In the current business context, the comprehensive management of the supply chain from the supplier to the final customer is crucial to the future of a company . This management is mainly carried out by the Logistics department, whose function is relatively unknown to people outside this sector.
According to the RAE Dictionary , logistics is "the set of means and methods necessary to carry out the organization of a company or a service, especially in distribution."
Logistics management
Thus, this department is responsible for two processes, one internal and one external.
The first, the internal one, is responsible for the distribution of products within the company; the second, the external one, ensures that the products reach customers in perfect condition and on time.
Transport services management is present in all company departments, although the one we are concerned with in this post is the one that covers the life period of the product or service. Therefore, the phases, functions and objectives are focused on improving these processes.
PHASES:
Supply: Warehouse management, purchase of raw materials at agreed price and time and storage of the product
Production: Produce a good or provide a service with the appropriate technologies and at the lowest possible cost.
Distribution: The path of the product or service until it reaches the final consumer
FUNCTIONS:
Analyze the distribution processes of commercial operations
Control and coordinate functions in the supply chain
Manage and plan purchasing, production, transportation, storage and distribution activities
Reduce the cost, delivery times and itineraries of products
GOALS
Increase the competitiveness of the company
Increase production
Reduce spending
Raise quality levels
Minimize errors
I'm leaving you an infographic so you can see it visually:
Phases and functions of logistics management
What qualities should a logistics expert have?
Organizing the flow of raw materials that the company needs to produce the final product or organizing distribution on the market as quickly and at the lowest possible cost are some of the tasks performed by a logistics professional . Logistics must provide a competitive advantage, through service and cost reduction. We have spoken to several workers in this sector to get their experiences.
Borja Díaz , Head of Logistics at Continental Tires
Borja Diaz
I think that logistics is no different from any other department in a company. From my point of view, it is essential to surround yourself with good professionals, not to want to be better than them but to form the best possible team. On the other hand, if you have the warehouse and distribution part subcontracted, it is essential to consider your logistics operator as a 'partner' and not just as a service company; if they win, you win.
If you have the best product, but you can't get it to the right place at the right time, it's no use having that product. We're like the referee in a game; the less they say about us, the better. No one is going to call you to say that their tires have arrived, they'll call you when they haven't. You have to be customer-oriented and be prepared that no matter how good customer service you provide, if you fail once they'll say, "logistics sucks ." Never expect a medal or a pat on the back.
Alberto Espinosa , Organization and Logistics Technician at TEAM AND TIME
Alberto Espinosa
A logistics network expert must first seek an overall view of the company's entire activity, analysing the connections between the flows of both material and information. He must take into account the resources at his disposal and the needs he may have. And he must always seek order and discipline in everything around him, trying to have control over the greatest number of factors that may affect him.
Logistics is crucial to a company's activity. If the logistics chain fails, i latest mailing database t can completely paralyse the activity. In addition, in many companies it is often an important area for improvement and where a change in technology can lead to very significant savings. You must be organised in your work and always seek a cross-sectional view of the company's activity.
The role of logistics is very broad and depends on the environment in which it is developed: industrial, distribution, transport, etc.; although in all of them the main criterion is to analyse all the processes involved directly and indirectly, to find synergies and optimise all the processes as much as possible. It has gone from being seen as a purely cost department to being a key department in many companies due to its ability to generate savings and optimise processes.
It is a basic tool in customer service. For this reason, I understand that logistics has a total vocation for the consumer, together with the continuous search for process improvements to streamline and improve customer service every day. To keep up to date, I recommend attending trade fairs in the sector and different courses and seminars on more specific topics.