How to do a good job of logistics system planning

I, logistics project management

The so-called project, according to the United States project management authority - Project Management Institute (Project Management Institute, PMI) definition, the project is a kind of being contracted to create a unique product or service temporary According to R. J. Graham, it is a combination of resources mobilized to achieve a specific goal, and the key difference between it and a regular task is that a project is usually done only once; a project is a unique work effort that introduces or produces a new product or service according to certain specifications and application standards. This work effort should be accomplished within the project parameters of time, cost, human and financial resources. Project has the purpose, interdependence, uniqueness, conflict and life cycle characteristics.

Logistics project management is through the logistics project manager and logistics project joint work organization's efforts, the use of logistics systems and supply chain management theory and logistics operations of the project and its resources for planning, organization, coordination, control, aimed at achieving the logistics project's specific objectives (such as the rationalization of enterprise logistics and effective) of the management method system.

The function of logistics project management is to plan, organize, command and control the logistics resources of the enterprise. Logistics resources refers to the project where the organization is available, for those resources needed for the project, including logistics management and operation personnel, logistics-related funds, logistics technology and logistics equipment.

In logistics project management, time is a very special resource, on the one hand, logistics management itself needs to achieve "rapid, efficient, low-cost" goal, is based on time for the examination of the core of the special management bias, the need for time management has a precise positioning; on the other hand, the logistics project as a project, the progress of the project itself is the main factor affecting the project. On the other hand, the logistics project as a project, its own progress is the key to the success of the project.

Two, logistics consulting project and its professionalism needs

When the decision-making level of the enterprise fully recognizes the logistics planning and logistics management for the enterprise production and sales and other aspects of value-added benefits, usually take measures to the enterprise's existing logistics system transformation, or will be carried out on certain production and operation system construction projects to be carried out in advance of the logistics aspects of professional considerations, which will inevitably generate logistics system, the logistics system is a very important part of the project, the logistics system is a very important part of the project. Consideration is given to the logistics system planning or renovation projects that will be carried out. However, as to how to carry out and operate these projects, there are often different views within the enterprise, because it involves the economic operation of the project, the degree of professionalism and the degree of systematization and other issues.

If the third-party logistics services and logistics business outsourcing or not, the need for people already have a more certain understanding, then for the enterprise logistics system planning and transformation of the business whether to ask the "third party" to carry out? Who should be the "third party"? Must have what kind of qualifications or qualifications? People's understanding may not be so clear and certain. For example, a temporary storage area of the warehouse planning and the purchase of warehouse-related equipment, by the enterprise's warehouse department to deal with their own or to ask a professional logistics (warehouse) management experts to help consulting? If a company wants to build a new warehouse or open a new unloading site, how big is the plane and what kind of operational space is required? Is this standard set by the architectural design unit or logistics design unit to set up? And so on.

As people have recognized, enterprise logistics (especially production enterprise logistics) has the continuity, complexity, balance and other characteristics, it is subject to and serve the needs of production or sales, but also different from production and sales. According to the theory of supply chain, the fatal weakness of the enterprise logistics system is the misplaced information or information is not smooth, which produces "nothing can flow" and "something difficult to flow" problem. And the root cause of the information blocked and lies in the human factor, by the human "departmental barriers" generated by the departmental mood or localism, so that a department within the enterprise (such as the warehouse department) or a manager (for example, logistics manager) to put forward the transformation of the enterprise logistics and construction programs are usually one-sided and limitations, the lack of systematic and decision-making. Decision-making. Therefore, in general, enterprises to carry out logistics planning or logistics transformation, should consult a professional third party, rather than completely "homemade".

In the early stages of the enterprise construction project, professional logistics design and architectural design is not comparable at all. Logistics planning is systematic and operational, with dynamic requirements; while architectural design is basic and visual, basically static and relatively independent of the subsystem. In other words, at the initial stage of enterprise construction projects (especially enterprise park planning, plant design, workshop design, warehouse design and even internal road design, etc.), the usual architectural design program is not a substitute for the logistics planning program. Therefore, when consulting with a third party, it is necessary to find a professional logistics consulting company or logistics planning or operation of the experts, rather than seeking to save time to the building program instead of logistics programs.

As the enterprise logistics planning and logistics transformation must meet the requirements of the sustainable development of enterprises, the enterprise logistics solutions must have decision-making and operability requirements, and is by no means usually people learn and copy the theory can be solved.

First of all, consulting is a behavior, it is specialized knowledge and technology as a means to assist users to solve complex decision-making problems as the purpose of the whole activity. Modern logistics consulting is a logistics consultant or organization commissioned by the user, through investigation and research, the use of specialized logistics knowledge, skills and experience, relying on scientific methods and means, in order to assist the user to solve the complex logistics decision-making and planning and other issues of the activities, is knowledge-intensive services.

Secondly, logistics consulting has a functional, permeability, global, full, mobility and timeliness characteristics, both involving strategic decision-making level, but also involves the actual level of operation. Logistics consulting company to carry out logistics projects need to have three conditions: the necessary logistics expertise and professional and technical personnel (they are not people who know everything, such as focusing on production enterprise logistics, distribution centers, etc.); with the ability to engage in logistics consulting services activities and means; with a certain form of organization.

Third, the rationalization level of the design and planning of logistics solutions depends on the logistics experts leading the project related to the popularity of the logistics consulting company does not have much to do with the logistics consulting company, because logistics consulting firms are generally responsible for the project to operate and manage the project in a team mode. Therefore, the planning and transformation of industrial enterprise logistics for logistics consulting experts are generally very high or even close to the requirements of harsh - and this is the industrial enterprises must be strictly required.

The author, based on years of experience and experience, that: as a professional logistics consulting firm or logistics experts, it (or they) must have the following basic conditions:

1. a strong sense of professional responsibility, in-depth and detailed investigation of the status quo or business development planning surveys, rather than a set of generic forms or formulas to wait for the target customer "Fill in the blanks", or even a common set of programs to directly set on the customer's company name can be, and finally put forward a "solution" seems to be personalized, in fact, or the same old, the problem has not been solved, but rather the original relatively reasonable planning and development steps to the disruption of the enterprise. The development of the steps to the disruption.

2. For the current state of logistics and the needs of enterprises must hold the concept of objectivity, can stand in a more objective point of view on the logistics planning and transformation of enterprises. Can not be in line with their own research in a field or interested in, promote the field or technology, mobilizing customers at every turn on the "modernization, automation" of the logistics system, and should be pursued rationalization, usability of logistics solutions, which is the so-called personalized.

3. Knowledge system or in the comprehensive quality, logistics experts should be generally higher education, and relatively broad knowledge, not only have the practical experience and theoretical knowledge of the logistics of production enterprises, but also should have the background of the operation and management of industrial enterprises; not only management knowledge, but also management accounting, technical economics, mathematical and statistical data, product design, spatial design, enterprise **** relations and other aspects of the knowledge, but also to have a management accounting, technology, statistics, product design, spatial design, enterprise **** relations and other aspects of the knowledge. Public **** relations and other aspects of the involvement; for the depth of the solution proponent, because the program planning to do "each station of the production line, each product material, each square meter", so especially need to have logistics equipment and logistics containers in the professional knowledge and experience in the proportion.

4. Have a rich background in related work, at least experienced one or more related aspects of logistics planning or renovation projects, and can have the experience of the site can be proposed after the initial program intention.

5. Professional training or teaching experience, logistics planning experience, good communication skills. Because logistics planning and transformation is based on the enterprise, so must be able to the relevant personnel of the enterprise with the program related to the logistics of the systematic training, and to ensure the depth and effectiveness of the training.

6. Strong learning ability, good at updating knowledge and concepts (especially good at updating the concepts of his customers).

7. Strong case analysis and mobilization of the project operating atmosphere.

8. Open-minded.

9. Strong project management skills.

In addition, the leadership of the enterprise, should have a very deep understanding of the logistics management of production enterprises, which is the logistics transformation project can be successfully implemented to ensure.

Because of the high conditions, there are few professional companies and experts in this area, but also because of these reasons, so to assist China's production enterprises to enhance their logistics management and supply chain management capabilities, in this regard, logistics management and planning of the research space is very large.

Three, logistics consulting project operation

Then how to operate the project of logistics transformation?

As a project established, logistics consulting and transformation projects are bound to go through the four stages of initiation, growth, maturity, termination, and these stages are unique. It is also bound to have certain characteristics of project management, and its mode of operation must also meet the requirements of project management. The logistics planning aspect of the project is "from scratch", so it eliminates the need for on-site data surveys and studies of existing buildings and facilities, which is relatively simple, and here is an example of a logistics remodeling project.

Generally speaking, in an enterprise logistics renovation project, the project process mainly consists of the following phases, namely, project introduction, data collection, data analysis, preliminary proposal, proposal reporting and feedback, proposal confirmation, proposal implementation or guidance. The project content mainly includes the following aspects:

Project Background Introduction

Project Tasks and Objectives

Project Scope and Depth

n Survey of Current Situation, Definition of Tasks

n Design of Basic Data Collection (Preparation)

n Analysis of Current Situation

n Preliminary Proposal for Logistics Conceptualization

n Recommendation of Solution and Demonstration of operability

n Preparation and detailed evaluation of tender documents and order placement

n Supporting conditions for the implementation of the selected technical facilities

Planning and design tools used

Limitations of the design documents

Obligations to be fulfilled by the customer

Project organization

Project documentation

Payment dates and lead times

Changes in the scope of implementation

Payment terms

Place of implementation

Validity period

Basic basis of the document

The planning and renovation of the logistics of the production enterprise is concerned with rationalization, effectiveness and systematization, and in order to do a good job of this, the enterprise (especially the decision-making level) must be fully aware of the importance of logistics planning and renovation based on the implementation of the project by professional logistics consulting firms or logistics experts in related fields. Logistics experts to lead the implementation.

Four, common misunderstandings and positioning of logistics consulting in manufacturing enterprises

With the deepening of people's understanding of enterprise logistics, many enterprises (especially the food industry, home appliance industry, the automotive industry, the electronics industry, the machinery manufacturing industry, cosmetics, cigarettes and the pharmaceutical industry, etc.) began to build and renovate the logistics of enterprises into the corporate management and strategic decision-making schedule, and Pragmatic approach to the work of these projects, however, due to various reasons, the establishment of the logistics project is often prone to the following misunderstandings:

1. "Point to point" guiding ideology triggered by the misdirection of localism. In the actual operation and management, the enterprise is usually by the logistics manager (or logistics department of the relevant personnel) to take the lead in recognizing the importance of logistics for the department or the enterprise related business, so as to put forward the concept of logistics planning and transformation, but on the one hand, due to the departmental work of the reasons for the transformation of the requirements or programs are often made from the department's point of view, sometimes due to the interests of certain departments. Ideological problems, and did not take into account the coordination and collaboration of other departments, resulting in a lack of global and operational programs, not in line with the long-term development goals of the enterprise, and ultimately, of course, was rejected or the implementation of the effect of a big discount;

2. Upper leadership, "the old revolution meets the new trend," triggered by empiricism misunderstandings. Departmental staff proposed program may be very perfect, reasonable, but due to the enterprise's supervisors or decision-making leaders know little or nothing about logistics management, "we have been dry for decades also over, and did not have any big problems," making the advanced logistics concepts and excellent enhancement of the program has been blocked;

3.

3. The idea of "doing things quickly" triggers the misunderstanding of catching up with the fashion. In the face of more and more media, magazine advertisements, seminars in-depth propaganda, many business leaders gradually recognized the role of logistics management in the production enterprises, but also decided to carry out logistics management. However, it is often easy to go to the other extreme, "to do to do the best", "into the WTO, to keep up with the times", it seems to meet the WTO must have an automated three-dimensional warehouse, and finally became an image of the project; or to invite a certain type of logistics product suppliers or theoretical logistics experts. Suppliers of certain types of logistics products or theoretical logistics experts, in their "modernization, three-dimensional" ideas instilled, made the local or system or even domestic first-class logistics system. So people only see the magnificent logistics center or fully automated three-dimensional library or advanced logistics equipment, as for the subsequent management and maintenance and its operational benefits for the enterprise supply chain management, whether rationalization, effective, no one to care.

4. "Simplify the action, reduce costs" of the small farmers. Logistics planning and management to pay attention to "reduce costs", and then want to save money on planning, that itself is to reduce costs, do not know that "sharpening the knife is not wrong", logistics planning is the process of sharpening the knife; secondly, even if you want to plan for those who are also invited to logistics equipment Secondly, even if planning is required, the logistics equipment providers or their interest representatives to plan, of course, the objectivity of the planning can be imagined. The result is usually to spend money but found not to do things well, however, when found that the planning is not reasonable, it is already dead.

5. "Careful consideration, careful study" triggered by the "avoidance" misunderstanding. Reasonable logistics solutions are often for the original logistics management and operation mode to produce a very large impact and involvement, so that the leadership of the left and right, too much emphasis on the actual situation of the enterprise and do not dare to actually implement, and ultimately make the reasonable logistics transformation and enhancement of the program and the opportunity to face the abortion.

6. "Invested so much money into, but can produce benefits? When can I recover" misunderstanding. In accordance with the algorithm for the purchase of production equipment, people usually like this calculation, the results of the daily hope, hope, and found that there is no real "recovery of investment", so doubt whether logistics planning is worthwhile. In fact, logistics planning is not like the sales department of the enterprise, to create any benefits, if it is viewed in this way, you are sure to be disappointed; logistics management and integrated supply chain management emphasizes the improvement of the enterprise's ability to resist risk, that is to say, to reduce the opportunity cost of the enterprise, and logistics planning is to prevent the enterprise may be in the future, unreasonable costs or waste, and these costs are not calculated in accordance with the traditional financial algorithm, but only the traditional logistics planning, logistics planning is not worth it. The financial algorithm is not even counted, only until something happens will be shown in other subjects, but at that time due to the mix of other factors, it has been unable to quantitatively calculate.

So business leaders in the learning and understanding of logistics management and logistics planning and transformation at the same time, must ask professional logistics experts into the enterprise production and logistics site, to carry out objective investigation and analysis, so as to stand in the overall situation of the enterprise and the height of the logistics system to make judgments.

It should be emphasized that: any logistics project is not completed by the consulting company or logistics experts alone, but by the consulting agency and the customer enterprise *** with the establishment of a joint project team to complete; only at different stages of the project, the main body of the project to undertake some changes. In the start and growth stage of the project, mainly data analysis and preliminary program discussions, this time is mainly consultants, the customer side of the relevant members of the enterprise side as a supplement; and in the maturity of the project and the completion of the project stage, the main program reporting, modification and confirmation, implementation, at this time it is to the customer side of the enterprise side of the relevant personnel are mainly to study the project program, digestion, planning and implementation, and to change the original to provide information for the main Passive state for the current active in-depth "feel in place", while the consulting side of the relevant personnel in the rationality of the program was confirmed by the two sides to explore the basis of the relevant personnel of the customer side of the enterprise is mainly program training, personnel orientation, implementation of counseling and supervision and other auxiliary work. When the consultant for the customer enterprise to establish a full understanding and operation of the project program in the various aspects of the logistics management team, the logistics project is basically close to the end of the project, as for the transformation of the project program can really achieve the desired value, mainly depends on the customer's future implementation of the situation.