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INTRODUCTION
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Logistics is concerned with the efficient flow of products from their
points of production to their points of consumption. It encompasses
several inter-related activities such as demand forecasting,
inventory control, transportation and warehousing. Transportation,
the most visible of these activities, is also the most important one
in terms of costs: numerous studies have reported that transportation
often accounts for more than 40% of total distribution costs for products.
Although logistics and transportation are an important source of
expenditure for manufacturers and distributors, they also create value
by making products available where and when they are needed, thus
allowing a spatial and temporal separation between production and
consumption. In the last two decades, business logistics has moved
to the forefront of operations management and now constitutes a source
of competitive advantage for many organizations. The globalization of
the economy, the popularity of just-in-time manufacturing, the deployment
of e-commerce and the trend toward outsourcing have all contributed to
making logistics a cornerstone of the economy.
The accrued complexity of global manufacturing and distribution networks as well as supply chain integration efforts have also drawn attention to the importance of logistics. In turn, these changes have made customers increasingly demanding in terms of product availability and delivery times. To ensure that the right products are delivered in the right place, at the right time, and at the least possible cost, companies are thus increasingly turning their attention to the optimization of their logistics and transportation networks. This process is partly facilitated by the widespread adoption of information technologies which provide access to the data required for optimization, and by the growth in computing power which now allows the solution of large-scale problems. Creation of the Chair
 The Canada Research Chair in Logistics and Transportation was created on April 1st, 2006, as part of the Canada Research Chairs Program. Objectives
The Chair's three main objectives are:
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Canada Research Chair in Logistics and Transportation,
chaire.logistique@hec.ca © HEC Montréal, 2006. All right reserved. |
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