Research on Workflow Model of Cooperation between 4PLs and 3PLs Based on Petri-net

The forth-party logistics (4PLs) was defined as the use of a consulting firm to integrate and manage a company´s logistic resources and providers, including third-party logistics providers and other transportation companies. As the middlemen of logistics, 4PLs need to provide optimized logistic-solving schemes for customers. However, they must depend on 3PLs to carry out the solving schemes. Thus, 3PLs are not only the practical operators of 4PLs´ schemes but also the undertakers of their logistics. Cooperation between 4PLs and 3PLs is a critical item that determines 4PLs´ service levels. This paper firstly introduced the basic knowledge of Petri-net and then established a workflow model of cooperation between 4PLs and 3PLs based on Petri-net theory combining real application circum. Furthermore, this paper analyzed the basic characteristics of the established models through invariant analyzing method.