The historical stages in the development of logistics kept pace with market trends of an objective nature. It is a broad understanding of the possible resources of the logistic approach and the level of development of concepts and models of logistic management that led this type of scientific and practical activity to its current form. Logistics is simply necessary in modern conditions of organizing the life of the population of different countries, therefore its application is constantly being developed and improved.
Science to reason
This type of economic activity is to calculate and in practice manage the optimization of the movement of financial, material and information flows from the initial stage to the final consumer. The beginning of the XX century and the release of the work “Transport Logistics” gave impetus to the development of this direction. Based on this information, models of troop transportation were built, which was put into practice in the First World War. The history and stages of the development of logistics also affect the Second World War, where it was used in the material and technical supply of the army. Actively this area began to be applied in the 60-70 years of the XX century, only then they began to attach special importance to the schemes of delivery of goods and the development of production.
Experts understood that it was necessary to track the stages of product movement, which would allow us to see and calculate the possible losses that were in the usual schemes. The realization that a logistic organized way reduces the cost of goods at the destination has turned the whole idea of ​​market relations. Scientific and technological progress and computer technologies have helped logistics to reach a new level and have turned the management of information flows into a simpler and more accessible process.
Step by step
The economy presents several approaches to determining the stages of development of logistics. The generalized approach includes the stage of formation, which is the integration of the transport and warehouse processes for the distribution of SOEs, the development stage, the integration stage, which includes working with finished raw materials, the globalization stage and the modern development of logistics.
The development of the area under consideration is determined by objective trends in the market, economic factors, when attention is paid to the buyer, competitive products are highlighted, the best methods of customer service are searched for, cost-effective ways of coordinating supply and demand. A wide selection of goods contributed to an increase in the cost of stockpiling in distribution systems, which also required the search for ways to reduce financial losses.
Marketing philosophy
The prerequisites and stages of the development of logistics come from the theory and practice of management, the search for new logical approaches based on shortening product order cycles. Everything rested on the concept of cost reduction. The key concept was aimed at regrouping the costs in the distribution of SOEs, for example, replacing road transport with air, which immediately eliminates the need for intermediate warehouses, and also takes away the cost of storage and warehousing. At the same time, the cost of transportation will increase, but, an analysis of costs and revenues, as a result, will show that the scheme will be advantageous.
Logistics allows you to solve the problems of organizing the transport and storage process. The complexity of management in daily fluctuations in demand and periodic confusion in the process of distribution of products. Distribution optimization was imperfect before, but most often such problems were solved unilaterally and did not have the desired effect. The joint solution of optimization problems, although it was not easy at the initial stage, but became cost-effective and was able to combine the work of software and computer technology, and the professionalism of specialists, and also allowed to bring the organization of the process to a new level.
Development and integration of production processes
Gradually, the stages of logistics development at the enterprise stabilized due to the growth of investments, and the main task was the rational use of semi-finished products and raw materials, the resource factor became central in the competition. This stage of development is characterized by the search for new ways to reduce costs, rational use of materials, the development of industrial logistics principles and the implementation of quality management principles. The development stage for production, warehouses and transport has become a unification in one harmonious mechanism. The process was controlled from the production line to the end user.
Trying to get it off the right track
An attempt to introduce logistic coordination into widespread use did not find support among representatives of middle and top management, where they were not ready for such changes. Many were afraid of difficulties in the accounting system. But, the first stage of the development of logistics is characterized by the use of a logistic approach for managing material flows, and the fact that an understanding came about an interconnected management system, as well as the integration of individual functions of material distribution, in total helped the development and dissemination of information interconnected control and “packaging” revolution. Such changes radically changed the standards for the production of new types of containers and packaging, after which the warehouse complexes became automated, containerized transportation of goods was introduced.
Work with finished products
The stages of logistics development in the economy also include a phase of integration and changes in government regulation of its infrastructure. Structural changes have occurred in the conduct of business: the growth of partnerships, strategic allies in the field of transport services and the organization of wholesale trade. Gradually, the goal was the introduction of the concept of universal quality management, such a managerial approach, where the central figure is improving quality at all stages of product or service promotion. Logistic management was implemented on the principle of long-term planning, and not as before, direct response.
The introduction of information technology and the full computerization of the process allowed us to automate the interactive procedures of integrated management. The first stage in the development of logistics was fully felt by supermarkets at the turn of the 20th and 21st centuries; they linked the control systems of existing stocks with the systems of suppliers. The formation of an integrated concept gave constant control over all movements to the end consumer in real time.
Globalization
The global economy and the ongoing fundamental changes have given impetus to the implementation of activities not only at the national level, but also on a global scale. The globalization of the global economy has pushed the business sector to the path of attracting customs and forwarding companies, banks that mediated transactions. Thus, the requirements for managers have changed. A good specialist should have knowledge in the field of tax systems, government regulation of the economy, know the requirements for labeling packaging, the ability to remove customs barriers and quickly prepare the necessary documentation.
An important stage of formation
The important and main stages of the development of logistics began at the beginning of the XXI century after the creation of international logistics associations with their specialized research and training centers, advisory departments. A new stage has also begun in the development of electronic business, negotiations between the companies took place on the basis of B2B - business-to-business (supplier-manufacturer) and B2C - from producer to consumer. Barcodes and magnetic strips were developed, and electronic money transfers also entered into practice.
Modern stage
The scientific and technological revolution and globalization of the economy gradually formed the stages of development of modern logistics. The expansion of business is expressed in a more sophisticated and thought-out process of goods exchange, minimization of trade barriers between countries, non-national placement, and now German enterprises can be located in Poland, which reduces costs and streamlines the work process.
Current trends
The main modern directions help to bring the communication process between the starting point - the manufacturer, and the final destination - the consumer, to a new level:
- postponement;
- transshipment;
- custom mass production;
- direct delivery;
- Inventory Management;
- synchronized movement of raw materials.
In logistics services, we optimized the distribution system, there was the possibility of direct shipment, which minimizes costs in distribution centers, the flexibility of mass production, express delivery, inventory management and the provision of information to all coordination participants.
The prerequisites and stages of the development of logistics also include outsourcing, a reduction in the number of suppliers, targeted long-term cooperation, and improvement of process management methods.
In short
In the evolution of logistics, it is customary to distinguish 4 main stages: fragmentation, formation, development and integration. The first step was taken in the early 60s of the 20th century, then the purchase of raw materials and components, the organization of transportation and storage, as well as the solution of the issue of managing existing product stocks were considered important points. Specialists tried to reduce the total operating costs for the purchase, production and distribution. The second step of formation took place in the 70s and 80s, when we were engaged in the development of logistics practice, applied the principles of total costs and the provisions of the theory of compromises to optimize the process. The third step - development, came at the end of the last century. Then everything went along the chain: procurement-production-distribution-sales-subsequent service. Information flow management was implemented, logical tasks were solved on the basis of universal quality management, they were engaged in expanding areas of activity taking into account advanced technologies. The next and last stage in the development of logistics sounds briefly - “integration” (beginning of the XXI century). Business projects were brought to the world stage, everyone sought to reduce costs in the process of commodity exchange.
The relevance of logistics
There are several factors that confirm not only the significant contribution of this area to the global economy, but also confirm its importance in business, and also show rapid development at the stages of logistics development. The economic factor involves the search for options to reduce production costs. Organizational and economic - implements goods distribution, attaches importance to the interaction between the enterprise, the intermediary and the consumer. The information factor develops market relations, and the technical factor optimizes the process due to the latest computer technologies. State support, as the last factor confirming the relevance of this area, regulates the process of product distribution both at the enterprise level and on a national scale.
There is no other way
Today it is impossible to conduct business either within the country or in the arena of the world market, without logistics and the participation of specialists from logistics companies. Only thanks to this area of ​​process optimization, business is developing, international relations are being established, and the world economy is improving. Logistics should be used as a model for organizing a process in a modern economy for the following reasons:
- competition;
- rise in price of material resources;
- increase in transportation costs;
- scientific and technical process.
Logistics is not limited to any one area of ​​activity, it is used in the management of warehousing, transport, personnel, commercial activity, etc. Logistics is an interdisciplinary direction, where the correct mutual relationship is organized, and integration into a single material-conducting system takes place. The main goal of such a logistic approach is to find a cross-cutting way to manage material flows, i.e. Find the fastest and least expensive way.