Logistics & Multi-modal transport
Logistics is the management of a flow of goods from the point of origin to the point of delivery. The carriage of goods by sea is only part of the story. There are links at both ends of this transport chain and it is essential for shipping practitioners to take an overall view of this complex subject
INTERNATIONAL DISTRIBUTION
The structure of distribution and the role of logistics.
The evolution of the global economy, the supply chain concept.
Concepts of multi modal transport: different transport modes, modal interfaces.
Basic intermodal systems – road/rail/sea; sea/air; road/air; road/ rail.
Inventory control pressures.
PHYSICAL OPERATION
Vehicles and equipment, trucks, trains, aircraft and ships. Swap bodies, double stacks, trailer types, container types.
Intermodal interfaces and terminals; depots, warehouses and cargo handling equipment.
TRADE ROUTES
Relative importance of main trade routes and commodities. Container routes, rail routes including land bridges, road/rail competition.
The role of short sea shipping. The role of air freight.
Road haulage – international, domestic trunk and local delivery.
Specialist businesses e.g. hanging garments, bonded, perishables, cars, directories etc.
THE PRACTIONERS
Liner operators, NVOC`s, parcel/courier services, railroads, airlines.
The advantages and disadvantages of public versus private sector ownership; single company versus networks; joint services versus alliances.
Internal provision or outsourcing.
THROUGH TRANSPORT PRICING
Sea versus road versus air competition, cost-benefit-speed assessment.
Market share, revenue.
Pricing strategy – contribution or volume led.
Price discrimination. Distribution and carrier service contracts.
INVENTORY MANAGEMENT
The need to control inventory costs.
Just in time versus warehoused stock. Consolidation centres; central warehousing versus direct retail delivery.
Management systems. Distribution networks.
SALE CONTRACTS AND DOCUMENTATION
Terms of sale, INCOTERMS, documentary credits and other payment methods; uniform custom and practice (UCP)
Bills of lading, surface and air waybills, consignment and delivery notes.
CONVENTIONS RELATING TO MULTIMODAL TRANSPORT
International conventions including Hague/Visby and Hamburg rules, CMR, CIM, TIR.
Multimodal rules ICC/Unctad.
Dangerous goods including International Maritime Dangerous Goods (IMDG) Code and International Carriage of
Dangerous Goods by Road (ADR)
REGULATION
National and international regulations including customs, health, veterinary controls and other restrictions on the movement of goods.
SALES & MARKETING
Marketing techniques and market research,
Sales systems – field sales and call centres.
Measurement of customer service levels
The role of e-commerce
The role of quality management, TQM, benchmarking, the use of quality assurance.