Deal with the management of the flow of goods or materials from point of origin to point of consumption, and in some cases even to the point of disposal. Logistics is not confined to manufacturing operations alone. It is relevant to all enterprises, including government institutions such as hospitals and schools, service organization such as retailers, banks and financial service organizations. Logistics is dependent upon natural, human, financial and information resources for inputs. Suppliers provide raw materials, in process inventory and finished goods. Management actions provide the framework for logistics activities through the process of planning, implementation and control. The outputs of the logistics system are competitive advantage, time and place utility, efficient movement to the customer, and providing a logistic service, mix such that logistics becomes a propriety asset of the organization. These outputs are made possible by the effective and efficient performance of the logistic activities.
Logistics activity is literally thousands of years old, dating back to the earliest forms of organized trade. As an area of study, however, it first began to gain attention in the early 1900s n the distribution of farm products as a way to support the organization’s business strategy and a way of providing time and place utility.
Following the clear importance of the contribution of logistics during the Second World War, logistics began to receive increased recognition and emphasis. The first dedicated logistics texts began to appear in the early 1960’s, which was also when Peter Drucker, a noted business expert, author and consultant, stated that logistics was one of the last real frontiers of opportunity for organizations wishing to improve their corporate efficiency. These factors combined to increase the interest in logistics.
The Role of the Logistics in the Economy
Logistics plays a key role in the economy in two