Explanation 1:

Logistics refers to the whole process of planning, implementing and managing raw materials, semi-finished products, finished products and related information of commodities from the place of origin to the place of consumption by means of transportation, storage and distribution at the lowest cost.

Logistics composition: commodity transportation, warehousing, packaging, handling, distribution and processing, and related logistics information.

The specific contents of logistics activities include the following aspects: user service, demand forecasting, order processing, distribution, inventory control, transportation, warehouse management, layout and location of factories and warehouses, handling, procurement, packaging and intelligence information.

Explanation 2:

In the definition of China's national standard "Logistics Terminology", it is pointed out that logistics is "the physical flow process of goods from the supply place to the receiving place, which organically combines the basic functions of transportation, storage, loading and unloading, handling, packaging, distribution processing, distribution and information processing according to actual needs."

Explanation 3:

The "thing" in logistics is the part of material data that has the characteristics of material entity and can be physically displaced in the world of material data. "Flow" is a kind of physical movement, which has a limited meaning, that is, the physical movement relative to the earth with the earth as the reference system, called "displacement". The range of flow can be a large-scale geography, a micro-movement or a small-scale displacement in the same area and environment. The combination of "thing" and "flow" is an advanced form of movement based on natural movement. The interrelation between them is to find the law of motion between economic purpose and physical object, between military purpose and physical object, and even between some social purposes and physical object. Therefore, logistics is not only a combination of "things" and "flows" under the above limited conditions, but more importantly, it is a combination limited to military, economic and social conditions, and it is to observe the transportation of things from the military, economic and social perspectives to meet certain military, economic and social requirements.

Logistics source

According to the records of Japan Logistics Management Association, after 1950s, Japan's economy basically recovered to the level before World War II. Enterprises have carried out large-scale equipment investment and transformation, the technical level has been continuously improved, and the productivity has been greatly improved. The production headquarters was established in 1955. In order to improve the production efficiency in the circulation field and ensure the smooth operation and development of the economy, the group organized a large-scale investigation team headed by Kazuo Izawa to visit the United States in the autumn of 1956. At that time, the word "logistics" did not exist in Japan, and the name of the delegation was "professional investigation team of circulation technology". During the delegation's stay in the United States, Mr. Kembas, a famous American professor, said that one of the reasons for the smooth development of the national economy in the United States in the past 30 years is that it attaches importance to both production efficiency and circulation efficiency. Meiye really realized the importance of logistics around 1950. Prior to this, it only paid attention to sales, and only regarded logistics activities such as transportation, storage, packaging and loading and unloading as auxiliary activities of sales. The investigation team of Japanese circulation technology also found in the United States that Japan was originally called the transportation and packaging activity of circulation technology, while Americans called it logistics (PD). After returning to China, the Japanese delegation proposed to the government to attach importance to logistics, and set off the PD Enlightenment in the industry. Established PD research institute in Japan Energy Association, and invited Mr. Naoki Hirahara, director of loading and unloading research institute and president of Japan Loading and Unloading Association, who is known as the "father of logistics" in Japan, as the president to hold PD seminars every month; In the Institute of Circulation Economics, Professor Lin Tuer, an authoritative Japanese logistics scholar, also organized a PD seminar and actively carried out various forms of enlightenment education activities. After eight years of efforts, the Japanese government finally began to pay attention to PD from 65438 to 0964. The Ministry of International Trade and Industry has invited Mr. Naoko Pingyuan to government agencies for many times to explain the importance of PD and give lectures to government officials. In July of the same year, when the Ministry of International Trade and Industry decided to discuss the logistics budget, it was worried that the news media said that the Japanese people could not understand PD, so it invited Mr. Naoki Pingyuan to discuss with Mr. 90,000 Uchiyama, the special director of Japan Express Co., Ltd. Uchiyama thought that the word "P" in PD meant "physical object" instead of "material" and distribution meant "circulation", so PD should be translated as "material circulation", but as a noun, "material" So the new word "circulation of things" was published in all Japanese media.

Since then, "Logistics Link" has gradually become a household name in Japan, and everyone knows it. The Industrial Structure Committee established the "Logistics Sub-committee"; One of the largest logistics organizations in Japan, founded in 1970, is called "Japan Goods Distribution Association". In the same year, another similar logistics group in Japan, Japan Logistics Management Association, held an annual logistics conference, also known as the "National Logistics Conference".

After 1970, many people thought that "the circulation of things" was a bit long, so they simply called it "logistics". The word "logistics" is still in use in Japan.

At present, logistics is a popular translation method.

Logistics Department

Due to different logistics objects, different logistics purposes, different logistics scope and categories, different logistics types have been formed.

(1) Macro logistics. Macro logistics refers to the overall logistics activities of social reproduction, which is understood and studied from the overall perspective of social reproduction. Macro logistics can also be understood from the spatial category. Logistics activities in large space are often macroscopic, while logistics activities in small space are often microscopic. The main characteristics of macro logistics research are comprehensiveness and overall situation. The main research contents of macro logistics are the overall composition of logistics, the position of the relationship between logistics and society in society, the relationship between logistics and economic development, the establishment and operation of social logistics system and international logistics system, etc.

(2) Micro-logistics. The actual and concrete logistics activities that consumers and producers engage in belong to micro-logistics. In the whole logistics activities, a part and a link of specific logistics activities also belong to micro-logistics. Specific logistics activities in a small geographical space also belong to micro logistics.

(3) Socialized logistics. Social logistics refers to the logistics that transcends one household, takes a society as the category and aims at society.

(4) Enterprise logistics. Studying related logistics activities from the perspective of enterprises is a typical field of concrete and microscopic logistics activities.

(5) International logistics. International logistics is a large-scale logistics field developed with the rapid development of modern logistics system. International logistics is a logistics activity that accompanies and supports international economic exchanges, trade activities and other international exchanges.

(6) Regional logistics. Compared with international logistics, the logistics in a country, a city and an economic region are under the same laws, regulations and systems, influenced by the same cultural and social factors, and at the same level of technology and equipment.

(7) General logistics. General logistics refers to the similarity and generality of logistics activities. An important feature of logistics activities is that it involves the whole society and enterprises. Therefore, the establishment of logistics system and the development of logistics activities must have universal applicability.

(8) Special logistics. Logistics with special scope, special field and special industry, with special constraints, special application fields, special management methods, special labor objects and special mechanical equipment characteristics, all belong to special logistics scope.

modern logistics

Modern logistics should not only consider the distribution of goods from producers to consumers, but also consider the procurement of raw materials from suppliers to producers, as well as the transportation, storage and information of producers themselves in the process of product manufacturing, so as to comprehensively improve economic benefits and efficiency. Therefore, modern logistics is a strategic measure to meet the needs of consumers and unify the market conditions such as manufacturing, transportation and sales. Compared with traditional logistics, it only regards it as a concept of "logistics support system" and "acting as a bridge in sales activities", which has further meaning in depth and breadth.

In today's e-commerce era, the global logistics industry has a new development trend. The core goal of modern logistics service is to meet the needs of customers with the minimum comprehensive cost in the whole logistics process.

Modern logistics has the following characteristics: the close combination of e-commerce and logistics; Modern logistics is the unity of logistics, information flow, capital flow and talent flow; E-commerce logistics is a combination of informationization, automation, networking, intelligence and flexibility; Standardization of logistics facilities and commodity packaging, socialization and assimilation of logistics are also new characteristics of logistics mode under e-commerce.

The continuous development of e-commerce makes the logistics industry rise again. At present, the services provided by the logistics industry in the United States have far exceeded those provided by warehousing, distribution and transportation. Logistics companies provide more and more warehousing, distribution facilities, maintenance services, electronic tracking and other value-added services. Logistics service providers are becoming customer service centers, processing and maintenance centers, information processing centers and financial centers. Adding new services according to customers' needs is an evolving concept.

Compared with the logistics industry in developed countries, the logistics industry in China is still in the primary stage of development. The main characteristics of its development are: first, enterprise logistics is still the focus of logistics activities in the whole society, and the demand for specialized logistics services begins to appear, which shows that the development level of logistics activities in China is still relatively low, and strengthening internal logistics management is still the focus of logistics activities in the whole society; Second, specialized logistics enterprises began to appear, and diversified logistics services developed to a certain extent. It is an urgent task for the development of China's logistics industry to step out of the logistics activity mode based on enterprise self-service and develop third-party logistics.

Electronic commerce logistics

E-commerce logistics, also known as online logistics, is a new business model based on internet technology and aimed at creatively promoting the development of logistics industry. Through the internet, logistics companies can be actively found by shippers and customers in a wider range, and can expand their business nationwide or even globally; Trading companies and factories can find the best and most suitable logistics company with the best cost performance faster; Online logistics is committed to attracting the largest number of cargo owners' enterprises with logistics needs and logistics companies providing logistics services in the world, providing a neutral, honest and free online logistics trading market, and helping logistics supply and demand sides to reach transactions efficiently. At present, more and more customers have found customers, partners and overseas agents through the online logistics trading market. The greatest value provided by online logistics is more opportunities.

Popular theory:

1. What is logistics?

Logistics refers to the whole process of planning, implementing and managing raw materials, semi-finished products, finished products and related information of commodities from the place of origin to the place of consumption by means of transportation, storage and distribution at the lowest cost.

Logistics composition: commodity transportation, warehousing, packaging, handling, distribution and processing, and related logistics information.

The specific contents of logistics activities include the following aspects: user service, demand forecasting, order processing, distribution, inventory control, transportation, warehouse management, layout and location of factories and warehouses, handling, procurement, packaging and intelligence information.

2. What is modern logistics?

What is modern logistics? Modern logistics should not only consider the distribution of goods from producers to consumers, but also consider the procurement of raw materials from suppliers to producers, as well as the transportation, storage and information of producers themselves in the process of product manufacturing, so as to comprehensively improve economic benefits and efficiency. Therefore, modern logistics is a strategic measure to meet the needs of consumers and unify the market conditions such as manufacturing, transportation and sales. Compared with traditional logistics, it only regards it as a concept of "logistics support system" and "acting as a bridge in sales activities", which has further meaning in depth and breadth.

In today's e-commerce era, the global logistics industry has a new development trend. The core goal of modern logistics service is to meet the needs of customers with the minimum comprehensive cost in the whole logistics process.

Modern logistics has the following characteristics: the close combination of e-commerce and logistics; Modern logistics is the unity of logistics, information flow, capital flow and talent flow; E-commerce logistics is a combination of informationization, automation, networking, intelligence and flexibility; Standardization of logistics facilities and commodity packaging, socialization and assimilation of logistics are also new characteristics of logistics mode under e-commerce.

The continuous development of e-commerce makes the logistics industry rise again. At present, the services provided by the logistics industry in the United States have far exceeded those provided by warehousing, distribution and transportation. Logistics companies provide more and more warehousing, distribution facilities, maintenance services, electronic tracking and other value-added services. Logistics service providers are becoming customer service centers, processing and maintenance centers, information processing centers and financial centers. Adding new services according to customers' needs is an evolving concept.

Compared with the logistics industry in developed countries, the logistics industry in China is still in the primary stage of development. The main characteristics of its development are: first, enterprise logistics is still the focus of logistics activities in the whole society, and the demand for specialized logistics services begins to appear, which shows that the development level of logistics activities in China is still relatively low, and strengthening internal logistics management is still the focus of logistics activities in the whole society; Second, specialized logistics enterprises began to appear, and diversified logistics services developed to a certain extent. It is an urgent task for the development of China's logistics industry to step out of the logistics activity mode based on enterprise self-service and develop third-party logistics.

3. Logistics system and elements

Concept of logistics system: Logistics system consists of various elements of logistics, which are organically related and have the function of rationalizing the whole logistics. Logistics system is a subsystem or component of social and economic system. Like general systems, logistics systems have three functions: input, conversion and output. Through input and output, the system exchanges with the social environment, which makes the system and the environment interdependent. Transformation is a characteristic system function of this system.

Characteristics of logistics system: It is said that logistics system exists objectively, but it has never been recognized by people, so it has failed to take advantage of the system actively. Logistics system is a long-span system, which is reflected in two aspects: one is the large geographical span, and the other is the large time span. The logistics system is unstable and dynamic. Logistics system belongs to the scope of intermediate level system, which can be divided into several subsystems. The complexity of logistics system makes the structural elements of the system have a very strong "reverse" phenomenon, which is usually called "profit-loss alternation" or "benefit reverse" phenomenon. If handled carelessly, the overall deterioration of the system will occur.

Five objectives of the logistics system: the objectives of the logistics system, that is, the capabilities required by the established logistics system, generally have five aspects:

1, service object.

2. Fast and timely goals.

3. Save the target.

4. Scale optimization goal.

5. Inventory reconciliation target.

4. Logistics supply chain management

The meaning of supply chain is from purchasing to production, distribution, sales and finally to users. This is not an isolated behavior, but an interlocking "chain" of a certain flow. Logistics activities are limited by supply chain decisions. Supply chain management is actually to manage logistics and all activities of enterprises as a unified process. The supply chain has four main points:

First, the supply chain is a one-way process, and the links in the chain are not separated from each other, but become a whole through the links in the chain.

Second, the supply chain is the strategic management of the whole process. Generally speaking, if we only rely on part of the information, the plan may be distorted because of the limitation or distortion of the information.

Thirdly, the concept of inventory in different links is different. In the supply chain management of logistics, inventory is not a measure to maintain production and sales, but a balance mechanism of supply chain.

Fourthly, supply chain management adopts new management methods, such as replacing interfaces with holistic synthesis method, seeking overall balance by removing the weakest link, preventing signal accumulation and amplification with simplified supply chain method, and realizing control with economic cybernetics method.

Logistics supply chain management, although it is pointed out that the enterprise strategy should manage all supply chains, does not mean that all links should be operated by enterprises. It is normal to use social forces to operate some links under the premise of management.

5. Production logistics

Production logistics generally refers to: raw materials, fuels and external parts are transported to various processing points and storage points after they are put into production, and flow from one production unit (warehouse) to another in the form of work in process, and are processed and stored according to the specified technological process. With the help of certain transportation devices, they flow in at a certain point and then out at a certain point, which always reflects the flow process of physical forms of matter. This constitutes the whole process of enterprise internal logistics activities. Therefore, the boundary of production logistics starts from the input of raw materials and external parts, ends in the finished product warehouse and runs through the whole production process.

The core of production logistics research is how to plan, manage and control the logistics and information flow in the production process scientifically.

6. Logistics technology

Logistics technology refers to circulation technology or material transportation (including docking) technology. It is different from production technology, which is the technology of producing a product for the society and providing natural substances for the society; Logistics technology is a technology to transfer and store the means of production and provide intangible services for the society. In other words, the function of logistics technology is to transfer all kinds of materials from producers to consumers. It includes hard technology and soft technology.

Logistics technology is closely related to the whole process of real logistics activities, and the level of logistics technology is directly related to the perfection and effective realization of logistics activities.

7. Macro logistics and micro logistics

From the perspective of social economy, logistics belongs to macro logistics; From the perspective of enterprise management, logistics belongs to micro-logistics.

Macro refers to a comprehensive whole, and the main body that constitutes all is called micro. For example, there is an idiom: you can only see trees, but you can't see forests. Seeing the forest is called macro, and seeing the trees is called micro. Economics includes macroeconomics and microeconomics. Macroeconomics looks at the national economy as a whole, while microeconomics looks at the economy from the elements such as enterprises that constitute the national economy. The same is true of logistics. How to operate the logistics problem as a whole in a large range such as countries and regions is called macro logistics. Therefore, the macro-logistics issues to be discussed are what is the circulation structure, the logistics path and the transportation organization used to carry out the transportation operation of the logistics center in Japan. On the other hand, micro-logistics should discuss how circulation subjects, manufacturers and distributors, and transportation enterprises operate logistics respectively. Or from the consumer's point of view, how different goods are delivered to different families is also microscopic.

However, this classification is too difficult. The problem of circulation path and various commodities is both a macro problem and a micro problem, so it is sometimes called "semi-macro". The macro focus is on the overall logistics of the country or region, the micro focus is on the logistics from enterprise operation, and the semi-macro focus is on the overall logistics of goods and commerce. Therefore, macro logistics, considering the transportation structure and logistics stronghold as the industrial layout, as well as logistics management; Micro-logistics involves logistics management such as logistics system network, distribution center and logistics cost calculation. Semi-macro logistics refers to the logistics path between the production and consumption of various products and the proportion of logistics costs in their commodity prices.

Let's look at the above point of view from the perspective of logistics cost. Macro-logistics is to examine the proportion of logistics cost in the whole national economy. In fact, it is impossible to calculate the logistics component in the gross national product, because the output of the transportation industry is not the whole logistics cost, and the proportion of logistics in the production cost of manufacturers and circulation industries is unknown. Semi-macro logistics, how much of the price of goods purchased by consumers belongs to logistics cost? In the later period of circulation, many commodities will flow at the same time, so it is difficult to deliberately take out the logistics cost of specific commodities. Micro-logistics, every enterprise can use its own method to calculate the logistics cost and get specific figures, but adding up their figures does not mean the overall logistics cost, so it is very difficult to accurately calculate the logistics cost.

8. The position of logistics in economic life

Circulation in the economy, logistics in the economy, transportation in the economy, logistics in the social and economic status is irreplaceable.

The word "economy" comes from "managing the world and helping people". The purpose of economy is to govern the country and let the people live a rich life. The so-called economy refers to looking at human society with the concept of "value", which means that people engage in necessary business, consumption, production and other activities in order to live. But the economy is not just composed of buying and selling, consumption and life.

Enterprises can't sell products and get income without circulation. In order to live, we need to buy necessities. The process of goods reaching consumers, that is, circulation, is essential. Therefore, there is no doubt that logistics is also one of the economic factors.

As mentioned above, the economy consists of three major areas, namely production, circulation and consumption. The "political economics", "economics" and "principles of economics" in universities teach that what constitutes the economy is "production and consumption" or "supply and demand". Circulation is included in supply (production).

However, circulation is essentially different from manufacturing and planting. The scale of modern circulation is increasing, which is due to the expansion of economic scale and scope. In Japan, industrial raw materials and fresh food are purchased from all over the world, while goods produced in Japan are sold all over the world. Therefore, it is necessary to consider "manufactured goods" and "transported goods" separately.

Circulation consists of two functions-"business flow (transaction circulation)" and "logistics (material circulation)". However, these two functions do not belong to different fields like production-circulation-consumption, but only distinguish the same thing from different angles.

The so-called commercial flow refers to the transfer of the ownership of "commodities", that is, the ownership is transferred from manufacturers, farmers and fishermen to merchants and finally to consumers, which refers to such a flow. On the other hand, logistics comes from the physical activities of materials.

In addition to the above two functions, it can be said that there are auxiliary functions in circulation, namely information, finance and other services. Logistics can be divided into transportation, distribution, warehousing, loading and unloading, packaging, distribution processing, warehouse management, logistics information processing and so on. These activities can be further subdivided.

As mentioned above, economy is an important function of human society, circulation is an important function of economy, and logistics is an important function of circulation ... there is such a close relationship between them. So the change of logistics will have an impact on the whole economy. When the economy changes, logistics must also change. In short, we should look at logistics from the perspective of the whole society.

9. Logistics

After World War II, economists began to use the word logistics. Since the 1960s, the United States has gradually replaced the word logistics with the word logistics. In 1970s, the word logistics was introduced into Japan, and Japan also translated it as "logistics", but it was interpreted according to a new interpretation, which gave logistics a certain new meaning.

The difference between logistics and logistics is that the former has an extension and expansion on the basis of the latter, but the essence is the same. Of course, this extension and expansion can not be underestimated. This is based on the fact that modern scientific and technological means can control this extension and expansion, and on the ability to manage and coordinate such a large system. So although the essence is the same, the levels and times are different.

The concept of logistics is strategic and does not pay attention to vested interests. It is a strategic measure for enterprise development, not a means to pursue temporary profits. Therefore, it is not a simple functional activity, but a basic principle for enterprises to formulate business strategies. More rationally, logistics is a way of thinking, and a new management model can be established according to this concept.

The basic physical elements of logistics network mainly include the origin of raw materials, manufacturing plants, distribution centers and customers.

The specific contents of logistics activities include 14: (1) customer service; (2) order processing; (3) distribution contacts; (4) Inventory control; (5) Demand forecast; (6) transportation; (7) Warehouse and storage; (8) Layout and location of factories and warehouses; (9) Material treatment; (10) Material procurement; (1 1) spare parts and maintenance service guarantee; (12) industrial packaging; (13) return processing; (14) Waste disposal.

X. the third profit source theory

The term "the third profit source" mainly comes from Japan. "The third profit source" is a description of the potential and benefits of logistics. The initial understanding of the theory of the third profit source is based on two premises: first, logistics can be completely separated from circulation, run independently, have its own goals and management, so it can be judged independently; Second, logistics, like other independent business activities, is not a component of the total cost, but a separate profit factor, and logistics can become an independent system of "profit center".

Logistics speed

The speed of logistics is determined by means of transportation and management tools.

The traditional concept only focuses on improving the logistics speed on the means of transport. Modern concepts pay attention to management tools at the same time, which not only automatically realizes the important role of the system in logistics. The application of bar code greatly speeds up the warehousing, sorting and classification of articles.