Logistics vs. Procurement in Your Supply Chain - The Network Effect (2024)

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How is a “procurement” job role different from a “logistics” job role?

I’ve noticed that the two terms are sometimes used loosely, and while both obviously fall under the larger umbrella of supply chain management, it is sometimes difficult to figure out where logistics ends and procurement begins and vice versa.

The Canadian Institute of Traffic and Transportation (CITT) asked several of its members this very same question, and I thought the range of their responses was quite interesting. Take a look.

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Answer #1
A procurement supply chain person is directly responsible for the purchasing or procurement of any product (i.e. raw materials, components in manufacturing), services (logistics or otherwise). A logistics supply chain personis focused on the logistical cost and efficiencies within the supply chain of an organization.

Answer #2
As soon as I see “procurement,” I immediately think “purchasing”. This excludes selling, operations, management, and finance. As soon as I see “logistics” I see a coordinating role that involves operations and possibly marketing, finance, and management. The predominantand the self-evidentdifference is that while thescope of a procurement supply chain person’srole is confined to half or lesser of the total supply chain – from source to consumption – that of the logistics supply chain personis an all encompassing one.

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Answer #3
A procurement supply chain person would be focused on the purchase of supply chain services. A logistics supply chain person would have a more holistic approach which would encompass purchasing as well as planning, implementation, operations, budgeting and optimization.

Answer #4
The procurement supply chainpersonneeds the logisticssupply chain person to organize to a full “journey” from beginning to final end, including all other tools needed to make a sound and safe adventure.

Answer #5
The term “logistics supply chain” encompasses theplanning and management of all logistics activities across the supply chain, the activities that add value globally across the supply chain – from procurement end to final distribution of finished goods. Procurement supply chainfocuses on the earlier part of logistics within a supply chain, notsuggesting a relation to the activitiesthat stem fromwork-in-progress and finished goods inventory anddistribution.

Answer #6
The procurement supply chain person draws up the strategic plans with suppliers to support the manufacturing flow management process and the development of new products. Activities related to obtaining products and materials from outside suppliers involve resource planning, supply sourcing, negotiation, order placement, inbound transportation, storage, handling and quality assurance, many of which include the responsibility to coordinate with suppliers on matters of scheduling, supply continuity, hedging, and research into new sources or programs. The logistics supply chain person is concerned with the movement of a finished product/service to customers. In physical distribution/logistics, the customer is the final destination of a marketing channel, and the availability of the product/service is a vital part of each channel participant’s marketing effort. It is also through the physical distribution process that the time and space of customer service become an integral part of marketing, thus it links a marketing channel with its customers.

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Answer #7
Procurement is the buying or purchasing of goods or services. Logistics is the movement, storage, and operationsaround whatever the business is in.

What do you think? Which answer is most accurate? Is there any dimension of logistics or procurement that they missed?

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