The logistics operation in many organizations is often not included in decision-making processes that have a strategic impact on a company’s sales and marketing success. The result is that while marketing, sales and manufacturing develop plans for the growth of the organization, the very department that can play a key role in helping the organization realize its goals finds itself in a reactive rather than a proactive position.

      Can the process of strategic planning for logistics and warehousing operations contribute significantly to a company’s bottom line? Yes it can, and a strategic planning frame of mind for logistics and warehousing specialists can have a significant impact in helping a company meets its business goals.

What’s in a plan?

      Any successful business plan begins with a definition of who and what a business organization is in terms of what are its strengths and weaknesses and what business objectives the company has. Identification of difficulties in the marketplace that your company is looking to overcome is also a critical part of this overall business definition. This type of information is available from a variety of sources including company mission statements, shareholder reports and interviews you set up with your senior management to discuss your business model.

            Once you have defined who and what your organization is, you need to define what...

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