"Logistics is a part of supply chain management that deals with the efficient forward and reverse flow of goods, services, and related information from the point of origin to the point of consumption according to the needs of customers."
Planning and managing the movement of goods from production facilities to retailers or end consumers while minimizing transportation and handling costs.
Supply Chain Management (SCM): The management of the flow of goods and services from the point of origin to the point of consumption, encompassing all activities involved in sourcing, procurement, production, distribution, and logistics.
Transportation Management: The planning, execution, and optimization of the movement of goods from one place to another, including the selection of transportation modes, carriers, and routes, as well as freight consolidation and cost control.
Inventory Management: The planning and control of the storage, movement, and distribution of goods and materials, including forecasting, inventory optimization, and order fulfillment.
Warehousing and Distribution: The management of storage facilities, including the layout, design, and operation of warehouses, as well as the management of inbound and outbound logistics.
Order Fulfillment: The process of receiving, processing, and delivering customer orders, including the management of order tracking, inventory allocation, and customer service.
Packaging and Labeling: The design and production of packaging materials and labels, including the selection of suitable materials, product identification, and compliance with regulatory requirements.
International Logistics: The management of logistics operations across national borders, including international transportation, customs clearance, trade compliance, and documentation.
Supply Chain Analytics: The use of data and analytical tools to improve logistics and supply chain performance, including the analysis of key performance indicators, simulation, and predictive models.
Procurement and Sourcing: The management of the purchasing process, including supplier selection, negotiation, and contract management, as well as the development of strategic sourcing plans.
Reverse Logistics: The management of product returns, repairs, and recycling, including the process of recovering value from products that are no longer needed or wanted.
E-commerce and Omni-channel Logistics: The management of logistics operations for online retailers and multi-channel businesses, including the integration of online and offline sales channels, and the management of order fulfillment through multiple channels.
Sustainability and Green Logistics: The implementation of sustainable logistics practices to minimize the impact on the environment, including the reduction of carbon emissions, waste management, and the use of renewable energy sources.
Inbound logistics: Inbound logistics involves the movement and management of raw materials, components, and packaging materials from suppliers to manufacturers.
Outbound logistics: Outbound logistics refers to the movement and management of finished goods from the facility to the end consumer.
Reverse logistics: Reverse logistics deals with the movement and management of products, materials, and equipment when they are returned by customers or suppliers.
Global logistics: Global logistics include transportation, warehousing, and distribution of products across national boundaries to meet the demands of international customers.
E-commerce logistics: E-commerce logistics refers to the logistics and distribution processes involved in delivering products ordered online.
3PL logistics: Third-party logistics providers offer services such as transportation, warehousing, and distribution of products on behalf of manufacturers or retailers.
Multi-channel logistics: Multi-channel logistics involves the management of distribution channels that involve multiple channels such as brick-and-mortar stores, e-commerce platforms and other distribution channels.
Cold chain logistics: Cold chain logistics involves the transportation and management of temperature-sensitive products such as pharmaceuticals, food, and perishable goods.
Green logistics: Green logistics focuses on minimizing the environmental impact of logistics activities through the use of sustainable practices and technologies.
Lean logistics: Lean logistics aims to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the logistics process by reducing waste, cost, and time.
"Logistics management is a component that holds the supply chain together."
"The resources managed in logistics may include tangible goods such as materials, equipment, and supplies, as well as food and other consumable items."
"In military logistics, it is concerned with maintaining army supply lines with food, armaments, ammunitions, and spare parts apart from the transportation of troops themselves. Meanwhile, civil logistics deals with the acquisition, movement, and storage of raw materials, semi-finished goods, and finished goods."
"For organizations that provide services such as garbage collection, mail deliveries, public utilities, and after-sales services, logistical problems also need to be addressed."
"Logistics deals with movements of materials or products from one facility to another (e.g. from the production facility to assembly plants to distribution centers); it does not deal with the material flow within the production or assembly plants (e.g. production planning or single-machine scheduling)."
"Logistics occupies a significant amount of the operational cost of an organization or country."
"Logistical costs of organizations in the United States incurred about 11% of United States national gross domestic product (GDP) in 1997."
"Logistics incurred 8.8 to 11.5% of the national GDP in 1993 for countries in the European Union (EU)."
"The complexity of logistics can be modeled, analyzed, visualized, and optimized by dedicated simulation software."
"The minimization of the use of resources is a common motivation in all logistics fields."
"A professional working in the field of logistics management is called a logistician."