What is logistics?

Logistics is the science of planning, controlling and monitoring the flows of materials, people, energy and information in systems. Logistics should optimize these processes. The task of logistics is to:

Provide the right things (= goods, services, information and people) in the right quantity at the right location at the right time in the right quality at the right (= lowest possible) cost (= the ‘6 Rs of logistics’). Based on the respective subject area, a distinction is made between procurement logistics, warehouse logistics, transport logistics, distribution logistics, disposal logistics and information logistics.