Work in logistics. The concept, tasks and functions of logistics

2024 Author: Howard Calhoun | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 10:16

After Russia's transition to a market economy, the rapid development of business began in the country. However, there are still problems in the field of business cooperation regarding the movement and delivery of raw materials, finance, information and finished products. The issues of organizing all these processes relate to the work of the logistics departments of the enterprise and individual logistics companies. Such events, despite their apparent ease, are quite complex and time-consuming. That is why working in logistics requires not only experience in this area, but also a significant amount of knowledge.

Definition of concept

What does the term "logistics" imply? It means managing the flow of information, finance and goods. In this regard, the work in logistics lies in finding the most rational way to move the product in the chain, the initial link of which is the manufacturer, and the final link is the recipient or consumer. The complexity of this process lies inthe need for strict controls. It should be conducted from the moment of receipt of the application and information about upcoming movements to the release of finished products, their storage in a warehouse and delivery.

What is the job (logistics)? A specialist who has to solve such problems must build a process in such a way that the enterprise receives maximum profit while incurring minimum costs. But at the same time, you will need to save money wisely. After all, the buyer is determined to receive the goods of the highest quality, which has a reasonable cost for him. In addition, all movement of products must be carried out within deadlines that provide for the required level of service quality.

Subject, goals and objectives

So, we have considered the concept of logistics. The tasks and functions of logistics, as well as its subject and goals, follow directly from the definition given above. Let's start with the subject of this science. In logistics, it is the management exercised over the resource flows of an individual enterprise, as well as control over the state of raw materials, materials and goods. This is the purpose of this discipline. It consists in increasing the efficiency of the organization, which is possible by finding ways to move funds, finances and goods in the most profitable way.

All work performed in logistics is designed to solve the following tasks:

• manage product movements;
• to exercise control over the organized flows of information, finance, services and finished products;
• predict the need of the enterprise for resources;
• plan the movement of we alth.

Logistics functions are an enlarged group of operations for the delivery of goods, the implementation of which is necessary to achieve the goals. Their list includes:

• work on the formation of economic relations necessary to resolve the issue of the supply of goods or the provision of services, as well as their development, rationalization and adjustment;
• determination of directions and volumes of flows of material values;
• calculation of predictive estimates of transportation needs;
• accommodation, development and organization of warehousing at the enterprise;
• determining the optimal route for moving goods through their storage locations;
• management of stocks of resources in the sphere of circulation;
• carrying out transportation and related operations along the route of the cargo;
• performing operations such as marking and packaging, loading and preliminary preparation for it;
• management of operations for the acceptance and storage of cargo, as well as the organization of its movement in small batches.

All of the above logistic functions are characterized by two main features. They are concluded that:

• the whole complex of works is subject to the achievement of a single goal;
• carriers of all these functions are the subjects - participants in the logistics process.

When can the effectiveness of the work done be assessed? Functionslogistics services at the enterprise are evaluated only at the stage of achieving the final goal.

Creating a department that manages the movement of goods

The role of logistics in the work of a modern industrial enterprise is quite large. That is why the management of any company should take care of creating a department that will systematize the processes of moving goods. Such a unit, located in the structure of the enterprise, should introduce logistics management into the daily life of the enterprise. The service must be directly subordinate to the head of the company.

Enterprises with such a department unite all the functions, without which it is impossible to effectively fulfill orders, into a centrally controlled powerful mechanism, with the help of which tasks of any complexity are solved at a professional level and with great responsibility. But at the same time, it should be borne in mind that work in the logistics department should not be a substitute for the activities of the relevant structural units. Organizationally, all links in the management of the company should be built in such a way as to interact with the service dealing with the movement of material assets. This, in turn, will optimize operations and ensure the sustainability of the enterprise.

Department Tasks

The job responsibilities of logistics service specialists do not include the obligation to eliminate failures, as well as to resolve conflict situations and problems that arise. Their function is to coordinate and analyze the implementation of large blockstasks. Management in logistics is the coordination of operations aimed at achieving the main goal of the enterprise.

The department that coordinates the movement of goods should work closely with all functional divisions of the company, optimizing their activities and creating a certain systemic stability for the company.

Influence directions

The logistics department, being a separate structure in the enterprise, influences the following issues:

• interaction with customs services, tax inspectorates and other government agencies;
• processing incoming information about orders, existing customers, delivery points, as well as its rethinking in order to optimize the movement of goods;
• raw material reserves, since one of the tasks facing the logistician is the timely and uninterrupted provision of customers with products, which requires control over its release;
• purchase (it is under the control of the logistics department, as it affects the sales process).

Despite the wide range of tasks assigned to the department, work in logistics does not mean a physical replacement of the relevant functional divisions of the company. After all, as a rule, the volume and quantity of orders can be such that they simply do not allow a specialist designed to coordinate the flows of material assets to cover all facets of deliveries in detail and with high quality. That is why it is so important to understand that the logistics strategy is to manageorders, and other relevant departments of the enterprise should coordinate these processes.

Usage examples

How in demand is this speci alty? Logistics is an indispensable link that is necessary at any stage of entrepreneurial activity. An example of this is the organization of food production:

1. The first step is business planning. At the same time, logistics allows you to correctly calculate the benefits of locating production in a selected location. Only a specialist in this area will be able to answer the question of whether the activity will be rational from the standpoint of the cost of delivering raw materials, as well as in connection with the remoteness from their locations. It should be borne in mind that the tasks that the entrepreneur sets for the logistician must be resolved as soon as possible.
2. After the opening of production and the start of production of finished products, it will be necessary to organize its sale. Logistics planning is a very important process. Especially when it comes to perishable products such as bread, milk, sausages. Indeed, in this case, the speed and smoothness of the sales process will ultimately contribute to the absence of losses of the enterprise. In addition, at the stage when relationships with customers are still being formed, it becomes very important to deliver the goods at the desired time.
3. Sales management. At this stage, close interaction between the logistics department and other structural divisions of the enterprise is carried out. He works most closely with marketing. Management in logistics representsis the organization of the coordinated activities of all company structures, which will ensure the complete and accurate fulfillment of the tasks set.

Versatility

Work in logistics requires a large number of operations. This is the versatility of this activity, which is necessary for the following:

• concluding and monitoring the implementation of contracts with buyers and suppliers;
• organization of transportation (sometimes delivery of required materials);
• inventory control of the enterprise;
• solving issues arising with customs authorities;
• analysis of existing market needs;
• development and conclusion of contracts with customers, which take into account the legal and legal aspects.

Relationship with marketing service

The work of a specialist in the movement of goods, as well as the one who sells it, is especially closely related at the stage of the sale of manufactured products. At the same time, the ultimate goal of the activities of the logistics and marketing departments is to increase sales volumes while organizing the most high-quality implementation process. In this case, the following general tasks are solved:

• organizing and building a network that distributes the shipment of goods depending on their demand, as well as minimizing costs;
• selection of packaging and containers for goods so that they attract the client and ensure the integrity of the cargo;
• development of a pricing policy, which will allow changing the cost of goods both in the direction of its decrease and in the direction of increase.

Movement controlitem

What exactly does an employee whose speci alty is logistics do?

He, being in the organizational service of the enterprise, does the following:

• develops optimal routes to deliver goods with the maximum load of transport, in the shortest possible time and while maintaining the required quality of goods;
• carries out the necessary calculations aimed at reducing transportation costs, which can be carried out using one vehicle delivering several consignments at once in one direction;
• responsible for the safety of the goods during their transportation, which is ensured by the safety of the route, fast loading and unloading of products, as well as the calculation of humidity and temperature conditions of transportation;
• works effectively with other structural divisions of the company, which allows you to increase profits, reduce costs and increase profitability.

Tasks of logistics services

The infrastructure of a large enterprise sometimes consists of a whole complex of separate objects located at a considerable distance from each other. In this regard, the logistics department is a different service that controls certain areas of the company. For example, their work may relate to the transportation of goods and warehousing of material assets. At the same time, the task of such services is to organize the normal functioning of all chains connecting the objects of the enterprise and ensure theirgood communication.

So, the transport logistician is working on planning routes, and also establishes the order of movement of goods. He prepares all the necessary documents that accompany the goods, and exercises subsequent control over all stages of the movement of material assets. In addition, such a specialist deals with issues of insurance of transported commodity values, and also prepares customs documents.

No less important is work in warehouse logistics. It represents the organization of the activities of all terminals and complexes responsible for the storage of products and materials. The duties of such a logistician include the issues of determining the order of not only placement, but also storage of products. In addition, he must form a clear scheme that allows timely processing of commodity and material values. An experienced warehousing logistician is able to select storage equipment and organize the efficient use of available usable space.

Career advancement

Logistics managers usually start as an assistant. This is an assistant who prepares the necessary documentation, as well as processes various information on each stage of the movement of material assets.

At this stage of work, a person can determine the area of activity in which his future career as a logistician will develop. However, in order to rise to the highest professional level, you will need a diploma confirmingreceiving higher education. What should it be? There are universities that provide specialized education, but, in addition, economists and customs specialists can apply for the position of logistician.

The most in demand among employers are logistics specialists who have received international certificates and completed advanced training courses. At the same time, a good manager must have excellent analytical and organizational skills. When working with foreign partners, you will also need knowledge of a foreign language.

Only a responsible person can become a manager working in logistics, because he will be responsible for ensuring the continuous operation of the entire company. In addition, such a specialist should have good communication skills and easily establish contacts with people. In work, he will also need such a quality as stress resistance. After all, such a specialist is under constant pressure from carriers, suppliers and management.