Importance, Significance of identifying with the logistics of physical distribution (II / II)

There are only two ways of looking at life. One is as though nothing is a miracle, the other as if everything was miraculous Albert Einstein SCOPE AND IMPACT OF PHYSICAL DISTRIBUTION LOGISTICS can not ignore the role that logistics represents the current distribution in the stages and more as background on what has been for Venezuelan companies where many have failed for having neglected. Management need to determine their scope and impact and this can be noted that the scope of logistics and physical distribution deal goes beyond simply the movement of goods, on the contrary it reaches more complex situations, such as integration of two or more activities to plan, implement and monitor, in an efficient manner, the flow of raw materials, inventories in progress and finished goods from point of origin to point of consumption. These activities include customer service, demand forecasting, distribution communications, inventory management, materials handling, order processing, after sales service and spare parts, packaging, management returns, debris and waste disposal, traffic and transportation and warehousing, among others.

Thus, logistics is concerned with the physical flow direction starting at the sources of supply and ends at the point of consumption. However, it is important to note that often the physical distribution process does not end at the time the article reaches the customer. It is sometimes necessary to collect a defective merchandise that is held by the client to send another in good condition or to repair the defects and resubmit. Sometimes you have to recall products that have expired without the intermediary has been sold. There are also situations where you have to retrieve the boxes, cartons, pallets or containers used in the distribution of the articles. In either case, the physical distribution operations do not end when delivery has been made to the customer. In all of them is necessary to perform additional activities that involve flows in the opposite direction to the principal. According to the above, it is observed that has emerged ever more clearly the potential of logistics as a tool for competitive advantage. It is expected that the consolidation process already begun, the strengthening is an increasing number of companies that have a logistics department in the first level of your organizational structure.

The main logistics operations have been contracted out to third, using the outsourcing, the need to extend the scope of coordination beyond the company, integrating external logistics logistics operators, commercial distributors, etc.. The fact that all existing evidence suggests that the level of outsourcing will continue to grow over the coming years. The role of logistics as an element of coordination and integration of members of the supply chain will continue to gain prominence in the future. Will become more frequent logistics agreements or alliances for joint comparative advantages between different links of those supply chain (manufacturers, logistics operators, commercial distributors, etc.).. Undoubtedly IMPACT physical distribution activities have a significant influence on the living standards of people, although most of them this may go completely unnoticed. Moreover, some authors claim that there are few areas of study that have a bigger impact on our daily lives. In any case, it is evident that in the daily life situations are continually in need or have needed, in one form or another, performing a task related to physical distribution.

One way to highlight the importance of these activities is having problems caused by poor physical layout that affect people's lives, such as letters and packages sent to addresses specific and sometimes arrive late or damaged, and sometimes neck arrive, order a paper to be made in person, by phone, mail, etc., and received with a wrong merchandise, and items that are going to buy from a store or a supermarket and, sometimes, are not to be exhausted. It also has direct implications within companies. It is inevitable now highlight the need to compete with a larger number of companies from different countries, places the logistics and physical distribution as the main weapon that companies have to gain competitive advantage as compared to the glut of supply products in certain sectors, they must differentiate themselves through service. Normally this requires more and better transportation, storage, communications, etc.. Do not forget that the current market trend has led to the expansion of the geographical boundaries of the markets that companies must address.

This process has been facilitated by the progressive removal of trade barriers, and modern technologies and information networks, has enormous implications for the logistics function of these companies, and in particular for physical distribution activities, since the need to consider the markets with a global perspective. In terms of national economy, the physical distribution plays an important role in industrialized countries, since the activities related to the movement of materials from the point of origin to point of consumption represents a significant percentage of gross domestic product of these countries (for the year 1994 represented 10% of U.S. GDP). The same is true with investments made by companies in the area of ​​transport. The physical distribution and related activities, generating a significant portion of the GDP of countries, has a considerable influence on economic variables as relevant as the rate of inflation, interest rates, the rate of productivity, costs and availability energy, and so on. On this basis, it is also interesting to consider that the distribution sector consumes an enormous amount of energy resources.

Transport (according to the Federal Council for science and technology) consumes 25% of all energy and 50% of all oil production from the United States. Recent studies indicate that the transport sector consumes approximately 30% of the total energy used within the European Union countries. For the foreseeable future all indications suggest that the distribution sector will continue to use large amounts of energy. CONCLUSION More and more is revealed the need for companies to develop competitive advantages in a global market where borders no longer exist no geographical economics. It is true that the barriers of distance are no longer an obstacle to human beings in meeting their needs. Advances in technology has overcome any problem and there is no excuse for companies unable to meet those needs. The diversity of goods, products and services enable people to have the power to decide on their purchases. Companies have had to adopt a number of theories and strategies such as total quality, reengineering, benchmarketing, etc.. To compete against a number of companies that manufacture the same products or provide the same services.

At this point where the logistics and physical distribution appears as the differentiating factor in where companies have the opportunity to develop competitive advantages. Reduced costs and improved customer service by reducing order-delivery time are essential to provide the public with a product or service at a good price and available when you need it. * Notes empresarial.com www.entorno-marketing. Virtual Classroom Faces graduate, University of Carabobo, program quality management and productivity.