ABSTRACT
Of the business functions of the modern enterprise, logistics has had perhaps the most visible impact on the economic condition of society. Historically, it has been the role of logistics to solve the problem of product distribution by providing for the efÞcient and speedy movement of goods from the point of manufacture to the point of consumption. Today, this basic role of logistics has been greatly accentuated by the continuous, downward spiraling of all facets of product cycle times, compounded by a relentless acceleration in marketplace demands for quick response, customizable services, and self-activating ordering systems. In addition, logistics functions must now be able to link customers with suppliers through both physical and now Internet-driven channels. In such an environment, the key to logistics competitiveness is to utilize the best service partners and technologies to ensure that the most timely information and efÞcient business systems can be leveraged in the pursuit of value-added processes driving the cycle of supply chain procurement, manufacturing, and delivery.
