Logistics Issues and Supply Chain Management

Question: Discuss about the Logistics Issues and Supply Chain Management. Answer: Introduction The present study deals with logistics and supply chain specialists in Australia. In this particular assignment, supply chain specialists require to conduct analysis on mining company as well as working logistics issues. It takes into considerations locomotives as well as wagons for tracking purpose in Australia from overseas suppliers (Zhu, Sarkis and Lai 2013). Planning stages has been explained in the assignment for supply chain management bringing out the key challenges in the areas of consideration. These reports consist of critical analysis of logistics challenges in case of transporting locomotives and wagons from point-of-origin to final destination. Discussion Alpha North Coal Project mainly involves in two open cut operations as well as four underground longwall mining operations. It deals with coal handling preparation plants as well as rail transportation network at Galilee Coal Project rail network (Zhou et al. 2016). Project commencement operations involve exploration permits for coal such as 1039, 1053 and 1079. Waratah Coal is one of the privately owned Australia in Coal Exploration as well as Coal Development Company. This particular company is dual-listed especially in Toronto Stock Exchange and Australia Stock Exchange. It incorporates for privatization as well as incorporated in resource Development Company in the year 2009. The new energy in coal holds extensive exploration aims at permitting for minerals. Waratah Coal prides in high level of commitment towards economic development especially in regional Queensland from future growth of mineral wealth for excellent records in areas (Wisner, Tan and Leong 2014). From the news, it reveals the fact regarding the Adani proposes rail line from Galilee to Abbot Point. Adani is an Indian Conglomerate for application of environmental basin especially in Queensland. In the proposed framework, Aurizon acquires 51 percent interest in Hancock Coal Infrastructure. This particular article taken from Daily Mercury and titled, as Abbot Point terminal project requires at least 2000 workers Planning mainly begins at the time of developing two new coal-loading terminals especially for Central Queensland Port. It is the project amounting to more than $4 billion for 2000 workers. Both the applicable terminals handle 50 million tonnes. Latest announcements results whereby government takes incremental approach for expansion purpose especially for new terminals. Generations of Queensland benefiting economic benefits in case of development of Abbot Point in the most appropriate way. Adani mainly expects developing Carmichael Coal Mine from products at the time of construction. It sells various accesses towards terminals for smaller mine companies for affording their own infrastructure (Tayur, Ganeshan and Magazine 2012). Investment figures releases in AP-X terminals for an estimated price tag of $2 billion at peak workforce in the upcoming financial year. Challenges in the logistics and transport From the recent survey, it is found that logistics and manufacturing industry considers at top priority especially for logistics managers on meeting customer expectations. Logistics in todays world involves customer demand flexibility as well as visibility (Stadtler 2015). Due to globalization, there have been declining trade barriers as well as increased mobile workforce at the same time. Transportation as well as logistics industry continues in enjoying above average growth. It requires expanding of services offerings involving upstream and downstream of operations. Transportation companies as well as logistics service providers moves forwards towards supply chain management (Seuring 2013). Some of the most popular transportation and logistics challenges are as follows: Revenue Maximization Tax risks management Fraud Management Wide-range of diverse opportunities in emerging markets Ethically meeting the requirements of Financial Reporting Standards Mergers and acquisitions acted as facilitator for industry restructuring Financing transport infrastructure as well as public private partnerships Logistic Management Activities Logistics is the process for planning as well as controlling and implementing the effective flow of goods storage in relation with point of origin (Schnsleben 2016). The concept of logistics mainly exists in satisfying customer requirement by facilitation of relevant manufacturing as well as marketing operations. The major responsibility of logistics involves geographical positioning of raw materials, work-in-process as well as finished goods. Logistics management activities mainly facilitate the flow of products from one origin to the final destination. Logistics management is the governance of relevant supply chain functions (Ross 2013). Logistics management is one of the parts at all levels especially in case of planning as well as execution. The levels involve strategic, tactical as well as operational activities in the most appropriate way. This involves and considers as integrating function coordinating all logistics such as marketing, finance, information technology as well as sales manufacturing (Bozarth and Handfield 2016). Planning Phases in the logistics management activities It is important to understand the Product Life Cycle of logistics management activities especially focusing on planning stage. Main approach is to convey life cycle-oriented approach and entails interrelated logistics management. In the planning phase, logistics treated as process in along with economic lifetime for continuous stream of operations at independent stage (Pagell and Shevchenko 2014). This consists of reverse logistics activities in one stage of action insights in case of better managing downstream stages at the same time. Planning in life cycle means phase that involves product lifetime referring coordination, support and management activities. This ensures efficient utilization of input resources in planning stages of supply chain management. Informational flow is one of the additional elements of logistics for entire operational management (Monczka et al. 2015). Complexity of supply chains causes increased effort, resources as well as input time. Result involves high costs and high impact of external environment. Life cycle logistics process involves economic lifetime of product in continuous stream of operations in the independent stage (Fitzsimmons and Fitzsimmons 2013). This particular approach helps companies for avoiding fragmented supply chains for prompt decisions as well as reduces excess time and handling costs. Products move less as well as planning of facilities mentioned in the most synchronized format (Bozarth and Handfield 2016). Feasibility of the project on logistics and supply chain Supply chain feasibility study involves preliminary resource assessment in regional transmission, distribution networks in certain associated costs. It mainly commences initial preparation phase in estimated project specifications from the feasibility reports (Fawcett, Ellram and Ogden 2014). This study deals with important inputs in future offshore in case of feasibility investigations. Supply chain assessment helps in providing overview of key supply chain elements for the potential customers (Ellram and Cooper 2014). It requires designing engineering work such as initial feasibility studies as well as concept and detailed design in an effective way. Primary logistics or supply chain activities Logistics Management main objectives rely upon planning as well as coordinating all activities for achieving desired level of delivered services. It involves best quality at the most lowest possible cost (Dyckhoff, Lackes and Reese 2013). The major scope of logistics means activities starting from procurement as well as management of raw materials with the help of delivery of final products to the potential customer. Logistic purpose lies in the fact in satisfying the customer by establishing linkages of people at levels in the organization in global marketplace. In the recent world, it is extremely difficult in maintaining competitive edge over individual product as well as customer service (Dekker et al. 2013). It provides ability in distinguishing from one company offer to that it is nearest competitors. It is the main process of managing things strategically starting from procurement as well as movement and material storage in the finished inventory system. Addition to that, supply chain activities renders information flows from major marketing channels such as current as well as future profitability in cost minimization and profit maximization. Competitive advantage indicates the ability of business organization in differentiating itself from the customers views, competition and operating at lower cost (Christopher 2016). It majorly helps organization in achieving commercial success depending upon factors such as cost advantage and value advantage. Logistics challenges in transporting the locomotives and wagons from the point-of origin to the final destination As rightly put forward by Brandenburg et al. (2014), logistics refers to the process of implementation, planning as well as controlling the effective and effectual flow and storage of goods, services and associated information from point of origin to different points of consumption or point of destination. The logistics can thereby help in meeting different requirements of the business concern and generate profits. The process involves management of entire flow of raw materials and finished goods from different source of supply to the ultimate destination. The logistics and transport process essentially involve effectual management of goods from the end line to the final destination. However, there are certain challenges involved in handling the movements of the locomotives and wagons from the point of origin to the final destination (Bozarth and Handfield 2016). Issues The duopoly as well as the congestion can be regarded as the two most critical factors in the supply chain of the locomotives and the wagons. Barney (2012) rightly indicates that there remains congestion at different ports primarily on the queues of trucks that wait outside the gates. Again, the time for the turnaround in different terminals is equivalent to the best excellent practice; however, the congested roadways along with the waiting time make this course of the flow extremely sluggish. The Sydney Ports Corporation established the framework for the port traffic management for different port users and introduced the images of the Truck Cam for the users of the port to deliver the real time information and monitor the conditions of traffic to the terminals, road carriers and freight forwarders regarding the movements of the truck. The movement of the locomotives from the initial point to the final destination can also the face the logistics challenges of stock out frequency, fill rate and the orders shipped completed. The stock-out frequency refers to the possibility of occurrence of the stock-out. The stock out indicates that a specific product is not available for shipping to the final destinations (Ahi and Searcy 2013). The challenges in the movement of the locomotive also include the measurement of the fill rate that in turn enumerates the fill rate over a specific period (Tayur, Ganeshan and Magazine 2012). The unavailability of the product for shipment generally occurs at the time when the demand of the product exceeds the supply. This in turn affects the performance of the corporation. In addition to this, the orders shipped complete refers to the number of times a consumer can get hold of the perfect orders where the products have zero defects. The mining company might also face difficulty in reducing the challenges as far as possible (Ahi and Searcy 2013). It varies largely from wide-variety of logistics functions such as customer service, production planning, packaging as well as sourcing and procurement in the most appropriate way. Inland and sea freight There are also certain issues associated to the inland logistics. The inland port is essentially the logistics facility that is situated away from the sea upholds movement and processing of freight. This facility can help in providing intermodal transportation services, value-added logistics services that includes the assembly, processing of the customs, promotions, labelling, inspection and many others (Zhu, Sarkis and Lai 2013). In addition to this, the inland port also helps in enhancement of the performance of the supply chain, postponement of assembly and the diverse movement involved in the process of transportation of the locomotive and wagon from the initial point to the final destination. Again, the sea freight also face the challenges of congestion. Australian Quarantine and Inspection Services (AQIS) As rightly put forward by Tayur, Ganeshan and Magazine (2012), the Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service (AQIS) indicates the Australian government agency that can enforce the requisite quarantine rules and guidelines as an authority of the Department of Agriculture (Tayur, Ganeshan and Magazine 2012). The agency also helped in the process of inspection as well as the certification of a wide array of diverse agricultural products that were exported from the nation to different parts of the world. This particular agency also helps in ensuring the process of the compliance with diverse importation rules of overseas nation. The AQIS also can help in maintenance of proper movement of the locomotive and the wagon from the initial point to the final destination. The logistics and supply chain management of the corporation can make use of the AQIS for transporting Transport thermal coal between the town shops of Alpha in Central Western Queensland to Abbot Point port in specific Nort heast Queensland. The agency can help in transporting the products from the inland regional setting in Germany (point of origin) to Abbot Point port (final destination). The inland regional setting for transportation also provides the opportunity for all the operators of the rail freights in order to create a niche in the freight activity of the Australia and inadequate investment in the infrastructure can be challenge (Tayur, Ganeshan and Magazine 2012). Therefore, there remains infrastructure restraint in the current market that can affect the process of movement of the locomotive and wagon to the final destination. The corporation also faces challenges the Australian market that is characterized by both lower level of tax and wages that can lead to registration of the operators as per overseas jurisdiction (Zhu, Sarkis and Lai 2013). The current business concern as stated in the case also faces the challenges associated to the management of different industrial relations and prot ection of different established routes during different periods. Recommendations for overcoming the identified challenges The management of the corporation can consider better flow of information, improvement of the communication between different partakers of the supply chain, increased coordination as well as cooperation and better education of different industry participants. The recommendations also comprises of the improved coordination between different industry participants, better dissemination of information and increased flexibility in quarantine services. Again, the management of the corporation can also consider increase in the efficiency of the process of communication, development of the procedure standards, determination of significance, engagement, alignment and empowerment of the workforce involved in the supply chain and logistics department of the specific corporation. It is recommended in meeting the needs of the end customers at best possible prices. Supply chain management is a concept whereby inbound logistics and outbound logistics engage in activities for future analysis purpose . Conclusion The above study helps in understanding the various challenges involved in the process of supply chain and logistics, different logistics management activities in addition to the planning phases involved in different logistics management activities. In addition to this, the current study also helps in acquiring deep insight regarding feasibility of different projects in the logistics and supply chain along with the primary activities included in the particular projects. Furthermore, the above-mentioned stud also lucidly presents the challenges in the key logistic areas and specifically identifies the main challenges in the process of movement of the locomotive and wagon from the initial position to the final destination. This study involves the facts regarding inland and freight recommending future consequences in the most appropriate way. Reference List Ahi, P. and Searcy, C., 2013. 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