Logistics Engineering is a broad and challenging programme. You learn how to manage and optimize various logistics streams in, for example physical distribution and human logistics. Physical distributions is all about worldwide transport, storage, planning and communication between different parties. Human logistics focuses on human streams, for example in health service or at a big event.
The Dutch Top Logistics Team’s “Score to the top” report1 defines logistics as the knowledge and skills needed to efficiently, sustainably and effectively plan, organize, execute and manage the goods and information flows and any associated financial flows from raw material to the end product”. This includes return flows and reuse, both within one company and between companies. The term ‘logistics’ therefor includes Supply Chain Management, Logistics management and Transport management.
Perhaps more than in any other profession, a logistician needs to be able to act as both a specialist and a generalist. Specialist intervention is required for logisticians involved in a specific component within the chain, for example a production or distribution manager. A generalist perspective is required to ensure that the entire chain can operate as efficiently and effectively as possible. The young starting logistician is expected to be able to coordinate at least two links within the chain and be actively involved with all of a company’s logistical development stages
