Logistics Management Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Logistics Management - Essay Example (Stevens as cited in Fortes 2009, p. 2) Supply chain is the process of converting raw materials into the designed product; it involves steps which start from planning up to the delivery of the product to the customer. Early constructs for supply chain revolving around management strategy involved strategic supplier partnership, customer relationship, and information sharing (Li et al. as cited in Sanchez-Rodriguez 2006, p. 6). Strategic supplier partnership is a business-to-business transaction between suppliers and manufacturers. Customer relationship is a business-customer transaction where emphasis is meeting the customer needs and answering their complaints. Customer relationship management is a part of logistics management. Information sharing involves strategic information between firms and their suppliers. Emphasis is on information regarding green logistics. (Sanchez-Rodriguez 2006, p. 6) The not-for-profit organisation Council of Logistics Management define logistics management as ‘the process of planning, implementing, and controlling the efficient, effective flow and storage of goods, services, and related information from point of origin to point of consumption for the purpose of conforming to customer requirements’ (Simchi-Levi, Chen, and Bramel 2005, p. 1). Logistics is a process that goes from designing and production of a product to processing, storing, selling, and delivering it to the end user or customer. Logistics emanated from the Greek word logistikos and the Latin logisticus, which refers to the science of computing and calculating. In ancient times, it was more connected to logistics for armies, including supplies of food and materials. Logistics was used way back in the 17th century by the French army. During the Second World War, it was used to refer to the movement of supplies, men and equipment to many places especially across the border. Today, logistics is used in business to refer to the