cabling. This medium will enlist the use of the World Wide Web. The communications can take place on a multi-media supporting browser. Implementing these types of media transactions can bring done in the following ways: 1. Implementing a mesh network to connect all outstanding locations on the network. 2. Utilizing satellite uplinks into all locations for support of DIAD upload and the VPN. 3. Utilizing wireless connectivity with all wireless devices. 4. Using Cat 5e Ethernet cabling in all offices and departments to ensure processing. In this case the advantages and disadvantages of the network can be outlined as follows: DIAD IV Advantages (UPS, n. d.): 1. Allows for multiple wireless connection options. 2. Offers Global Positioning Satellite (GPS). 3. Information is sent directly to the home system when it is entered. Disadvantages 1. System does not update information in real time unless connected to an adaptor. 2. System is readily open to attacks on security and privacy of the network. Wireless Scanners Advantages: 1. Allows direct transfer of information into central computer in real time. 2. Allows effective production in assisting delivery processes. 3. Eliminates massive amounts of paperwork on the warehouse floor. Disadvantages: 1. Wireless devices may freeze during consistent data entry. 2. Information on devices can be distorted in transfer failures. Ethernet Cabling Advantages (Cat 5 Cable Company, n. d.): 1. Enhances the speed of the network. 2. Ensures that speeds of data transmission can operate up to 1000 Megabits Per second. 3. Decreases the degree of crosstalk between wire pairs. Disadvantages: 1. Not as effective as the Cat 6 cable in network data transfer capabilities. NETWORK COMPONENTS The Cat 5e cables will be implemented in all departments of each warehouse to ensure a solid mesh interaction. The wireless scanners will be used on the warehouse floor with order terminals. These devices will be used to assist in collecting order information and loading information for outgoing package details. The DIAD IV devices will be used on the road by delivery drivers. These devices will be the ultimate link between the driver and the driver’s home station. CRITICAL ANALYSIS AND REFLECTIONS The sole purpose of designing this particular network this way is to afford the Storage and Logistics Company maximum ability of processing with low expense thresholds. The network will allow the company to expand its current size while also keeping business practices running at exceptional pace. The main downfall of this network would be upgrading the connection sources. In order to go a step above the Cat 5e cabling system, the Cat 6 cabling system would have to be implemented. This process would become one that has a high cost impact to the company. The current network suggestion also requires a strong setup for security purposes. While integrating the wireless concepts into the network the system is made more vulnerable to outside attacks. This current evaluation has taught me that wireless and Ethernet networks can work together under certain standards. Being able to utilize the system at its maximum capacity is a privilege that can be easily overstepped by implementing systems that do not coexist well with each other. For the most part it is about attempting to gather what specifics are desired by the system and contracting the appropriate components. When this is done correctly, networking systems can maintain being a vital part of the company it was presented to support. REFERENCES Cat 5 Cable Company [n. d.] FAQ Section: Cat 5e Cable Performance Benefits [online] available from [2 March 2011] IDC (2006) White Paper: Simplifying Storage for Mid-Sized Enterprises [online] available from [28 February 2011] UPS [n. d.] The UPS Delivery Information Acquisition Device (DIAD IV) [online] available from [2 March 2011] Read More