Dunkirk Evacuation

Logistics Evolution

Background of Logistics
Business Definition

Logistics is defined as a business

planning framework for the
management of material, service,
information and capital flows. It
includes increasingly complex
information, communication and
control systems required in todays
business environment. It is the
science of planning, design and
support of business operations that
deal with procurement, purchase,
inventory, warehousing, distribution,
transportation, financial, human
resources and customer support.

Military Definition

In Military logistics is defined as the

science of planning, carrying out the
movement and the maintenance of
forces in military operations.

1.

2.
3.
4.

The design and development,

acquisition, storage, movement,
distribution, maintenance,
evacuation and disposition of
material
Movement, evacuation and
hospitalization of personnel
Acquisition of construction,
maintenance, operation and
disposition of facilities
Acquisition of furnishing of services

From Military learning to commercial

Logistics: Evolution

1.Study of logistics was born out of the

necessities of war and the need to move troops,

equipment and supplies to the battlefield
2.Logistics emerged as a specific term by the
time of the American Civil War
3.Following Second World War, researchers began
to characterise logistics into two sectors
namely: Business and Military
4.Civilian logistics surpassed military logistics
after the end of the Second World War

From Military learning to commercial

Logistics: Strategies
Era 1: Military (1940 to 1960)

1. In-bound and Out-bound

transportation

2. Wholesaling inventory
3. Physical distribution
4. Internal Combustion
Era 2: Industrial Economies
(1960 to 1970)

5. Total Cost
6. System approach
7. Integration of Logistics

Key Learnings:
1. Importance of Logistics
planning prior t0 execution
2. Pre-mobilization
preparedness
3. Examined the in linkages
between the industry and
military
Key Learnings:
4. Interdependence of different
logistics system (Army, Navy,
Air Force)
5. Reduced total ownership cost
for the US defense systems
6. Integrating the armys
logistics management
framework

From Military learning to commercial

Logistics: Strategies
Era 3: Customer Focus (1970
to 1980)

1. Customer Service
2. Inventory Carrying
3. Productivity
4. Link Node

Era 4: Information and

Management Technology
(1980 to present)

5. Integrated Supply
6. Logistics Channel
7. Reverse Logistics
8. Environmental Logistics

Key Learnings:
1. Empower buyers to make
decisions and simplify on-line
ordering
2. Inventory and maintenance
management
3. Integrated logistics support
4. Apply lean principles to
design effective supply
chains
Key Learnings:
5. Understanding the SCOR
model
6. Benefits of Process
improvement
7. Innovative communication
technologies
8. Globalization of military

Supply chain urgency in Military world

Proper utilization of right fleet for right purpose at the right time for
saving British Army was necessary. The urgency in this operation was
the matter of life and death. However in corporate world the supply
chain exigency is a result of sudden surge in demand across the globe.
The JIT (Just in Time) in military urgency is highly prioritized and not
the cost of transportation or efficiency of transportation medium.
The military supply chain can be assumed in three distinct chain.
1. One chain is fast but low volume for commodities like food,
medicine and clothing.
2. Second chain for transportation of major components like weapons
that requires maintenance and repair over a period of time.
3. Third chain is for moving large troop of military men in short
period.

Supply chain exigency in corporate world

Now considering the supply chain in corporate world, in a situation of
supply chain exigency, JIT is important factor but not mandatory since
in the whole value chain process cost and efficiency also plays a vital
role in deciding the means of transportation and desired efficiency.
The multiple dimensions involved in deciding the optimized supply
chain includes but not limited to
1. Transportation optimization
2. Maximum efficiency
3. Reduced cost of transportation
4. Low risks involved in transportation
5. JIT (Just-in-Time)
The supply chain chosen must adhere to these dimensions to
achieve best ways to trade across globe.

Conclusion
In the military there are no excuses the consequences of
not being at the right place at the right time can be
disastrous.
Therefore the military always focuses on customer-centric
performance metric, whereas the commercial world often
loses sight of the end-customer.