Logistics activities

So far, we’ve broadly defined logistics, considered its history and examined the important 7Rs – we now delve deeper into the specific activities and elements of logistics.

Logistics activities include all activities from the procurement of raw materials, all the way through to delivering the right products to customers. Activities include:

• Procurement and ordering of goods/materials by manufacturers or retailers to fulfil expected customer demand
• Movement of goods using airplanes, trains, ships and trucks
• Manufacturers producing the right goods in line with expectations using the raw materials
• Storage of produced goods in warehouses or distribution centres
• Collaborating with inventory management to ensure correct stock levels and to avoid shortages

Specific terms associated with these activities include:

• Procurement
• Order management
• Transportation management
• Material handling
• Inventory management
• Warehouse management
• Demand forecasting
• Customer service
• Packaging
• Facility locating
• Reverse logistics

Your task

Consider a product that you have bought recently from a grocery store, and describe the logistics activities you think it has passed through prior to your purchase.