Logistics: Inbound and Outbound:

There is a great deal of material that is moved in and out of any organization. Organizations gather raw materials from suppliers and deliver finished goods to the customers. It is logistics that executes this function. In other term, logistics is the function that moves both tangible materials (for example raw materials) and intangible material (e.g. information) through the operations to the customers (as a finished product).

The role of logistics has been perceived by many senior managers and chief executives, as nothing more than getting the right product at the right place in right time and within cost. However, in recent times to be successful logisticians a wider perspective has to be developed with due consideration to the strategic role played by logistics management in an organisation. Strategic management of acquisitions, movement and storage of raw materials, production and shipment to delivery to end-users are some of the significant tasks of logistics management. Cost-effectiveness, speed and reliable delivery are the inherent requirements to make the logistic operation successful.

Logistics is a very intricate yet a very simple subject to learn about, this is complicated tasks to manage in case the channels of logistics are not in place and are not integrated. Logistics require a lot of coordination and integration at the highest and the lowest of levels. Rightly said, a logistician's phone never stops ringing, he moves from crisis to crisis, and from one criticality to another, in order to properly manage the function.

Objectives

After studying this unit, you should be able to

• define Logistics,
• describe the facets of Logistics, that means. transportation, warehousing and information systems,
• portray Logistics like a key to supply chain management,
• discuss about Inbound and Outbound Logistics, and
• Describe Logistics from supplier to manufacturer and manufacturer to consumers.