A version of this paper has been published in "Global Logistics" - a Management Review puiblished by MCB University Press, Bradford, which also includes extensive abstracts from the logistics literature.A review of the logistics and general literature reveals three forces at
work which are changing the nature of global business:
The globalisation of economies;
The homogenisation of products;
The advancement of technology
Different sectors have a different level of awareness and achievement.
Manufacturing is generally still somewhat inward looking, whereas
retailing is the source of a good deal of innovation and change. In the
United States the “Efficient Customer Response” initiative is a major
factor in reshaping the channels of supply from manufacturing to
retailing, and the distribution industry more than any other is suffering
the effects of change. The more progressive participants in the
distribution sector are trying to achieve a more dominant position, by
offering a wider range of value-added services than simple
transportation and storage of goods. The banking and payment
clearing services sector is not seen as a major factor, despite the very
significant opportunity to develop and improve payment services, and
to link them more tightly with operational activity.
The management of supply chain operations is becoming more
sophisticated. Systems thinking, benchmarking and customer service
imperatives are all causing a wave of new interest in the best ways to
manage supply chain and logistics operations.
The prospects for further significant developments in the future
continue to expand, and it is difficult to see any limit or ultimate end
to the development of logistics practices around the world.School of Managemen
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