sector Overview:

Essentially covering the whole process of planning, implementing and controlling the flow and storage of goods and services from the point of origin to the point of consumption, the logistics industry has been in a state of continual growth throughout the last century. Now covering capabilities such as purchasing, supplier management, materials handling, inventory management, warehousing, distribution and transport, all with increasing levels of customer service, it has migrated from a plethora of independent operators into integrated global entities and alliances. With a growing demand for ‘just in time’ manufacturing and distribution systems throughout the 1980s and 1990s, companies in the supply chains which feed end-product manufacturers were rated not only on the quality of their goods but also on the speed and accuracy of delivery. Effective internal logistics capabilities became a key source of competitive advantage and the strategic focus for companies as diverse as Toyota and McDonalds.