The document discusses collaboration and training in distribution and logistics. It notes that globalization and customization require business processes to be revised or transformed. Key to this is collaboration across all sectors and disciplines. Efficient supply chain management can target reducing costs, meeting deadlines, and increasing quality and flexibility. Elements for successful management include lean tools, integration, information systems, and new technologies. Meeting customer needs through relationship management and strategic alliances is also important. However, none of this can be achieved without training and learning, so companies and organizations recognize the need to train employees to develop sustainable competitive advantages.

1. Autor: Ignacio Soret Los Santos
Cargo: Director of the Research Department. Director of the Master in
Logistics Management and Commercial Distribution
Artículo: Distribution and logistics. Collaboration and training
In today's world, globalisation, diversification and personalisation of products
and services, the growing demands of consumers and users in logistics and distribution
standards, among other factors (including crises) mean that business processes should
be at least revised, if not transformed. But any redesign forces a consideration of all
actions in the supply chain, given that all actionscan have an effect. This brings us to
the key word: collaboration. This reaches all sectors of industry and services, and is
multidisciplinary.
The objectives to be achieved through efficient Supply Chain Management and
logistics and distribution activities are of a different nature. Some affect the supply,
others production, transportation etc. Generally speaking, we can set as important
targets, among others, the reduction of stock, inefficient costs (unnecessary
operations during processes, obstacles, long machine setup times, problemswith
quality, breakdowns, etc.) reliable deadlines, quality, reduction of paper use and
administrative costs, flexibility, and reduced commercialisation time of new products.
The following elements can be considered key for successful management of
the supply chain; "Lean Tools", vertical integration, interfunctional cohesion and
synergy, outsourcing, information and communication systems (such as the
interorganisational Electronic Data Exchange, EDI system,) and new technologies for
process automation.
It is essential to recognise some of the basic principles of success: meeting
consumer needs and expectations (through Customer Relationship Management,
CRM), integrating marketing, sales and operations planning through real‐time demand,
strategic alliances between manufacturers and suppliers, trade marketing activities or
channel marketing between manufacturers and distributors.
All of these factors require skills and expertise; nothing can be achieved
without training and learning. Fortunately, more attention is being paid to various
postgraduate training programmes that some business schools teach. Companies,
industry associations and business organisations recognise the need to train their
employees and associates; excellence should not only reach operations but people,
where talent and intellectual capital reside, and therefore generating sustainable
competitive advantages.
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