Military Logistics: Insights for Business Logistics

In: International journal of physical distribution and logistics management, Volume 22, Issue 2, p. 22-32

Abstract

During the last 30 years the environments faced by the business
logistics manager have dramatically increased in complexity. The
integration of logistics processes with organizational strategy,
increasing complexities of partnership/channel relationships, and the
increasingly international scope of business logistics processes are
examples of these complexities. The military logistics literature
addresses complex issues of integrating logistics with strategy and
tactics; co‐ordinating world wide supply operations; co‐ordinating an
industrial base with military needs; and managing cycles of
mobilization, warfare, and demobilization. Summarizes the development of
business logistics thought, reviews the military logistics literature,
and develops insights from the said literature that appear relevant to
business logistics thought.