Manufacturing

'Just-in-time' is a key phrase in manufacturing, as in every area of logistics. Things need to happen when and where they must - materials should arrive in the right quantities to meet production schedules, and warehousing and transport requirements co-ordinated to get the goods out to the customer on time. Playing safe by over-ordering stocks or overestimating production times and sales simply adds cost and is a distinct competitive disadvantage.

Logistics in manufacturing covers a range of jobs and skills. People working in purchasing will be sourcing materials and components globally and negotiating and managing longer-term alliances with suppliers. Materials management co-ordinates the raw materials and components inventory with production schedules working closely with both suppliers and production. In a global environment this can mean arranging long-distance transport, progressing suppliers and making use of sophisticated IT tools to route materials to the warehouse and then on to the production line.

Production involves bringing together the talents of a diverse group of people ranging from engineers to machine operators. The production manager needs to combine high-level people skills with cost-consciousness. He or she will use total quality management techniques and will be constantly seeking greater efficiencies to provide a better service.

People in these areas need special skills and can work towards specialist qualifications, but they cannot work in isolation. Team work between them is essential if the supply-chain is to operate smoothly. And they must have a strategic understanding of the supply-chain as a whole and wider business objectives to be able to maximise their own contributions.

Retailing

Retailing today is a seriously competitive business. Sensitive to the ups and downs of the economy, the major high street names and out of town supermarket chains have had to attend to every aspect of their operations - and not least their supply-chains - to keep their profit margins healthy.

Sourcing suppliers has taken retailers to every corner of the globe in the relentless search for quality, reliability and price competitiveness. Their supply-chains can start in Hong Kong and end in Harlow. International transportation by road, sea and air demands balancing price against time and dealing with providers globally. Major retailers have to deal with thousands of suppliers and set up and run complex supply-chains. In a fast-moving, high volume environment, there's a heavy reliance on IT. Scanning a bar code at the point of purchase transmits information back down the supply-chain to support the planning and decision-making of all sectors to ensure customers' expectations are met.

Nothing stands still and the future offers even greater challenges. The advent of Internet trading and e-commerce is impacting on every link in the supply-chain that has to adapt to deliver an even more efficient customer service.

Logistics Service Providers

Not all companies choose to operate their logistics 'in-house'. Many prefer to 'outsource', not only because it can save tying up capital, but also because a third-party provider, managing the supply-chain for a number of companies, can offer specialised knowledge and expertise. Outsourcing gives opportunities for synergies, reduced overheads and increased efficiencies - all potentially leading to a better balance of service and costs.

Third-party logistics is a growth market, encompassing a range of activities that can serve all, or part of, a company's supply-chain. Working with a third-party logistics provider means working in a totally customer-focused environment. Whether you work on a dedicated contract or in a multi-user, multi-customer role, overcoming obstacles to customer satisfaction will be your main driver. It's a dynamic environment, but this means opportunities to move around the sector, building your experience in diverse roles and projects.

If you can communicate well at all levels, are not afraid of hard work, and enjoy a challenge, then third-party logistics may well be for you.