This article mainly sorts out the relevant content in the field of logistics.
In a broad sense, circulation refers to the flow of all elements that can flow. In a narrow sense, it only refers to commodity circulation and is the mainstream in the process.
The commonly referred to logistics generally refers to the physical flow process of goods from the supply place to the receiving place. It has multiple functions such as transportation, storage and preservation, loading and unloading, packaging, circulation processing, and distribution. Each link is very important and complex.。
Logistics and commodity flow can be unified or separated. Unification means that logistics and commodity flow occur simultaneously at the same time. The transaction method realizes equivalent exchange. In the exchange process, while producers transfer the ownership of commodities, they also hand over the physical entities of commodities to consumers. Now the separation of logistics and commodity flow is possible and necessary. For example, when consumers purchase goods from retailers, but the goods are shipped from the producer. This can be clearly understood from the following figure.
According to the flow process of goods, logistics can be divided into: procurement logistics, production logistics, sales logistics, reverse logistics, and waste logistics. According to the nature of the logistics system, it can be divided into: enterprise logistics, social logistics, and industry logistics. The detailed classifications are as follows.
Production logistics is a key link in enterprise logistics. From the perspective of the scope of logistics, the boundary of logistics in an enterprise's production system starts from the input of raw materials and purchased parts and ends at the finished product warehouse.
It runs through the entire production process and spans the entire enterprise (workshops and sections). The area it flows through is enterprise-wide and covers the entire process. After materials are put into production, logistics is formed, and their physical forms (such as processing, assembly, storage, handling, and waiting states) and location (various workshops, sections, workplaces, and warehouses) are constantly changing with the passage of time.
From the perspective of logistics attributes, enterprise production logistics refers to the entire process of the movement of materials required for production in time and space, and it is the dynamic manifestation of the production system. In other words, the entire movement process of materials (raw materials, auxiliary materials, spare parts, work in progress, and finished products) through various production stages or processes of the production system is production logistics.
Social logistics refers to the overall logistics activities in social reproduction. It is recognized and studied from the perspective of the overall social reproduction. Its main characteristics are comprehensiveness and overall situation. It mainly studies the operating laws of logistics activities in the social production process and the overall behavior of logistics activities.
Sales logistics is the last link in an enterprise's logistics system and another connection point between enterprise logistics and social logistics. It cooperates with the enterprise's sales system to jointly complete the sales task of finished products. The role of sales activities is that enterprises, through a series of marketing means, sell products, meet the needs of consumers, and realize the value and use value of products.
Waste logistics is the logistics activity formed by collecting, classifying, processing, packaging, handling, storing, etc. items that have lost their use value according to actual needs and distributing them to specialized treatment places. It is the activity of properly handling objects when they lose their original value or reuse value to protect the environment.
Reverse logistics refers to the physical flow of unqualified items being repaired, returned, and packaging containers for turnover use returning from the demander to the supplier. For example, the reverse flow process of items in sales aspects such as recycling pallets and containers used for transportation, receiving degraded products from customers, collecting containers, raw material scraps, and defective work in progress in parts processing.
With the development of e-commerce and the continuous update of technology, the logistics industry is also developing rapidly. In the early stage, warehousing and distribution were separated. Currently, integrated warehousing and distribution are emphasized. In the early stage, enterprise self-built logistics was the main form. Now, third-party logistics services (3PL) are more in line with production needs, and fourth-party logistics (4PL) has also developed well. It is a supply chain integrator that mobilizes and manages the resources, capabilities, and technologies of its own and complementary service providers to provide a comprehensive supply chain solution.
Refers to the logistics activities carried out by suppliers for selling their products, abbreviated as 1PL. (supplier logistics)
7. Second-party logistics
Refers to the logistics formed by users purchasing various goods from suppliers, abbreviated as 2PL. (demander logistics)
Refers to the business model of providing logistics services by logistics enterprises other than the supplier and demander, abbreviated as 3PL. (logistics outside the supplier and demander)
9. Fourth-party logistics
Refers to a supply chain integrator that integrates and manages the resources, capabilities, and technologies owned by its company and complementary service providers to provide a complete set of supply chain solutions.
The logistics industry is in the development stage of modern logistics. Modern Logistics refers to a new integrated management that combines logistics activities such as information, transportation, warehousing, inventory, loading and unloading, and packaging. Its task is to reduce the total cost of logistics as much as possible and provide the best service for customers.
Many experts and scholars in China believe that "modern" logistics is the process of transferring goods from the supply place to the demand place at the most economical cost according to customer needs. It mainly includes activities such as transportation, storage, processing, packaging, loading and unloading, distribution, and information processing.
