E-learning in logistics of production – business process management perspective

Abstract

Progressive digitization and dynamic development of ICT technologies generate new opportunities for industry, logistics, society and education. Education in Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics (STEM), also called ‘the education of the future’, has become of great importance, because we are experiencing a shortage of STEM workers in various sectors. The effectiveness of STEM e-learning as a teaching method should be a key principle in management of this process. The main goal of the paper is to present a process approach to e-learning of automated transportation used in production logistics. The framework allows one to identify and optimise processes, and it may contribute to efficient management of distance learning. Moreover, it could improve the process of software development and software design skills. Desk research analyses were carried out to describe the state of art in the field of STEM education and potential of process management for remote teaching. In the empirical part of the paper, the modelling was based on the main assumptions of process management and BPMN (Business Process Modelling Notation), and dedicated process mapping software was used. The article examines the potential of the process approach and confirms that it can contribute to increasing the effectiveness of distance learning in the field of STEM. As a result of modelling, the optimization concepts regarding designing the e-learning course and the possibility of expanding the existing model towards acquiring more skills, for instance in programming PLC controllers were indicated. The developed model is a starting point for improving teaching of STEM for production, logistics, engineering and other domains.

Keywords

• e-learning
• production logistics
• process management
• bpm
• stem
• computer systems