Logistics and War : The art of turning stories | Role of Logistics Management in Military Operations | Dheeraj Gupta

Today its 8th day of Russia - Ukraine war and every day the equations are getting changed. No one including Putin have ever thought that it would last this longer. Russia is having 90 times more military resources than Ukraine still they are struggling with their operations on ground. They are facing Short supplies, No-retrieve plan & Improper information.

It's quite clear that Russia could not manage it's Military Supply Chain and Logistics Management well.

Ukraine have managed its logistics quite efficiently and already delivered hundreds of arms, ammunitions, bulletproof vests, helmets, and other tactical equipment to those that need it most. Western Ukraine now turned into the support center, providing humanitarian and military aid to their warriors in Kyiv, Kharkiv, Sumy, Kherson, and other cities.

The article is not about who is fighting well in the war between Russia v/s Ukraine, rather the prime focus of article is to understand How Logistics Management has related to War Military Operations Management.

Logistics & War: The Background...!!

The origin of the term logistics comes from the French word “logistique,” which is derived from “loger” meaning quarters (as in quartering troops). The practice of logistics in the military sector has been in existence for as long as there have been organized armed forces and the term describes a very old practice: the supply, movement, and maintenance of an armed force both in peacetime and in battle conditions.

Logistics considerations are generally built into battle plans at an early stage, for it is logistics that determine the forces that can be delivered to the theatre of operations, what forces can be supported once there, and what will then be the tempo of operations.

Logistics is not only about the supply of materiel to an army in times of war, it also includes the ability of the national infrastructure and manufacturing base to equip, support and supply the armed forces, the national transportation system to move the forces to be deployed, and its ability to resupply that force once they are deployed.

Logistics Management

Logistics management is that part of supply chain management that plans, implements, and controls the efficient, effective forward and reverse flow and storage of goods, services, and related information between the point of origin and the point of consumption in order to meet customers’ requirements.

Logistics Management—Boundaries and Relationships

Logistics management activities typically include inbound and outbound transportation management, fleet management, warehousing, materials handling, order fulfillment, logistics network design, inventory management, supply–demand planning, and management of third-party logistics services providers. To varying degrees, the logistics function also includes sourcing and procurement, production planning and scheduling, packaging and assembly, and customer service. It is involved in all levels of planning and execution— strategic, operational, and tactical. Logistics management is an integrating function, which coordinates and optimizes all logistics activities, as well as integrates logistics activities with other functions including marketing, sales manufacturing, finance, and information technology.

Military supply-chain management?is a cross-functional approach to?procuring,?producing?and?delivering?products?and?services?for military?materiel?applications. The broad?management?scope includes sub-suppliers, suppliers, internal information and?funds flow.

Importance of Logistics Management in WAR Operations:

NATO defines logistics as the science of planning and carrying out the movement and maintenance of forces. It is of vital importance for any military operation and, without it, operations could not be carried out and sustained. Logistics can be seen as the bridge between deployed forces and the industrial base, which produces the material and weapons deployed forces need to accomplish their mission.

Areas:

• Design and development, acquisition, storage, transport, distribution, maintenance, evacuation and disposal of materiel;
• Transport of personnel;
• Acquisition, construction, maintenance, operation and disposition of facilities;
• Medical and health service support.

Thanks for reading my article, your valuable comments are invited.

About Author:

Dheeraj Gupta

85,000 Followers ● Lead Logistics Specialist ● Project Logistics & SCM Learner ● Heavy Lift & ODC ● Power & Oil and Gas EPC Projects ● Logistics Enthusiast ● Ex -L&T & ABB ●15 years+● Mentor -MBA students