We use cookies on this site, but we don't capture any personal information. View our privacy policy.

What happens if I decline cookies?

If you decline cookies, we will suppress

Google Analytics and any future third-party

cookies on this site, but please note that

the site also uses essential cookies as

permitted under the UK's Privacy and

Electronic Communications Regulations for

purposes such as remembering which

items you may have selected or opened as

you move from page to page.

To reject ALL cookies and continue to use

this site, please amend your browser

settings, but if you do, please be aware that

some parts of the site will not work as

intended.

For more information, see our

href='privacy_policy.html'>Privacy

policy page.

Accept cookies     Decline cookies      Reset     Close

Visit Alan McKinnon's LinkedIn page



Alan McKinnon – Professor of Logistics

THE 
LOGISTICS BLOG

Current issues in logistics and transport

Logistics – our life support system

Reproduced from World Economic Forum blog, September 2011. World Economic Forum logo
https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2011/09/logistics-our-life-support-system/

When logistics works, as it does almost all the time, nobody notices. It becomes an invisible service that we all take for granted. For example, when we shop in the typical department store, we seldom give a thought to all the complex processes that have brought tens of thousands of products together in that one location from all over the world in sufficient quantities to meet our demands. Thousands of separate supply chains converge on that one point to give us the level of product availability we have grown to expect. Indeed every service we use and every product we buy depend on elaborate supply networks that we know very little about – until they fail.

It is only when these networks are seriously disrupted, by bad weather, industrial disputes, earthquakes or whatever, that logistics tends to get news coverage. Then journalists all too frequently refer to ‘logistical nightmares’, instilling a negative impression of logistics in the public mind. Many people also resent having to share the road network with trucks and complain about the adverse effects of freight transport and warehousing on the environment. They sometimes fail to see the connection between these sources of irritation and pollution and the goods they buy in the shop. Little wonder that logistics managers often feel they do not get the understanding and appreciation they deserve.

Efforts are now being made, however, to raise the public profile of logistics and make people realise just how vital it is to modern life. In the UK, the Freight Transport Association has launched a campaign called Love Logistics, while the parcel carrier UPS is conveying a similar sentiment in its global press and television advertising. In April this year Germany held a national logistics day, when trade fairs and company visits were organised to promote the sector and the Chancellor, Angela Merkel, gave a speech on the subject.

The World Economic Forum’s decision in 2010 to establish a Logistics and Supply Chain Industry Agenda Council also recognised the critical importance of this activity to global economic and social well-being. The publication of the Council’s first report (see below) should raise awareness of the major challenges facing the logistics sector. Keeping logistical systems, upon which we all rely, running efficiently, sustainably and reliably in the years ahead will not be easy.

Posted in - blogs on logistics themes | Tagged , | Comments Off on Logistics – our life support system

Comments are closed.

© Professor Alan McKinnon 2024

Kuehne Logistics University
Hamburg
Germany

contactme@alanmckinnon.co.uk

Contact me

Privacy policy

Sitemap

Reset cookies

 Web design by Wordspree

 

© Professor Alan McKinnon 2024

 

Kuehne Logistics University
Hamburg
Germany

 

contactme@alanmckinnon.co.uk

 

Contact me

Privacy policy

 

Sitemap

Reset cookies

 
Web design by Wordspree