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Implementation of Technology in Logistics Management
Implementation of Technology in Logistics Management
Logistics is the lifeblood of any Military Organization. The term “logistics” was
first used within the military field, logistics being understood as a branch of the
art of war, which was in charge of moving and bringing supplies to the troops.
This concept developed because of the need of supplies for the military forces
during a war. The development of the military logistics, as it is known today,
coincides with the development of the organized military forces, that several
nations have used in past. Logistics defines all the material and assistance
conditions necessary for the good development of an organization.
The remarkable challenges which Indian Coast Guard faces during management
of logistics are as follows:-
Finalyzing Contracts with suppliers so as to purchase all kinds of materials
which are required on a day to day basis in ships and shore
establishments.
Transport, storage and preserving the supplies onboard so as to prevent
wastage.
Organizing, planning and executing transport so as to deliver the goods to
the ships at harbours in a timely manner.
Establishment of hospitals equipped with medicines at remote ports.
The major challenge to the Indian Coast Guard is to balance near-term readiness
and force modernization in an environment of increased missions and fewer
resources. To face those challenges, we need more than technology. We need to
train our young officers, build quality leadership, ensure materiel readiness,
establish vital installations and cater to the emergent needs of our soldiers.
These changes are vital for a young and dynamic force like us. The first and
foremost focus should be on exploiting improvements in communications and
business practices to provide better unity of command and reduced logistics
footprint. Many a times the delay in paper work leads to lag in communication
between the demanding unit and the supply unit. This communication gap has to
be eliminated by use of technology and digital media to ensure efficient flow of
the supplies to the units.
In logistics many new technologies are used in private firms while in government
organizations adoption process is very slow. However due to increase of
privatization in government sector, the competitive pressure is building up and
the only option to face the competition in to go in for technology enabled
operations. The latest technologies being used in logistics and supply chain
management are segregated into
Automatic Identification Technology
Communication Technology
Information Technology
RFTs The reader is connected to the central computer. Radio Frequency Tags
(RFTs) are a piece of silicon chip to store data in the microcircuit. The RFTs are
programmable with erasable memory. Data is stored in coded form and
communicated to the reader through waves. The basic principle of tag is that
antenna emits the radio signals. RFTs are very useful to accompany truck
shipments. The tag will contain information on consignor, consignee, inventory
items, quantity and value, what time the item travelled certain zone; even the
temperature etc. The reader receives the tag signal with its antenna, decodes it
and transfers the data to the host computer system. RFTs can be attached to
virtually anything-from a semi tractor, to a pallet, containers etc. RFTs will avoid
paperwork and can be helpful in quick clearance at octroi and custom posts. In
the warehouse, the barcodes can be applied to the individual inventory items
while RFTs can be applied to pallets, containers etc. These will allow the staff to
directly communicate to the warehouse computer.
COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY
The communication, either oral or written has a very crucial role in the success
of logistics management. The following are the few emerging communications
technologies, which are enablers to superior service leading to competitiveness
through the speed and accuracy in communication.
Planning –In the initial period before the advent of IT, production and
distribution planning was done based on historical data. There was not much
linkage with planning and production changed with varying demand. However
with the advent of IT planning approach include collaborative planning,
forecasting and replenishment (CPRF). It involves long term commitment to
information sharing for collaborative planning purposes like joint business
planning and financial planning.
Web-based collaboration- The web-based collaboration application enables to
share and collaborate with supply chain partners on forecasts, replenishment and
promotions plans to deliver the highest level of customer service and profitability.
Scheduling –In the initial period the scheduling was done to improve asset
utilization and reduce manufacturing costs. However with the advent of IT strong
linkage is established between supply chain partners and customers. As such
scheduling is done to serve the units at the right time.
The Indian Coast Guard need to transform is like that of many other
organizations undergoing dramatic change. The Indian Coast Guard is facing
many of the same challenges. World-class companies must transform their
support structures if they expect to continue to dominate their logistics sectors.
To sustain their competitive edge, these commercial industries have re-
engineered their processes, contracted out services and products when such
outsourcing provided better performance at a lower cost, incorporated emerging
technologies, and overcame institutional resistance when many wanted to
maintain the “status quo.” The Coast Guard must revolutionize its logistics
program and provide support on time, in the right place and in the right quantity.
It must become predictive, anticipatory, and responsive. Our logistics system
must be able to anticipate problems before they occur. Technology can enable
accurate predictability. Through the implementation of state-of-the-art
information systems, the coast guard can monitor consumption of expendables
supplies (such as fuel, repair parts, ammunition, rations) on a daily basis at the
national level as well as at the unit level. Fully exploited, these systems can also
automatically deliver supplies at the level required, consistent with available
resources on a competing priority basis.