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Logistical Challenges and One-Man Logistics Operations

Logistics is known as “the detailed coordination of a complex operation involving many people, facilities, or supplies” (Waite, 2013), often related to business operations and the movement of items from one location to another.  When the logistics coordinator, specialist, or manager is considered, the question is raised as to what this professional does on a day-to-day basis. 

A logistics coordinator arranges shipments, processes international paperwork, maintains contact between different shipping and receiving parties, acts as a customer service agent, and (depending on the position responsibilities) has a strong working knowledge of hazardous materials transport.  Moving goods from one point to another is, therefore, not as simple as it might appear to those standing on the outside of logistics looking in.

While the logistics coordinator has a great number of responsibilities and needs to have a broad knowledge base, Yang (2012) has identified four key competencies that would be classified as soft skills necessary for the logistics coordinator to function at the highest possible levels:

1. Reliability

Reliability is simply ensuring that the shipments will be coordinated and delivered in a timely manner with a certain level of consistency (Yang, 2012).  While it may seem simple to package and ship an item, this is often not the case.  If the person who is shipping the item does not understand all of the aspects of logistics, it is possible that the shipment will be delayed, refused, damaged, lost or even illegally shipped. 

Having a logistics professional employed will ensure that your shipments are managed meticulously and expeditiously. 

2. Value Added Service

Adding value through service is ensuring that someone can provide more substance beyond what would be expected in relation to the services that already exist.  People that are employed within an office or laboratory typically lack experience with logistics and are therefore unlikely to be aware of the inner workings of hazardous materials documentation, commercial invoices, carrier differences, and various modes of transportation.  Having a logistics professional guarantees that there is someone with a sole responsibility to know this information so that all shipments are processed in a manner that is timely, accurate, legal, and appropriate for all situations.

3. Flexibility

Most workers that are not involved in logistics know very little about shipping items aside from putting something in a box and sending it by common carrier.  However, there are several other ways to process a shipment. Some examples are by courier, hand-carry, or the common carrier.  Additionally, understanding different modes, costs, needs, and time constraints assist in determining the best decision in relation to shipping.  Having necessary flexibility is a key quality of logistics personnel within an organization. This person can help save cost and time, while managing realistic expectations of timely delivery and potential unexpected obstacles related to shipments.

4. Information Services 

Information services essentially breaks down communication between multiple parties.  While this might seem as trivial as sending an email, a regular employee is unlikely to know the right questions to ask, what answers need to be provided, what paperwork needs to be considered, or who needs to be contacted about shipping, receiving, or general processing concerns as related to logistical movements.  The logistics coordinator is able to act as a go-between amongst the various parties.  The result is a streamlined process that benefits all parties involved.

Summary and Conclusion

There are a set of not only hard competencies required, but also soft skill competencies discussed above which prove valuable to the logistics coordinator as a professional, and also prove valuable to the organizations that employ them.

 

Stephen Hull


References:

Waite, M. (Ed.). (2013). Pocket Oxford English Dictionary. Oxford University Press.

Yang, C. C. (2012). Assessing the moderating effect of innovation capability on the relationship between logistics service capability and firm performance for ocean freight forwarders. International Journal of Logistics Research and Applications, 15(1), 53-69.


About Allyn International

Allyn International is dedicated to providing high quality, customer centric services and solutions for the global marketplace. Allyn's core products include transportation management, logistics sourcing, freight forwarding, supply chain consulting, tax management and global trade compliance.  Allyn clients range from small local businesses to Fortune 500 firms. Allyn conducts business in more than 20 languages and has extensive experience in both developed and emerging markets. Highly trained experts are positioned throughout North America, Europe and Asia. Allyn’s regional headquarters are strategically located in Fort Myers, FL U.S.A, Shanghai, P.R. China and Prague, Czech Republic. For more information, log on to www.allynintl.com.

 

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