1. Introduction.
In a period of general overproduction of food in the country and worldwide, the efficiency of enterprises in the agri-food sector can be improved primarily through the reduction of production costs. In enterprises of this sector, due to the specific nature of the raw materials and products manufactured (classified as so-called fast-moving consumer goods with limited shelf life), the organization of material flow streams and sound decisions controlling these flows become of great importance. In our country, industrial enterprises have so far dominated the implementation of logistics principles, in contrast to enterprises operating in the agri-food economy sector, where, depending on the industry, this issue is sometimes still in the project phase or not addressed at all. This applies in particular to large-scale agricultural enterprises, which, as once stated, are transport companies “against their will”. The situation is slightly better in food processing enterprises. As market economy principles are implemented, the management of these enterprises is rapidly becoming aware that the processes of raw material and product flow within the enterprise constitute only a part of the logistics chain that begins with the raw material producer and ends with the final product consumer. Therefore, the final result of the enterprise will largely depend on the efficiently functioning entire logistics chain of specific products. This awareness necessitates close cooperation with suppliers and customers.
This article presents the functioning of a logistics chain model implemented in an enterprise involved in the procurement (and partly production), processing, and distribution of a specific commodity, namely turkey meat.
2. Characteristics of the studied company.
Company “X” specializes in turkey meat processing, particularly in the production of dietary cold cuts and delicatessen products, meeting the growing demand for such products. After carrying out a thorough modernization of the processing process – installing state-of-the-art technological lines under constant laboratory and veterinary supervision, ensuring the highest quality of the obtained products – the company meets the standards applicable in EU countries. It is worth noting that this is a company with Polish capital. The company’s headquarters is located in the south-western part of Greater Poland, about 110 km from Poznań. The company’s logistics infrastructure is as follows:
a) stationary: three cold stores with a total capacity of 743.2 m3, two freezers with a total capacity of 174 m3,
b) mobile: three refrigerated trucks with a load capacity of 3.5 t, one 3.5 t truck adapted for transporting live poultry, four delivery vehicles with a load capacity of 0.75 t, a forklift with a lifting capacity of 1.5 t, and a platform truck with a load capacity of 0.5 t moving on ceiling-suspended rails inside the rooms,
c) information flow: computers – internet, telephones, fax.
The company’s processing capacity is 1,500 thousand kg of livestock per year, of which 2/3 comes from its own production (one plant), and the remainder from cooperating suppliers (two plants).
The company has its own stores as well as contract customers in supermarkets and wholesalers located in the western part of Poland, covering such cities as:
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wholesalers: Poznań, Piła, Wrocław, Konin;
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retail stores: Poznań, Kalisz, Ostrów Wlkp., Rawicz, Wrocław, Gorzów;
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company-owned stores: Wolsztyn, Grodzisk, Nowy Tomyśl, Rakoniewice, Zielona Góra;
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store chains such as: Le’Clerck, Jumbo, Inter Marche.
The article comes from the magazine “Logistyka” 3/2002.