solved Response 2 Joelle Implementation of an Integrated Logistics System Key

Response 2
Joelle
Implementation of an Integrated Logistics System
Key Concept Explanation
Logistics is arguably the most important aspect of any organization as solid logistical foundations help businesses provide the demanded product or service to the right customer at the right time. Properly implementing and integrating logistical systems into businesses is crucial and should be carefully researched prior to deciding which system would best fit the organization and processes. Increasing and varying consumer demands and global markets add to the complexity of integrated logistics systems and business managers looking to develop efficient and effective processes. “Implementing integrated logistic supportprinciples in supporting such systems improves the organization’sbottom line and reduces the total ownership and life-cycle costs” (CITE). These systems are comprised of resources, networks, products, transportation, and processes that make up supply chains. Implementing integrated logistics systems from the start can be challenging to change already established practices and costly; however, integrating full systems can also provide business managers with the opportunities to create logistical tools from the beginning.
Integrated logistics systems are interesting to me and I would like to further my studies so that I can apply these lessons to my own organization and help increase the efficiency and lean practices in complex supply chains. I am interested in learning how to most effectively adopt and implement these logistical tools into any business.
Comparison
This supply chain and business model greatly assists managers in organizing and synchronizing all facets of organizations and logistical networks so that customers’ demands can be met. There is much research that supports business advantages in implementing integrated logistics systems and proves that managers should deliberately decide how and which logistical systems they should adopt into their own organizations. “In the contemporary global business markets environment,when the business markets are getting more and more commercial, there
are growing demand for effective management of material flows” (Hart, 2017, p. 298). Technology and automation have drastically assisted supply chain managers in utilizing logistical system software that collects, stores, and analyzes data more efficiently to provide managers with more accurate decision-making data. Automation can assist companies in maximizing practices in many different operations within businesses, from overproduction waste to defects to waste of transportation; mapping tools include production responsiveness approach (PRA) and data dependency diagram (DDD) (Hart, 2017, p. 299). There are many models available to supply chain managers that can analyze these factors of production and support lean production, especially in manufacturing businesses.
Because the manufacturing industry is so complex, there are numerous opportunities for data to be inaccurate. However, the proper utilization of integrated logistics systems and automation technology assist in minimizing inaccurate data and providing business managers with the most accurate information while also synchronizing departments across organizations (Li et al., 2020). Integrated logistics systems are crucial for synchronizing the numerous departments in manufacturing businesses and allowing business managers to maximize efforts in allocating the proper components and resources required for production (Wi?cek et al., 2019). By utilizing these logistical efforts, businesses can decrease costs and increase inventory management operations all while remaining flexible in unpredictable and constantly demanding markets. By business managers incorporating these logistical systems into their organizations, they are increasing competitive advantage and developing their supply chain practices.
Article Summary
The chosen article discusses many advantages of incorporating integrated logistics systems into supply chain networks. It is important that the first steps in doing this consists of making awareness across the organization of implementing these systems as well as prepare for training in applicable departments. It is important for production, manufacturing, and inventory managers especially to have logistics systems training and education so that they are able to assist employees in all functions of software and data collection and analysis; it also contributes to gaining organizational commitment. Technological advances and information technology have greatly contributed to the successes of integrated logistical systems by providing opportunities to reduce waste in cost, time, and labor (Wi?cek et al., 2019, p. 1308). Thankfully, supply chain managers have come together to research and develop intricate and complex systems so that functions and departments can be more organized and synchronized, enabling smoother and more accurate logistical operations.
Logistics hubs are becoming more prevalent in today’s society and should be utilized properly to maximize supply chain efforts across the globe. “Some have developed mathematical models and applied Bender’s decomposition approach to solve the multi-period hub location problem while others have applied a location-allocation model to a regional intermodal goods movement system” (Wi?cek et al., 2019, p. 1315). Business managers have been able to use these logistics hubs and integrated systems to allocate products to their customers more efficiently and effectively.
Application
Supply chain networks and managers have been more apt to integrating these logistical systems into their organizations in order to increase the efficiency and maximize competitive advantage opportunities. Many global industries and businesses have incorporated these integrated logistics systems into their daily practices, especially those in the manufacturing and production operations. Through this development and integration, China has created efficient logistics parks (LP) and distribution centers (DC) that assist businesses in transporting products over various mobility modes and efficiently fulfilling consumers’ demands. They have developed complex computational procedures to analyze the movement of goods from departments within organizations to external businesses over multimodal transportation efforts (Wi?cek et al., 2019, p. 1320). This logistical model developed over the last several decades “can be generalized to solve many logistics location and allocation problems. It can also be extended to other service areas such as integrated healthcare systems that need to consider multiple levels of service over multiple time periods” (Wi?cek et al., 2019, p. 1331). LPs and DCs have become much more efficient in their product visibility as well as their movement operations with these logistical system assets.
Not only is the utilization of integrated logistics systems important for business managers to prioritize; however, it is just as important, if not more important for organizational leadership to incorporate the right fit of logistics practices and have them be managed by the proper employees with adequate training on the systems. If employees or managers are not properly trained in collecting, computing, or analyzing the data, then inaccurate information may be inputted into the system or given to managers when making crucial business decisions. The more education and training on the logistical systems that is provided by companies, the more buy-in organizations will generally have to effectively utilize the software, thus increasing competitive advantage and customer satisfaction.
Annotated Bibliography
Hart, M. (2017). The Design of Integrated Logistics Management System of an Industrial Company. EDP Sciences.http://ezproxy.liberty.edu/login?url=10.1051/matecconf/201713400018
There are many prospective ways in leaning out supply chain operations and incorporating advanced technology in order for them to be more efficient. Markets are extremely competitive and complex and by implementing successful integrated logistics systems, businesses can gain higher satisfaction rates and competitive advantage over others. “The integrated logistics management system of an industrial company should be formed
by the sub-systems of the planning, management and control, the particular functional
areas” (p. 2). The right employees and leadership should be in control of the logistics management systems and discern what supply chain tools should be practiced in order to have the most effective and synchronized organizations.
Li, G., Yang, S., Xu, Z., Wang, J., Ren, Z., & Li, G. (2020). Resource Allocation Methodology Based on Object-oriented Discrete Event Simulation. CIRP Journal of Manufacturing Science and Technology, 31, 394–405. http://ezproxy.liberty.edu/login?url=doi.org/10.1016/j.cirpj.2020.07.001
Resource allocation is one of the most difficult functions in a businesses’ operations; it consists of complex scheduling, cost analysis, and demand fulfillment needed for successful business practices. As the article depicts, there has been extensive research conducted in order to develop more efficient supply chain systems by reducing bottlenecks and increasing the utilization of production logistics systems (PLS). These value-added processes greatly increase the effectiveness of business operations and help maximize profits. Thankfully, there are numerous developmental tools that assist companies in improving their integrated logistics systems and forecasting product materials that are required for the production of final goods.
Lambert, K. R. (2017). Supporting High-Technology Systems During Periods of Extended Life-
Cycles by Means of Integrated Logistics Support. South African Journal of Industrial
Engineering, 28(1), 125–139. http://ezproxy.liberty.edu/login?url=doi.org/10.7166/28-1-1455
This article discusses the advantages of integrating logistics systems into organizations and supporting recent technological advancements. It includes a case study that demonstrates how implementing these supply chain practices into businesses can decrease costs associated with life-cycle products and the rapid modernization of technology. Long life cycles are considered to be 40 years or longer and can include product upgrades during this timeframe. “Cannibalization, modification, mothballing,refurbishment, and upgrades will probably be managed successfully. In short, the system’s reliabilityand availability should be significantly improved” There are many functionality or maintenance-induced errors that can be mitigated through the proper implementation of integrated logistics systems.
Lu, H., Li, L., Zhao, X., & Cook, D. (2018). A Model of Integrated Regional Logistics Hub in Supply Chain. Enterprise Information Systems, 12(10), 1308–1335. http://ezproxy.liberty.edu/login?url=doi.org/10.1080/17517575.2018.1533588
With as complex as supply chain networks have developed to be within the last several decades, businesses have needed to implement integrated logistics systems and create multi-echelon and multi-period logistics practices. “The location of logistics facilities at different echelons of a supply chain is identified and the needs for facility expansion or closing during different time periods are determined”. China and other global nations have recognized the need for intense training in logistics systems structures and practices as well as the disseminated responsibilities that must be adhered to in order for the operations to function properly. It is inevitable that companies will fail without proper structure, training, and technology that supports these logistical endeavors.
Wi?cek, D., Wi?cek, D., Kuric, I., Bu?ková, M., & Kraj?ovi?, M. (2019). Evaluation of the Effectiveness of Implementing Production Logistics Automation Systems Supported by Computer Simulation Tools. EDP Sciences. http://ezproxy.liberty.edu/login?url=dx.doi.org.ezproxy.liberty.edu/10.1051/matecconf/201929902007
The last three decades have provided exponential advancement in automation technology which has greatly supported logistical operations in successful businesses. This article shows in-depth research conducted on automation logistics systems and complicated mathematical equations that formulate outputs for business managers to utilize in decision-making processes. The automation systems were not beneficial for some businesses to implement in the study due to the complexity of the logistics systems and inability to properly incorporate the practices into the organizations. The case studies in the article showed that overall, automation tools have assisted businesses in increasing their economic competitiveness, especially in the manufacturing industry.