物流專業(yè)英語Unit_Eight課件

1、Unit Eight Third-party LogisticsPre-reading Discussion 1. What is third-party logistics(3PL)?2. Why is 3PL important to a company today?3. What is the process of implementing a 3PL service? Introduction1One of the hottest trends today is the outsourcing of logistics or third-party logistics. Without

2、 question, third-party logistics, also referred to as outsourcing or contract logistics， is in the midst of rapid global expansion. The concept outsourcing is being used practically in every industry and by more than 70% of Fortune 1,000 companies. Small firms to multinational companies are benefiti

3、ng from the economies of scale that third-party logistics companies achieve by handling large volumes of goods through their warehouse and distribution operations.What Is 3PL?2Third-party logistics involves the use of external companies to perform logistics functions that have traditionally been per

4、formed within an organization. The functions performed by the third party can encompass the entire logistics process or selected activities within that process. A 3PL provider is a firm that provides outsourced logistics services to companies for part, or sometimes all of their supply chain manageme

5、nt function. Third-party logistics providers typically specialize in integrated warehousing and transportation services that can be customized to customersneeds based on market conditions andthe demands and delivery service requirements for their products and materials.3A third-party logistics servi

6、ce is something more than subcontracting or outsourcing. Typically, subcontracting or outsourcing covers one product or one function that is produced or provided by an outside vendor. Examples include automobile companies subcontracting the manufacture of tires, or construction companies subcontract

7、ing roofing, or retail companies outsourcing the transportation function. Third-party logistics providers cut across multiplelogistics functions and primarily coordinate all the logistics functions and sometimes act as a provider of one or more functions. The primary objectives of third-party logist

8、ics providers are to lower the total costs of logistics for the supplier and improve the service level to the customer. They act as a bridge between the first party (supplier or producer) and the second party (buyer or customer).Importance of 3PL4 There are several reasons for the growth of third-pa

9、rty logistics over the past years. The transportation and distribution departments of some of the major companies have been downsizing in order to reduce operating costs. The most logical area to reduce costs is advisory functions such as operations research, followed by support functions such as tr

10、ansportation or warehousing. The area that companies want to strengthen by investing more is their core competency. Though it may sound like a fad, it has been a reality at some of the major companies. The other reason is from the customer side. Customers demand a betterservice but are not willing t

11、o pay more money for it. This requires the use of faster and more frequent transportation services and flexibility in inventory levels. A third-party logistics provider will be in a position to consolidate business from several companies and offer frequent pick-ups and deliveries, whereas inhouse tr

12、ansportation cannot.5One of the biggest enemies in the supply chain for companies is time. If a company has a famous 3PL provider, the provider can indirectly increase revenues through a solid logistics network. Solid logistics delivers solid sales by providing the customer with an accurate and time

13、ly order. A customer is more likely to do business with a supplier if he believes his orders will come in accuracy and on time. A well-run supply chain compresses time, reduces expensive distribution processes as well as costly inventories.6 In a word, any business that refuses toconsider outsourcin

14、g is at the risk of losing its competitive advantages or the opportunity to create a competitive advantage offered by third-party logistics providers. Even though more organizations are shifting towards outsourcing various functions, the ability to effectively manage these third-party relationships

15、is becoming more challenging.Process of Implementing a 3PL Service7 The process of implementing a 3PL service should be rigorous and thorough in order to get maximum benefits from it. An approach involving four phases is presented here.8 Phase 1: Scoping of requirements. This is the first step invol

16、ved in selecting a good logistics provider. The buyer must identify the logistics functions that need to be outsourced. The coverage of the functions in terms of geographical area, customers and commodities also has to be well-defined, for instance, the outsourcing of management of the warehousing f

17、unction for international customers of computer printers. So the first phase is concerned with defining the scope of the services to be outsourced and preparing a request-for-proposal (RFP) to be sent out to prospective providers.9 Phase 2: Selection of service provider. This phase involves two stag

18、es. The first stage involves identifying potential providers for the functions to be outsourced. A list of potential service providers for a logistics function may be found from trade magazines, published surveys and web sites. The second stage involves selecting one or a few providers actually to c

19、ontract out the service. This includes evaluation of proposals, site visits, getting references and then combiningall these together to list the final candidates. The results may then be combined with experiential knowledge and judgment to select the actual providers.10 Phase 3: Implementation and c

20、ontracting and follow-up. This is a very important stage since it involves the actual contract. The contract should cover service requirements, price, payment schedule, duration and other specific items. The specific clauses may cover issues related to contract cancellation, price increases and shar

21、ing of cost savings. The typeof metrics that will be used for measuring service and the frequency of measurement should be included. The type and extent of support that will be provided by the company to the provider and training requirements should also be stated clearly.11 Phase 4: Management and

22、monitoring. This is a very critical step to continue to improve the relationship between the provider and the company as well as to measure the performance of the provider and the company in terms of the expectations set out in the contract. This may be done at formal meetings or through quarterly r

23、eports. The buyer of the third-party service should have a team to work with the provider. This team will be handling andmanaging all the issues related to the contract or agreement. Issues of poor performance by the provider and inadequate support from the company should be reviewed periodically to identify the barriers and fix them.Future of 3PL12 Without question, the future of third-party logistics is in the midst of rapid global expansion. Undoubtedly, the growth will be a result of the marketplace. Logistics requirements are shaping the market direction, this is fueled by the growth