Chapter 1. Basic Concepts of Logistics - Student
Chapter 1. Basic Concepts of Logistics - Student
Management
This course will provide students with basic knowledge and skills in Logistics management. The main content includes:
4. Procurement management
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Chapter 1. Basic
Concepts of
Logistics
"What role does logistics play and at what stage in the supply chain?"
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Supplier …
Customer
tier 1 Customer
tier 1
tier 2
Supplier
tier 2 Customer
tier 3
Supplier Focal Customer Customer
tier 1
… Supplier company tier 1 tier 2
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tier 2
Customer Customer
Customer tier 2 tier 3
Supplier Supplier tier 1
tier 2 tier 1
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Customer
tier 2
Customer
tier 1
Services Services
Services Logistics plays a crucial role in the supply chain, ensuring smooth operation from raw materials to the final product. In the supply chain, logistics is present in
provider provider
provider the stages from raw materials to the final product, including the distribution process to the customer.
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Phase 1: Distribution
Activities in Phase 1
Transportation
1 The first phase of the logistics service focuses on physical distribution, moving products efficiently from the
Timely and efficient transportation of goods
manufacturer to the customer's hands. This is a period when businesses recognize that optimizing distribution is a
competitive advantage.
Distribution
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Optimized distribution of products and goods to customers
• Transportation: Optimize transportation modes such as road, rail, and sea to ensure goods are delivered on time
at the lowest cost.
Warehousing
3 • Storage: Manage warehouses to maintain a continuous flow of goods, reduce waiting time, and increase
Safe and efficient storage and preservation of goods
efficiency.
• Inventory management: Includes activities such as receiving, inspecting, storing, packaging, and distributing
Packaging
4 goods.
Attractive packaging and labeling to protect goods
Although more scientifically organized, the logistics processes in this phase still operate in silos between different
In the Distribution phase, the related activities such as transportation, distribution, storage, and packaging are closely coordinated to ensure the departments.
effective and timely delivery of products and goods to customers. The purpose is to meet customer needs in the most optimal way.
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Activities in Phase 2
Phase 2: Logistics System
Phase 2 marks the transition from simple distribution to an integrated logistics system. This system combines various activities to optimize the supply chain.
Warehouse Management
1 Storage, handling, and control of goods.
Transportation
2
Moving goods from origin to destination.
Inventory Management
3
Tracking, forecasting, and adjusting inventory levels.
Order Processing
4
Receiving, processing, and delivering orders to customers.
Information
5
Collecting, processing, and sharing logistics information.
In this phase, logistics activities such as inventory management, transportation, and order processing are integrated into a complete
logistics system. This helps optimize operations, meet customer needs in a timely and efficient manner.
These activities are connected through an information system, allowing businesses to effectively control the entire logistics process.
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Urban Logistics
Developing efficient transportation and distribution solutions in dense urban
environments, utilizing small distribution centers and flexible delivery vehicles.
Digitalization in Logistics
Digitalization helps automate processes, enhance transparency, improve
tracking and data analysis, enabling businesses to optimize operational
efficiency and reduce costs.
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Storage
Warehouse Management
Order Processing When goods are produced or imported, they need to be stored in warehouses before being distributed to customers. The Warehouse Management System (WMS) plays a crucial
role in organizing, arranging, and preserving the goods.
Space Optimization
1 Order Data Management 2 Payment Process Modern storage systems not only help save space, but also optimize the time for searching and processing goods.
Process and track order information from receipt Includes invoicing, payment collection, and
to delivery completion, ensuring accuracy and effective management of payment transactions. Classification and Arrangement
Goods are classified and arranged according to criteria such as product type, storage time, and priority level.
transparency.
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Goods Transportation
Transshipment Hubs in Logistics Services
Transportation Methods Transportation Management
There are various transportation methods, including Transportation Management Systems (TMS) help
road, rail, sea, and air. The choice of method depends track routes, optimize routes, and ensure on-time
Multiple Application Areas Efficient Distribution Storage and Management
on the distance, delivery time, and type of goods. delivery at reasonable costs.
Transshipment hubs are widely used Transshipment hubs support the Transshipment hubs help store and
in industries such as retail, distribution of goods to retail stores systematically manage inventory,
manufacturing, food, or direct delivery to customers, meeting the standards and storage Supporting Technologies Coordination
pharmaceuticals, etc. They meet the ensuring timeliness and flexibility. requirements of different types of
Technologies help track and monitor transportation in Transportation requires close coordination between
need for fast and efficient movement goods.
real-time, minimizing the risk of lost or damaged the manufacturer, transportation service providers,
of goods.
goods during transit. and customers.
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Operating Level includes activities such as order registration, order processing, inventory planning, warehousing and distribution,
transportation and delivery. These are the daily tasks that need to be performed to maintain a seamless and timely logistics
operation.
Tactical Level involves issues such as inventory management, facility planning, channel integration, vehicle routing and
scheduling, as well as outsourcing services. These tasks help optimize operational efficiency in the short and medium term.
Strategic Level includes capacity and capability planning, alliances and collaborations, as well as system customization to meet
long-term business objectives.
Control Level focuses on monitoring and evaluating the performance of the system, including customer service, system
productivity, cost control, and effective asset utilization.
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Order Placement 1
Customers place orders, generating information about
products, quantities, and delivery times.
2 Planning
The logistics management system plans the order
processing, including scheduling transportation, arranging
Execution 3 goods, and allocating resources.
Activities such as receiving goods, inspecting, warehousing,
packaging, and transportation are carried out to fulfill the
order. 4 Monitoring
The system tracks the order processing, updates the status,
and provides information to the customers.
Evaluation 5
Based on KPIs such as delivery time, cost, and customer
satisfaction, the system's effectiveness is evaluated.
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1.3. Classification of
Information Services Advertising Services Flexibility Logistics Activities
Additional information services Additional services such as Additional services can be
such as data analysis and reporting promotions and advertising can be provided at different locations, not Logistics is an important field in supply chain management. There
can be integrated into the core provided at various points along just at the point of delivery, but are many ways to classify logistics activities, including by form,
logistics process, providing the supply chain, optimizing the also at the contractor's or third- process, and commodity.
valuable information for marketing effectiveness of customer reach. party's premises, increasing
purposes. flexibility and efficiency in the
transportation process.
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• Tight Control: The company has tight control over the transportation process and service quality.
• Long-term Cost Reduction: For large companies, investing in Logistics infrastructure can reduce long-term costs compared to outsourcing.
Disadvantages
• High Initial Investment: Investing in infrastructure, transportation, and human resources requires a large initial investment.
• Management and Operation Capability: For companies without sufficient scale, experience, expertise, and quality of personnel, the 1PL model can
pose many difficulties, reduce efficiency, increase risks, and be quite costly.
• Limited Scope: Small companies have a limited transportation scope and cannot expand to a large or international scale like other Logistics models.
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• Reduced initial investment: Businesses do not need to invest in • Dependence on the provider: Loss of control and risk of service
logistics infrastructure and transportation equipment. quality issues.
• Access to professional services: 2PL providers have experience • High service costs: Outsourcing costs can increase, especially
and ensure quality transportation. for large shipping volumes.
• Optimized transportation process: Providers have a wide • Limited scalability: Not suitable for large-scale or international
network, helping to reduce costs and optimize routes. logistics expansion needs.
• High flexibility: Businesses can choose different service • Lack of supply chain integration: Only addresses transportation,
providers for various transportation needs. other processes still need to be self-managed.
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Advantages and Disadvantages of the 3PL Model Dropshipping - A New Product Delivery Method
Advantages Disadvantages Expanded Product Catalog
• Optimize logistics processes: Professional providers • Loss of direct control: Dependent on the provider for No Need to Manage Inventory With the Dropshipping model, sellers can expand their
manage all logistics activities. logistics operations. In the Dropshipping model, the seller does not have to product catalog without additional investment. This helps
• Cost savings: No need to invest in logistics infrastructure or • Service costs: Can be high, especially for complex services. manage, store or ship the goods themselves. Instead, the increase business opportunities and attract more
personnel. • Quality risks: Quality depends on the provider, which can Dropshipping service provider will take care of these tasks. customers.
• High expertise: Utilize expertise and wide networks to impact service.
improve efficiency. • Complex relationship management: Requires close
• Flexible scalability: Services can be easily adjusted to coordination with the provider.
1 2 3
business needs. • Data security: Risks of information security when sharing
with a third party.
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Dropshipping
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Dropshipping vs. Third-Party Logistics (3PL) Dropshipping vs. Third-Party Logistics (3PL)
Criteria Dropshipping Third-Party Logistics (3PL)
Criteria Dropshipping Third-Party Logistics (3PL)
Inventory Management No need to store inventory, suppliers hold and Merchants own the inventory, but the
Customer Experience May be inferior due to longer delivery times and Improves customer experience with faster
manage the inventory. warehouse and management are handled by
difficulty handling returns or warranties. delivery and easier returns management.
3PL.
Scalability Easy to scale quickly without worrying about Scalable, but dependent on the 3PL's
Initial Costs Lower, as there is no need to invest in Higher costs due to the need to invest in
warehousing or inventory management. warehouse capacity and capabilities.
warehousing and inventory. inventory and 3PL service fees.
Returns More complex, as the seller needs to work with Easier, as the 3PL can assist with processing
Process Control Lower control, as the supplier is responsible Higher control, can customize and manage
the supplier to handle returns. returns and warranties.
from production to delivery. the quality of the delivery service.
Profitability Lower profit margins due to high competition Potentially higher profit margins as the seller
Delivery Speed Depends on the supplier and their location, Faster delivery speed as the goods are stored
and the need to share profits with the supplier. controls the entire supply chain.
often slower as the goods may be shipped domestically or in warehouses closer to the
from overseas. customers. Suitable for Small businesses, startups, or those who don't Larger businesses that want to optimize their
want to invest heavily in warehousing and logistics processes but still maintain control
Product Quality Cannot be directly controlled, depends on the Can control the product quality before
logistics management. over inventory and customer service.
supplier. delivery.
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As an integrator: consolidating, connecting the resources, Design, build, and operate a complete Logistics chain. Responsible for managing the flow of logistics, providing
potential, and scientific and technical facilities of its own with solutions, planning, logistics consulting, and transportation Advantages Disadvantages
other organizations. management. Manage the entire logistics process.
• Comprehensive management: Integrates the entire supply • Loss of direct control: Completely dependent on the provider.
chain, helping to optimize logistics. • High costs: Service costs may be high due to complexity.
• Resource savings: Businesses can focus on core activities • Quality risks: Service quality depends on the provider.
without having to manage logistics.
• Dependence on a single partner: High risk if there are issues
• High expertise: Ensures efficiency with the provider's with the provider.
advanced expertise and technology.
• Difficulty in partner selection: Need to choose a suitable and
• Flexible scalability: Easy to adjust the scale of logistics reliable provider.
according to needs.
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Inbound Logistics
Inbound Logistics Process
Inbound Supply Time Management Cost Optimization • Step 1: Purchasing and Sourcing: the company identifies, evaluates suppliers, negotiates prices, and purchases
The process of procuring, transporting, and storing Closely managing and controlling the location and Managing and optimizing the costs associated with raw materials.
input resources and raw materials to meet timing of inbound material deliveries to ensure a the inbound logistics process, such as
production needs. This includes finding, negotiating ready and timely supply for the production process. transportation, storage, inventory control, etc. The
• Step 2: Recording and Receipts: the company records the purchase order and receives the receipt after payment.
with, and managing suppliers. goal is to minimize costs across the supply chain. • Step 3: Notification: when transporting raw materials, the supplier will electronically declare the tracking
information of the shipment for the company.
• Step 4: Load Arrival: move the received goods to the yard/warehouse or the designated recipient according to the
company's instructions.
• Step 5: Receiving: employees unload the goods, scan the barcodes, and inventory the goods to ensure they
match the purchase order. After that, the goods will be transferred to the production warehouse at the factory or
the production facility to continue the production activities.
• Step 6: Reverse Logistics: the team receives and transports the returns from customers due to defective goods,
issues in the delivery process, repairs, etc.
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Location Management Track and manage the location of products during transportation, ensuring products are delivered to the correct customer address. • Step 1: Customer Order: customers place orders through the company's sales channels.
Time Management Develop detailed transportation plans, forecast demand and delivery times to ensure products are delivered within the customer's required
• Step 2: Order Processing: the company confirms the order, receives the requested quantity, and checks if the
timeframe. inventory has enough to fulfill the order.
Cost Management Optimize transportation, storage, and delivery costs to minimize distribution expenses and meet the company's profit objectives. • Step 3: Order Confirmation and Replenishment: at this stage, the reserved inventory will be transferred to the
main storage, replacing the products the customer has purchased. This process may trigger the production of
more goods or the procurement of raw materials from suppliers to maintain a stable inventory level.
• Step 4: Picking: warehouse staff select the goods from the reserve inventory to complete the order.
• Step 5: Packing, Staging & Loading: staff pack, label, and document the order according to internal and customer
requirements. They then proceed to load the goods onto the trucks.
• Step 6: Shipping & Documenting: the order leaves the warehouse and is transported to distributors or partners.
The company's system will record the shipment and send detailed information to the customer for tracking.
• Step 7: Last Mile Delivery: the order is transported from the distributor to the end consumer.
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Process The process of searching, procuring, and transporting raw The process of planning the distribution of goods from the
materials to the factory for processing and production. manufacturer to the final consumer. 4 Environmental Protection
Contributing to environmental protection through effective waste management.
Relationship Between suppliers and manufacturers Between distributors, retailers, and end customers
Workflow Handling of incoming raw materials (inward movement) Inventory management, order processing, and delivery to
end customers (outward movement)
Key Activities Procurement, storage, and transportation of raw materials Packaging and distribution of goods to the final consumer.
to the production site.
Optimization Optimize Just-in-time (JIT), which means the right product Optimize costs, meaning selecting the most cost-effective
- the right quantity - the right place - at the right time. transportation methods, ensuring goods are not damaged
during transit, and meeting delivery time frames.
Strategic Planning Provide the necessary raw materials for the factory to Meet customer demand, support the sales process to
produce the products. increase profitability.
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Humanitarian logistics focuses on Business logistics serves production Military logistics ensures the supply of and recycling resources. Circular community, such as providing food, food supply by optimizing the supply
economy logistics supports these healthcare, education, and other essential chain, minimizing waste, and protecting
providing relief goods and services to and commercial activities, including weapons, food, fuel, and other
activities by optimizing the supply chain services. the environment.
victims of natural disasters, wars, inventory management, transportation, necessary materials for the armed
to minimize waste and maximize
diseases, and other emergencies. order processing, and related services. forces during wartime or training
efficiency.
operations.
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1.4. Distinguish the Types of Logistics by Position in 1.4. Distinguish the Types of Logistics by
the Supply Chain Position in the Supply Chain
Procurement Logistics
Manage activities related to the procurement of raw
Distribution Logistics
materials, components, and goods from suppliers until they Manage activities related to the distribution, transportation,
are introduced into the production process. and delivery of products to the final customers.
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Production Logistics
Manage activities such as production planning, storage
arrangement, and transportation of products between
production stages.
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a. Procurement Logistics
a. Procurement Logistics
Supply Management Transportation & Delivery
Purchasing logistics involves managing and organizing the processes Activities such as transportation planning, warehouse management,
related to the supply of necessary input factors for the production and order processing, and delivery are carried out to ensure that input
business operations of the enterprise. factors are supplied in a timely and efficient manner.
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b. Production Logistics
b. Production Logistics
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c. Distribution Logistics
c. Distribution Logistics
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Chapter 1 Summary
This chapter provided an introduction to the fundamental concepts of logistics. We explored the evolution of logistics
services, from simple distribution to complex supply chain management. We also delved into the components of a
logistics service system, highlighting the importance of logistics in various business operations.
The classification of logistics activities, based on service levels, commodity objects, and scope of operations, was
discussed, emphasizing the multifaceted nature of the field. Finally, we examined the different types of logistics by
position in the supply chain, including purchasing, production, and distribution logistics.
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