What is logistics management?
Logistics management is a process in which managers use certain principles, methods and means to make all members work hard through a series of specific management behaviors and leadership activities in order to achieve the objectives of logistics work.
Logistics management is a form of management and the embodiment of the general essence of management in logistics management. Because the logistics department is an organization that provides material support for the functional activities of a unit, its task is to serve the functional activities. Therefore, the task of logistics management is to create a logistics support force far greater than the sum of each individual's activities by organizing, commanding and coordinating the activities of logistics personnel by using various management means, so as to complete logistics tasks with high efficiency and high quality, and then ensure the smooth development of unit functions. In the management of a unit, logistics management is a very important and often neglected management activity. Other things being equal, the quality of a unit's logistics work mainly depends on its management level.
Marxism holds that management has a dual nature, that is, it has a natural attribute associated with productivity and a social attribute that restricts productivity. Logistics management is closely related to the progress of science and technology and the development level of productivity. Productivity and the level of science and technology directly determine the level of financial and material management and the quality of personnel in logistics work, which is the expression of the natural attributes of logistics management. On the other hand, logistics management is a means used by the class with the means of production to adjust class relations and safeguard the interests of the class. It has the nature of being related to the relations of production, and it has a distinct class nature in class society. Logistics management under the socialist system no longer reflects the relationship between exploitation and exploitation, but the objective requirement of equality and mutual assistance between people, which is the social attribute of logistics management.
We might as well examine the explanations of this concept in several famous English dictionaries first. Webster's Dictionary of New World College (4th edition) explains that logistics (1) is a branch of military science, which studies the procurement, storage and transportation of materials, personnel and facilities. (2) refers to the management of the execution of specific tasks. The Commercial Press/Random House Webster's Dictionary: Logistics is a branch of military science, which studies the acquisition, maintenance and transportation of equipment, materials and personnel, namely logistics. Cambridge Dictionary of International English: logistics is a plural noun, which means to carefully organize complex military operations or enterprise activities (that is, logistics management) so as to make them successfully and effectively implemented.
From the definition of the above famous dictionaries, it can be concluded that logistics in English refers to logistics, logistics management and logistics science. Logistics represents a series of logistics activities (such as transportation, storage, service, information, etc.). ), and logistics management is the management of a series of actual logistics activities. Because logistics is always organized and managed, logistics and logistics management are just two sides of the same thing. Logistics is a subject that specializes in logistics or logistics management. Therefore, logistics can be regarded as a polysemous word. If the domestic logistics industry directly introduced "logistics" from the United States at that time and translated it into logistics, logistics management and logistics science, it may not cause the ambiguity of understanding the concept of logistics today. However, because the domestic logistics industry first accepted the Japanese concept of "logistics", it used to correspond logistics with logistics, redefine it and write it into Chinese national standards. From then on, the word "logistics" is translated less and more (this article follows the domestic practice and translates logistics into logistics). However, the standard definition of logistics in China is different from that in Britain.
The Significance of Logistics Management
Understanding the duality of logistics management is of great significance.
The natural attribute of logistics management determines its natural scientific nature, which is unique under different political and economic systems and can be used for reference. That is to say, in logistics management, we should not only sum up and apply our own successful experience, but also learn from foreign experience in principle and learn from foreign advanced technology and scientific management methods.
The social attribute of logistics management determines its distinct class nature. Socialist logistics management should adhere to the socialist direction, reflect the requirements of the proletariat, adhere to the party's principles and policies, and always carry out the purpose of serving the broad masses of the people, and cannot be shaken at any time or under any circumstances.
Content of logistics management
From the content point of view, logistics management has very rich content.
Logistics management includes financial management (financial planning management, budgetary fund management, extra-budgetary fund management, financial activity analysis and financial supervision), property and material management (fixed assets management, materials and low-value consumables management), capital construction management (planning management, design management, preparation before construction, construction organization management, completion acceptance settlement), real estate management and maintenance (real estate property rights and archives management, housing use management, and employee housing distribution management). Maintenance management and economic management of houses and ancillary equipment), water heating and electrical management (power supply and consumption management, water supply and drainage management, heating management and economic management), food management (food quality management, food cost management, nutrition and health management, food service management and food economic management), automobile transportation management (vehicle management, service management, safety management and economic management) and medical and health management (medical quality management, food economic management).
Functions of logistics management
Logistics management has two basic functions: the function of organizing logistics services according to the law of unit functional activities, and the function of promoting socialist production relations and mobilizing people's enthusiasm through management. A correct understanding of service and management functions is of great significance for us to fully understand the content of logistics management, adhere to the socialist direction, and implement scientific logistics management and socialization of logistics services.
[Edit this paragraph] The characteristics of logistics management
Logistics management has seven characteristics different from other management activities, because it performs service functions in various units.
(1) Sociality. The social characteristics of logistics management can be understood from three aspects. The first is the content of logistics management. Because the logistics services that the society may provide at present can't meet the needs of all units, and it is impossible for organs, enterprises and institutions to completely change the logistics situation in a period of time, so the logistics services of all units are all-inclusive. The second is the connection between logistics management and society. The logistics of each unit can not be separated from the supply of society, whether it is materials, equipment, energy, transportation, personnel, technology, space and information, it should be provided by society, and the logistics of each unit should be restricted and influenced by society, which is the general logistics of logistics work of each unit. Third, the development direction of logistics management. The logistics services of all units are developing towards socialization. With the progress of society, more and more extensive logistics services will be gradually undertaken by society, and the socialization of logistics services will be realized sooner or later. Sociality requires logistics managers to pay full attention to and use various social conditions to serve their own units, and at the same time, they should try their best to create conditions to serve the society and change the closed logistics management.
(2) economy. Logistics work is both administrative work and economic work. Logistics service labor belongs to commodity economy. The essence of logistics work is to efficiently allocate logistics resources through market economic means and four links of production (labor), exchange, distribution and consumption, and economic accounting is an important content of logistics work.
(3) service. Logistics work is service work. From the perspective of its management object, logistics work does not directly reflect the functions of a unit, but the service work carried out by the functional activities of the unit. Service is a feature of logistics management, and it is also the whole meaning of logistics management.
(4) timeliness. The functional activities of each unit are a process with strict organization and strict procedures. Logistics services for functional activities must also be managed according to the requirements of these procedures. Due to the needs of functional activities, every service work has certain time requirements, which determines that logistics management has strong time characteristics. This is one of them. Second, timeliness is also reflected in "logistics first". Any activity must be guaranteed by certain material conditions, and based on certain material conditions, logistics work is the basis and premise. Thirdly, timeliness is also manifested in the fact that many logistics work is influenced and restricted by seasons. If you violate the requirements of the season, you will make mistakes and cause losses.
(5) Complexity. Logistics management is heavy and has many tasks, which is the main feature of complexity. Comprehensive services such as personnel, finance, materials, equipment, infrastructure, housing, meals, transportation, medical care, sanitation, gardening, environmental protection, family planning, preschool education, etc. are all managed by the logistics department. Strong policies are another feature of its complexity. Financial discipline, infrastructure regulations, vehicle allocation principles, wage adjustment and payment, etc. The logistics management department must act in accordance with the established principles, policies, decrees and regulations of the party and the state and shall not act at will. It involves a wide range and has many internal and external relations, which is the third characteristic of the complexity of logistics management. At present, the "logistics" in society is not perfect. In order to complete this comprehensive main service, all units will inevitably form a "large and comprehensive" logistics service system. The logistics organization is huge and the service items are complete, covering almost all matters such as food, clothing, housing and transportation, birth, illness and death. To complete these services, logistics should not only deal with every employee of the unit, but also keep close contact with relevant departments of the society, not only vertically, but also horizontally, involving not only people, but also money, goods, time and space.
(6) quality. A lot of work in logistics management is closely related to the masses, serving the masses and having a close relationship with their immediate interests. We must accept the supervision and inspection of the masses every day. To do a good job in logistics management, we must also persist in promoting democracy and adhering to the mass line, which is an important way to rely on and trust the masses and do a good job in logistics management.
(7) Knowledge is multidisciplinary. Logistics management needs extensive knowledge as the foundation, involving management, accounting, education, psychology, sociology, law and so on. In the field of social science, it involves a wider range of disciplines in the field of natural science. In logistics work, knowledge is multi-disciplinary, manifested in a variety of professional skills, and everyone has one or several majors. This requires logistics managers to have extensive knowledge and professional common sense, carry out scientific management, gradually realize the standardization, standardization and institutionalization of all work, and constantly improve the scientific management level with modern management means and methods.
The role of logistics management
The role of logistics management is determined by the basic functions of logistics management, mainly reflected in the following aspects:
(1) Provide reliable material guarantee for functional activities. If a unit's functional activities want to be carried out normally, the logistics department must arrange the necessary conditions and facilities in advance and do a good job in logistics services, which is the material basis for the normal functional activities. Only by strengthening logistics management can these basic material conditions be reliably guaranteed. The guarantee function of logistics management is determined by its basic function, and this function is determined by the basic function of logistics management, so this function is the basic function of logistics management.
(2) It can improve the utilization rate of people, money and materials, thus promoting the efficiency of functional work. If we only have sufficient material security without scientific organization and management, the efficiency of our work will not be improved. Doing a good job in logistics management can make people, money and things combine in the best way and make full and effective use of them, thus mobilizing people's subjective initiative and achieving "making the best use of people's talents"; Improve the efficiency of the use of funds and make the best use of them; Give full play to the potential of materials and equipment and make the best use of them. All these are necessary conditions for effective functional work. The function of all management is to improve efficiency, otherwise there is no need for management. In this sense, this role is the main role of logistics management.
(3) can reflect the party's concern for the masses and the superiority of the socialist system, and promote the enthusiasm of workers. Logistics work is closely related to the life and personal interests of employees. Many of the party's principles and policies, the party's concern for the masses and the superiority of the socialist system are often reflected through logistics management. Doing a good job in logistics management will inevitably make the party's principles and policies implemented, send the party's concern for the masses to the hearts of the masses in time, fully embody the superiority of the socialist system, and make workers love the party and socialism more. Doing a good job in logistics can provide employees with a comfortable living and working environment, relieve their worries and practical difficulties, and employees will love their work more, devote themselves to their work with great enthusiasm, give full play to their enthusiasm and complete their jobs.
(4) Promoting the building of socialist spiritual civilization. Logistics work is service work, and service work is mostly the "window" of the unit. Doing a good job in logistics management and keeping these "windows" are conducive to the construction of socialist spiritual civilization. Through the civilized service of logistics "window", treat people politely, educate people and cultivate noble production sentiment; Through the "window" of logistics, we should be honest and selfless, oppose corruption, correct the party style and strengthen the building of a clean government; Explore the spirit of * * * cooperation through the logistics "window", unite and cooperate with the brother units, and help each other. In a word, the "window" function of logistics can greatly promote the construction of socialist spiritual civilization.
(5) Stabilize the labor force and life order. Doing a good job in logistics management is an important condition for stabilizing the workforce and life order and ensuring stability and unity. It is an important duty of logistics management workers to do a good job in clothing, food, housing, transportation, health, old age, illness and retirement. Doing a good job in logistics management can make leaders worry, workers rest assured, and everyone is not worried. Therefore, the labor force can be stable and the living order can be stable, thus ensuring a stable and United situation.
A correct understanding of the role of logistics management can make people treat logistics management correctly, attach importance to the work of logistics employees, and make all employees care about logistics management; At the same time, it can guide the logistics staff to correctly understand their own work, establish a correct service concept, and provide better service for the functional activities of the unit.
The definition of logistics in domestic standards is: "Logistics refers to the process of organically combining the functions of transportation, storage, loading and unloading, handling, packaging, distribution processing, distribution and information processing in the physical flow of goods from suppliers to receivers" (People's Republic of China (PRC) national standard: logistics terminology).