Whether you’re crafting necklaces at home to sell online or overseeing the operations of a busy restaurant, logistics affect you. In fact, every business is affected by logistics to some extent.
What is logistics?
Logistics is the management and control of the flow of goods and services from the source of production to the customer. Even service businesses rely on logistics to receive their supplies.
How can small businesses manage logistics?
Small businesses that rely on foreign manufacture of their goods must determine the best, most efficient way of getting those goods home to North America. Investigate your options for shipping and handling. Talk to large, global logistics providers LIKE UPS Supply Chains Solutions, which uses its own aircraft to handle shipping of product.
No matter what size your small business is, make sure you understand your logistics – so much of your business can depend on its smooth operation. Get to know all the variables of getting your product from Point A to Point B. You don’t have to be an expert, but get a working understanding of things such as cost, suppliers, industry trends, market demand, even certain rules and regulations that might affect your logistics.
For more on operations management, check out a recent blog post about all the moving parts of operations management in a small business.
When we talk about operations management in a small business, we’re talking about a lot of moving parts. So what is operations management? It refers to all the activities, processes and controls a small business uses to produce its products and services. The components of operations management include: