Every day I read about 30 to 50 articles on supply chain and logistics management, manufacturing industry trends, and manufacturing technology in order to better understand our customers issues as well as potential customers in order to better write helpful content and also reach potential customers in a meaningful way. Having come from the marketing field, and very new to the supply chain and logistics management field, it’s vital I feverishly research and study the field so our content resonates with our readers, our customers, those in our industry, and of course potential new customers. I have been researching over the past week the history of supply chain and logistics management, and I came across a fantastic visual representation of that history, via an infographic, from the SupplyChainOpz blog. I really thought it was the best way to share it with our readers, by referencing it below!

Academic Definition of Supply Chain and Logistics Management

Supply Chain Management Definition

According to the APICS Dictionary, supply chain management (SCM) is defined as the design, planning, execution, control, and monitoring of supply chain activities with the objective of creating net value, building a competitive infrastructure, leveraging worldwide logistics, synchronizing supply with demand, and measuring performance globally. How would YOU define it and does the APICS define this well enough?

Logistics Management Definition

According to Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals (CSCMP), logistics management is the part of supply chain management that plans, implements, and controls the efficient, effective forward and reverse flow and storage of goods, services, and related information between the point of origin and the point of consumption in order to meet customers’ requirements. Logistics management activities typically include inbound and outbound transportation management, fleet management, warehousing, materials handling, order fulfillment, logistics network design, inventory management, supply/demand planning and management of third party logistics services providers. To varying degrees, the logistics function also includes sourcing and procurement, production planning and scheduling, packaging and assembly, and customer service. It is involved in all levels of planning and execution – strategic, operational, and tactical. Logistics management is an integrating function which coordinates and optimizes all logistics activities with other functions in supply chain and logistics management, including marketing, sales, manufacturing, finance, and information technology. Do you think this is defined appropriately?

Supply Chain and Logistics Management History Infographic

UPDATE: this infographic is updated on 30 May 2013 to reflect very important changes. While most researchers believe that the word logistics is derived from the word “logistique” in French and the first book contains the word “logistique” is “The Art of War” by Baron Henri de Jomini in 1838, the recent discovery indicates otherwise. More information, evidences and theoretical basis can be found in this article. Please don’t hesitate to read this article because it’s really worth your time.