industry logistics system
1
Introducing logistics
1.1
Definition of logistics
According to a widespread definition, logistics (from the Greek term l´ gos, which o means ‘order’, or from the French loger, which means ‘allocate’) is the discipline that studies the functional activities determining the flow of materials (and of the relative information) in a company, from their origin at the suppliers up to delivery of the finished products to the customers and to the post-sales service.
The origins of logistics are of a strictly military nature. In fact, this discipline arose as the study of the methodologies employed to guarantee the correct supply of troops with victuals, ammunitions and fuel and, in general, to ensure armies the possibility of moving and fighting in the most efficient conditions. Indeed it was the Babylonians, in the distant 20th century BC, who first created a military corps specialized in the supply, storage, transport and distribution of soldiers’ equipment. Logistics was applied exclusively in a military context until the end of Second World War. Subsequently, it was extended to manufacturing companies in order to determine all the activities aimed at ensuring the correct purchasing, moving and managing of materials. Logistics problems are also increasingly present in the service sector, for example in the distribution of some services such as water and gas, in postal services, in urban solid waste collection, in the maintenance of road and electricity networks and in the post-sales activities of manufacturing companies (service logistics).
1.2
Logistics systems
From the point of view of companies, logistics is seen as a system (the logistics system), which includes not only all the functional activities determining the flow
Introduction to Logistics Systems Management, Second Edition. Gianpaolo Ghiani, Gilbert Laporte and Roberto Musmanno.
© 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. Published 2013 by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
2
INTRODUCTION
Introducing logistics
1.1
Definition of logistics
According to a widespread definition, logistics (from the Greek term l´ gos, which o means ‘order’, or from the French loger, which means ‘allocate’) is the discipline that studies the functional activities determining the flow of materials (and of the relative information) in a company, from their origin at the suppliers up to delivery of the finished products to the customers and to the post-sales service.
The origins of logistics are of a strictly military nature. In fact, this discipline arose as the study of the methodologies employed to guarantee the correct supply of troops with victuals, ammunitions and fuel and, in general, to ensure armies the possibility of moving and fighting in the most efficient conditions. Indeed it was the Babylonians, in the distant 20th century BC, who first created a military corps specialized in the supply, storage, transport and distribution of soldiers’ equipment. Logistics was applied exclusively in a military context until the end of Second World War. Subsequently, it was extended to manufacturing companies in order to determine all the activities aimed at ensuring the correct purchasing, moving and managing of materials. Logistics problems are also increasingly present in the service sector, for example in the distribution of some services such as water and gas, in postal services, in urban solid waste collection, in the maintenance of road and electricity networks and in the post-sales activities of manufacturing companies (service logistics).
1.2
Logistics systems
From the point of view of companies, logistics is seen as a system (the logistics system), which includes not only all the functional activities determining the flow
Introduction to Logistics Systems Management, Second Edition. Gianpaolo Ghiani, Gilbert Laporte and Roberto Musmanno.
© 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. Published 2013 by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
2
INTRODUCTION