From the point of view of the scale of economic phenomena and processes, logistics can take a micro- or macroeconomic form. This division was introduced by, among others, H. Krampe (8). In the case of logistics support for individual business entities, in terms of organizing and managing production processes, we are dealing with microeconomic logistics, whereas in situations where the subject of support is larger areas covering various business entities – macroeconomic.
Logistics support on a microeconomic scale is generally performed by designated organizational units of enterprises. The conceptual diagram of this form of logistics management is presented in Figure 1.
The goal of logistics in the management of a manufacturing enterprise is not only to accelerate material and information flows, but above all to synchronize and match all phases of product creation so as to result in an optimal relationship between time, quality, and cost throughout the entire logistics chain accompanying the production process of a given enterprise. The logistics system of a manufacturing enterprise can be simple or very complex and have varying degrees of practical application (10). This depends not so much on the size of the enterprise as on the complexity of its production process and the role it plays in the integrated supply chain.
The logistics management system of a manufacturing enterprise, although limited to a specific entity, indirectly affects the entire logistics chain, as it contributes to:
– shortening delivery times for products and services
– accelerating physical, information, and financial flow cycles, adapting them to market expectations
– reducing inventories in all links of raw material, semi-finished product, and finished product flows
– ensuring the uninterrupted flow of production and product sales processes
– reducing employment through the use of modern production technologies and IT systems supporting decision-making, especially in production management
– lowering logistics costs in the enterprise.
The article comes from the magazine “Logistyka” 1/2003.