Alternate Title(s) | Logistics Specialist |
Minimum Education Requirements | Bachelor's degree, certificatio- |
Salary | See Bureau of Labor Statistics for more information |
Job Skills | - Communication skills. Logisticians need strong communication skills in order to collaborate with colleagues and do business with suppliers and customers. - Critical-thinking skills. Logisticians must develop, adjust, and carry out logistical plans. They often must find ways to reduce costs and improve efficiency. - Organizational skills. Logisticians must be able to perform several tasks at one time, keep detailed records, and simultaneously manage several projects in a fast-paced environment. - Problem-solving skills. Logisticians must handle unforeseen issues, such as delivery problems, and adjust plans as needed to resolve the issues. |
Job Duties | Logisticians typically do the following: - Manage the logistical aspects of a product’s life cycle from design to disposal - Direct the allocation of materials, supplies, and products - Develop business relationships with suppliers and clients - Understand clients’ needs and know how to meet them - Design strategies to minimize the cost or time required to transport goods - Review logistical functions and identify areas for improvement - Propose improvements to management and customers |
Job Profile | Logisticians analyze and coordinate an organization’s supply chain—the system that moves a product from supplier to consumer. They manage the entire life cycle of a product, which includes how a product is acquired, distributed, allocated, and delivered. Logisticians oversee activities that include purchasing, transportation, inventory, and warehousing. They may direct the movement of a range of goods, people, or supplies, from common consumer goods to military supplies and personnel. Logisticians use software systems to plan and track the movement of products. They operate software programs designed specifically to manage logistical functions, such as procurement, inventory management, and other supply chain planning and management systems. |
The information presented within this occupational profile was synthesized from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Outlook Handbook, 2016-17 Edition and the U.S. Office of Personnel Management’s Handbook of Occupational Groups & Families.