Logist: Background

About the emergence of logistics, there are two versions, not excluding, however, one another. One says that even special food distribution system was developed in the Roman Empire.

Another version of the more common ones, associated with the participation of US troops in World War II. In the depths of the American General Staffs were designed (and during the war used) new army supply technology they were sent, so to speak, to increase the comfort of hostilities: that shells do not have to take a position on their bellies, and that afternoon no American soldiers I was left without his usual cup of coffee and chewing gum. Everything had to be in the right quantity, at the right place and at the estimated time.

Art supplies were polished in the theater so that after the war practical Americans could not use it in civilian life. Was established by the Council on the management of logistics, which is defined: "Logistics - is the process of planning, organizing and controlling the movement of material flows, their warehousing and storage, providing relevant information about all stages of their move from the place of shipment to the destination in order to ensure quality to meet customer requests ".

By the 70 th years of logistics was finally formed as an applied discipline, and the term began to be used actively in the western world. Around the same time began the rapid development of retail chains, supermarkets began to appear first (in the true sense of the word). And there was a need to establish direct relations between suppliers and retailers, to ensure that goods were delivered each week directly to the stores The then logistics, not yet named as such, "manually" controlled filling shelves and support the range. Discrepancies were offset by inventory.

In 10-15 years, this was not enough. Appeared intermediate links: distribution centers, which brought the goods suppliers, transport companies, who bought the main transportation to stores, etc. It has become apparent that unprofitable to hold stock in the warehouses, and therefore need to increase the so-called inventory turnover (the term.. for which the product has time to be sold, so that his place was taken by another).

Soon logistics easily stepped over a simple product distribution. Shown to be effective, it has proven particularly useful in our time.

The fact that the Western market today embrace the idea of ​​minimizing costs. This is understandable: the majority of goods has almost the same properties, approximately equal rates and are often produced in the same factories. And the only chance to survive in this tough competition - save. On the little things, imperceptible details - meters, minutes, center ... According to expert estimates, the Company's development of so-called reduction of logistics costs by 1% is equivalent to almost 10% increase in sales volumes. This gigantic figures. For them worth fighting for.

And here on a scene there are specially trained people - logistics (they logisticians).

What do the logistics?

If you carefully read all the complex definition of this mysterious profession, it can be summarized as: the economy. Logistics aims to save money, goods, time, money, space, equipment, and so on. D. Logist, in the apt words of one journalist, a professional curmudgeon who almost unique in the whole chain from producer to consumer is not thinking about how earn, and how to save.

Logistics thus controlled all processes where these savings can be realized. This procurement, supply, transportation, communication with customs and government agencies, packaging and sales. Having built up a complex structure of mutual coupling elements, logistics does not allow the product for a long time lying in the warehouse, the truck - go a long way, the store - wait for delivery of products.

Thus, the desired product is of the required quality in the required amount in due time to be delivered to the right place with minimal cost to the consumer.

If all these rules are met, we can assume that Logistic served its purpose. And today's transformation into a major logistics business with high costs (in industrialized countries - 20-30% of GDP) merely says that the problem is not simple.

logical thinking eliminates the need ne intuition and excellent response-ability to quickly find a way out of difficult situations. Some of the experts even believe that "good logistics, as well as a real baker, can only be a player" from God "- is not able to guess by your eyes desire boss, and endowed with a talent for moving goods and articles, like pieces on a chessboard, to a brilliant climax ".

Very helpful and communication skills, ability to find common language with different people (from truck drivers to factory directors and officers of the Customs Committee) and the high degree of concentration (in fact it is necessary to simultaneously work with a lot of information in parallel mode).

Plus - mathematical and economic knowledge, and, of course, the understanding of the basic laws of business, both globally and in the applied sense.