Logistics 77547 222769230 2008-07-01T00:50:48Z Ukexpat 70142 rv spam (using [[WP:HG|Huggle]]) {{For|the drum and bass producer|Logistics (artist)}} {{wiktionary}} {{Unreferenced|date=June 2007}} {{Cleanup|date=August 2007}} [[Image:Allentown Project 042.jpg|thumb|227px|Inside Nexus Distribution, a United States-based logistics provider. Image shows goods stacked on pallets with forklift.]] '''Logistics''' is the management of the flow of [[goods]], [[information]] and other resources, including [[energy]] and people, between the point of origin and the point of consumption in order to meet the requirements of consumers (frequently, and originally, [[military]] organizations). Logistics involve the [[integration]] of information, [[transportation]], [[inventory]], [[warehousing]], material-handling, and [[packaging]]. ==Origins and definition== The term "logistics" originates from the ancient [[Ancient Greek|Greek]] "''λόγος''" ("''logos''"—"ratio, word, calculation, reason, speech, oration"). Logistics is considered to have originated in the military's need to supply themselves with arms, ammunition and rations as they moved from their base to a forward position. In ancient Greek, Roman and Byzantine empires, there were military officers with the title ‘''Logistikas''’ who were responsible for financial and supply distribution matters. The Oxford English dictionary defines ''logistics'' as: ''“The branch of [[military science]] having to do with procuring, maintaining and transporting material, personnel and facilities.”''Another dictionary definition is: "The time related positioning of resources." As such, logistics is commonly seen as a branch of [[engineering]] which creates "''people systems''" rather than "''machine systems''".... ==Logistician== '''Logistician''' is the [[profession]] in the logistics & transport sectors, including sea, air, land and rail modes. [[Professional]] qualifications for the logisticians can carry post-nominal letters. Common examples include FCILT/CMILT/MILT (by The Chartered Institute of Logistics & Transport) (CILT), EJLog/ESLog/EMLog (by European Logistics Association) (ELA), PLog (by Canadian Professional Logistics Institute), CML/CPL (by International Society of Logistics) (SOLE), JrLog/Log/SrLog (by China Federation of Logistics & Purchasing) (CFLP), FHKLA/MHKLA (by Hong Kong Logistics Association) (HKLA), PLS/CTL/DLP (by American Society of Transportation & Logistics) (AST&L). However, some [[universities]] and academic [[institutions]] do help in producing logisticians, by offering [[academic degree]] programmes at both [[undergraduate]] and [[postgraduate]] levels, too. ==Military logistics== In [[military logistics]], [[Logistics Officer|logistics officers]] [[management|manage]] how and when to move resources to the places they are needed. In military science, maintaining one's supply lines while disrupting those of the enemy is a crucial—some would say the most crucial—element of [[military strategy]], since an armed force without resources and transportation is defenseless. The defeat of the British in the American War of Independence, and the defeat of [[Erwin Rommel]] in [[World War II]], have been largely attributed to logistical failure. {{Fact|date=March 2008}} The historical leaders [[Hannibal Barca]], [[Alexander the Great]] and the [[Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington|Duke of Wellington]] are considered to have been logistical geniuses. Another field within logistics is called [[Medical logistics]]. ==Logistics management== {{main|Logistics Management}} Logistics management is that part of the [[supply chain]] which plans, implements and controls the efficient, effective forward and reverse flow and storage of goods, services and related information between the point of origin and the point of consumption in order to meet customers' requirements. A professional working in the field of logistics management is called a ''logistician''. The Chartered Institute of Logistics & Transport (CILT) was established in the [[United Kingdom]] in 1919 and was granted the [[Royal Charter]] in 1926. The Chartered Institute is one of [[professional bodies]] or institutions for the logistics & transport sectors, that offers such [[professional qualification]] or degree in logistics management. ==Logistics Management Software== Software is used for [[logistics automation]] which helps the supply chain industry in automating the work flow as well as management of the system. There are very few generalized software available in the new market in the said topology. This is because there is no rule to generalize the system as well as work flow even though the practice is more or less the same. Most of the commercial companies do use one or the other of the custom solutions. But there are various software solutions that are being used within the departments of logistics. There are a few departments in Logistics, namely: Conventional Department, Container Department, Warehouse, Marine Engineering, Heavy Haulage, etc. The software used in these departments are, Conventional department : CVT software / CTMS software / Container Trucking: CTMS software / Warehouse : WMS / ==Business logistics== Logistics as a business concept evolved only in the 1950s. This was mainly due to the increasing complexity of supplying one's business with materials and shipping out products in an increasingly globalized supply chain, calling for experts in the field who are called Supply Chain Logisticians. This can be defined as ''having the right item in the right quantity at the right time at the right place for the right price'' and is the science of process and incorporates all industry sectors. The goal of logistics work is to manage the fruition of [[project life cycle]]s, [[supply chain]]s and resultant efficiencies. In business, logistics may have either internal focus (inbound logistics), or external focus (outbound logistics) covering the flow and storage of materials from point of origin to point of consumption (see [[supply chain management]]). The main functions of a qualified logistician include [[inventory management]], [[purchasing]], [[transportation]], [[warehousing]], [[consultation]] and the organizing and [[planning]] of these activities. Logisticians combine a professional knowledge of each of these functions so that there is a coordination of resources in an organization. There are two fundamentally different forms of logistics. One optimizes a steady flow of material through a network of [[transport]] links and storage nodes. The other coordinates a [[sequence]] of resources to carry out some project. ==Production logistics == ******** The term is used for describing logistic processes within an industry. The purpose of production logistics is to ensure that each machine and workstation is being fed with the right product in the right quantity and quality at the right point in time. The issue is not the transportation itself, but to streamline and control the flow through the value adding processes and eliminate non-value adding ones. Production logistics can be applied in existing as well as new plants. Manufacturing in an existing plant is a constantly changing process. Machines are exchanged and new ones added, which gives the opportunity to improve the production logistics system accordingly. Production logistics provides the means to achieve customer response and capital efficiency. Production logistics is getting more and more important with the decreasing batch sizes. In many industries (e.g. mobile phone) batch size one is the short term aim. This way even a single customer demand can be fulfilled in an efficient way. Track and tracing, which is an essential part of production logistics - due to product safety and product reliability issues - is also gaining importance especially in the automotive and the medical industry. ==References== [[Category:Logistics| ]] [[ar:لوجستية]] [[bg:Логистика]] [[cs:Logistika]] [[da:Logistik]] [[de:Logistik]] [[et:Logistika]] [[es:Logística]] [[eo:Loĝistiko]] [[fr:Logistique]] [[hr:Logistika]] [[id:Logistik]] [[it:Logistica]] [[he:לוגיסטיקה]] [[hu:Logisztika]] [[nl:Logistiek]] [[ja:物流]] [[no:Logistikk]] [[ug:ماھارەت]] [[pl:Logistyka]] [[pt:Logística]] [[ru:Логистика]] [[sk:Logistika (výrobné a obehové procesy)]] [[sl:Logistika]] [[fi:Logistiikka]] [[sv:Logistik]] [[th:โลจิสติกส์]] [[tr:Lojistik]] [[uk:Логістика]] [[zh:物流]]