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.

Date: 2014-12-22; view: 859