I confess when I first heard the term “logistics” I thought it must be referring to the stoic philosophy practiced by the pointy-eared, green-blooded people of the planet Vulcan! Well, I’ve got it sorted now, so let’s take a look at terrestrial logistics, what they are, and what they do. Logistics is a term that refers to moving goods from one place to another. There are two main parts to the process, transportation and warehousing. Logistics falls under the mantle of the term “supply chain” which describes a group of organizations and businesses working together to implement the production and distribution of goods.
So, if you have a product that needs to get from your factory to your customer you need to call a specialist logistics service to come pick up your shipment, store it in their own warehouse temporarily if necessary, then deliver it to its destination. They take care of everything so your business can feel confident in the knowledge that the job will be done right, and your important goods will be placed in the right hands in a safe and timely manner.
The best logistics services have the capabilities to transport just about anything, from large equipment to small packages containing high-tech items or other fragile pieces.
Let’s take a closer look at logistics and how it helps business happen. First up is the role of logistics management. A logistics manager will oversee the many complex mechanisms and procedures involved in the logistics process. These professionals obtain special certifications to ensure they fully understand and can implement their duties. The successful movement of goods is dependent on careful planning. The routes taken must be the most expedient as time is always of the essence, so attention must be paid to potential obstacles such as inclement weather conditions and road work that might physically block the path.
Shipping requirements and packaging must also be properly implemented under the direction of the logistics manager to protect the goods during their journey. Then the matter of costs must be accounted for, factoring in item weight, proper packaging options, requested delivery times, and any special transportation requirements such as en route refrigeration for perishable foods. The logistics manager must take all of these diverse factors into consideration to ensure the goods arrive in perfect condition, resulting in the goal of any business, customer satisfaction. A shipment of broken eggs or damaged components is going to end in your company taking a loss, it is the solemn duty of the logistics manager to prevent those unfortunate incidents from ever happening
We have talked about logistics in its role of shipping products out, but there is another important aspect of business that also fall under its umbrella, the shipment of raw materials from the supplier to the factory that manufactures the goods which will eventually be delivered to the customer.
Logistics is a constantly evolving science, and the UK government is invested in improving the system to help drive future prosperity.
