In a small warehouse, improvements can be obtained from

better information systems, productivity improvements, inventory

(инвентаризация) savings, reductions in returns (возврат, оборот,

прибыль), space saving (10-30 per cent), and extra customer

service profit. That is, for a warehouse of 80,000 sq. ft, 50 staff, and

$100 million sales per annum, and inventory of $40 million, it is

possible to save over $2 million per annum from improved methods.

The costs of such improvements can be retrieved after just

three months.

The logistics aspects of the distribution chain (цепочка) in any

organisation relate to the use of information to manage more effectively

the functions of transportation, storage, warehousing, and

freight forwarding (пересылка груза). The information system has

to co-ordinate a distribution network which consists of transportation

services between suppliers to factories, factories to storage facilities,

ports and warehouses, storage services in the warehouses,

transportation services between the warehouses and buyers and

linkages between countries. As a result of implementing an efficient

Information system and computer network, McDonald's restaurants

are able to receive food products from various suppliers, repackage

them to meet McDonald's specifications, and then deliver

them to their restaurants throughout the world, and still maintain

consistent (соответствующие) standards.

Some companies perform logistics services themselves, but

many are contracting these services to specialists who have information

systems to offer a package of services — from simple storage

and warehousing to a total package or complete service which

might include consolidation (объединение) of cargo, transportation,

storage and inventory management. Companies within the logistics

sector distinguish themselves by the totality of the services

they offer. Generally, smaller firms may have less sophisticated

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Information systems and may only provide services such as warehousing

and transportation. Large firms have the resources and

economies of larger scale to develop more sophisticated information

and computer systems. However, developing a sophisticated

and centralized information and mechanized warehouse may not

necessary lead to a success.

Certain larger companies choose to rely on more flexible systems,

which allow for learning and adaptation.

B. Подберите к словам в колонке А синонимы или близкие по значению

слова из колонки В.

А

1. complex

2. total

3. diverse

4. keep up

5. profit

6. very great, enormous

7. help

8. totality

В

a. tremendous

b. of different kind

с sophisticated

d. assistance

e. maintain

f. returns

g. entirety

h. complete

С Найдите в тексте слова, означающие:

1. help given to those in need and trouble

2. skilled, expert

3. get back, return quickly

4. spread out over a large area

5. a problem, difficulty

6. serious situation, needing action as soon as possible

7. a/per year

8. a building for storing goods before distribution

9. easily changed, adaptable for new needs or conditions

D. Заполните пропуски словами:

management logistics distribution inventory storage returns

transported warehouse

1. We know (1) ... to be a detailed list of goods, parts, equipment,

etc. 2. Small profits and quick (2)... is the motto (девиз) for

shops that rely on large sales and quick turnover. 3. In the same

way, Toshiba might contract with a (3) ... firm so that television

sets and other products could be picked up from the factory, taken

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to а (4) ... , perhaps repackaged, and then (5) ... to stores in other

countries. 4. Many companies are interested in improving customer

service through better inventory (6)... 5. As a rule, an unproductive

(7) ... chain results in a higher total inventory cost.