How to Create Effective and Efficient Logistics Management

Shipping products from one place to another has always been an integral part of doing business and will continue to be for the foreseeable future. Yet, shipping logistics and management is filled with obstacles and challenges that make shipping one of the most dissatisfying aspects of a business. While your department may be working well as of right now, it could most likely be revamped to work even better.

Here are some logistics management tips to help your shipping department run smoothly.

Plan
It shouldn’t come as a surprise that planning is an imperative part of logistics management but it is often overlooked. A plan should encompass multiple factors across the entire distribution chain, detailing everything from how to obtain the goods to location delivery. While that doesn’t seem like a lot of planning, a good plan details every step between point A and point B including variables such as time, costs, and transportation. In other words, your plan should incorporate an effective workflow from start to finish that maximizes efficiency and profit. Moreover, the plan should have contingencies in place for unforeseen circumstances regarding transportation, operations, finances, etc.

Create networks
Even though it may not seem as though logistics is a place where interpersonal skills and relationships are important, it definitely is. Not only should a manager have open and beneficial discourse with employees but there should be established relationships with outside networks as well. For instance, if you work with cargo companies to provide you with air and ocean logistics, you want to ensure that you have a strong relationship with them. Relationships affect price, timeliness, care, and more. Don’t underestimate the power of networking in the logistics industry.

Ensure efficient transport
Transportation should be continuously revisited and optimized to ensure efficiency. However, the majority of transportation isn’t conducted in-house, particularly if you utilize cargo companies or freight forwarders for consolidation. You should work closely with your partnering service to figure out the best routes for delivery and how to package goods for optimal pricing and security.

You should also keep in mind any costs or information related to your shipments. For instance, if you ship food then you should know that a combination of dry ice and insulated packaging will preserve perishable food between 24 and 48 hours. That’s why it’s important to maintain relations within your own department and your cargo companies to ensure effective communication and efficient logistics management.

If you need to ship to the Dominican Republic, give us a call today for air shipping rates.