Unternehmenslogistik
Also: Betriebslogistik, interne Logistik, Corporate Logistics, Unternehmens-Logistik
AI-generated
Corporate logistics refers to all logistical functions that take place within a company – from procurement through production and warehousing to distribution and returns.
Key facts
- Corporate logistics coordinates all logistical sub-functions of a company – from procurement to returns – under a single organizational framework.
- The decision as to which logistics processes are operated in-house and which are outsourced is one of the most strategically consequential in corporate logistics.
- IT systems such as WMS, ERP, and TMS form the technical foundation for making material flows, inventories, and information visible across the organization.
- Corporate logistics is responsible for internal operations, while supply chain management additionally incorporates external partners and cross-network planning.
What is corporate logistics?
Corporate logistics encompasses all logistical processes managed within the boundaries of a company. These typically include procurement logistics, production logistics, warehousing logistics, distribution logistics, and returns logistics. These operational areas are complemented by cross-functional responsibilities such as inventory management, scheduling, transport planning, and the supporting IT architecture. The goal is to coordinate material flows, information flows, and increasingly financial flows in a way that simultaneously achieves delivery capability, cost efficiency, and process stability.
How does corporate logistics work in practice?
In practice, corporate logistics is divided into several closely interlocked sub-areas:
- Procurement logistics: Managing inbound goods, supplier integration, and stocking strategies through to production supply.
- Production logistics: Supplying materials to manufacturing lines, managing intermediate storage and buffers, and transporting finished goods.
- Warehousing logistics: Put-away, inventory management, picking, and retrieval – performed manually, semi-automatically, or fully automatically.
- Distribution logistics: Delivery to customers or branches, route planning, loading, and shipment tracking.
- Returns logistics: Accepting, inspecting, and reintegrating goods into the supply cycle.
These areas are connected by IT systems such as WMS, ERP, and TMS. The degree of automation varies considerably depending on company size and industry – from manual processes with barcode scanning to fully automated warehouse systems and AI-supported scheduling.
What matters when designing corporate logistics?
Three decision areas particularly shape the design of corporate logistics. First, the make-or-buy question: which processes remain core competencies in-house, and which are outsourced to logistics service providers? Second, the network and location structure: centralization enables economies of scale, while decentralization shortens delivery routes. Third, the target IT architecture: a consistent data foundation is a prerequisite for transparency and automation. Added to this are questions of organizational governance – whether logistics is established as an independent function or integrated into other areas has a significant impact on decision-making speed and access to resources. The distinction from supply chain management is also important: SCM thinks across networks and involves external partners, suppliers, and customers more extensively in planning, whereas corporate logistics is primarily responsible for internal operations.
Related terms
- 3PL
3PL (Third Party Logistics) refers to the outsourcing of operational logistics processes – such as warehousing, order picking, or transportation – to an external service provider. The company retains strategic responsibility, while the 3PL vendor handles operational execution.
- 4PL - Fourth Party Logistics
4PL (Fourth Party Logistics) refers to a logistics model in which an external partner coordinates the entire supply chain and manages multiple 3PL providers and carriers without performing any physical transport or warehousing services itself.
- Absatzlogistik
Distribution logistics encompasses all logistical processes that ensure the flow of goods from the company to the end customer. It includes warehousing, transportation, order fulfillment, and service level management in the outbound area.
- Aufgaben der Logistik
The tasks of logistics encompass the planning, control, and execution of all goods, information, and value flows along the supply chain. These typically include procurement, warehousing, transportation, distribution, and disposal.
- Beschaffungslogistik
Procurement logistics encompasses all logistical processes that manage the flow of materials from suppliers through to handover at the warehouse or production facility. It connects purchasing, transportation, and goods receipt into a seamless inbound process.
- Bestandscontrolling
Inventory controlling refers to the systematic monitoring, analysis, and management of stock levels using defined key performance indicators. It connects logistics and procurement to reduce tied-up capital and ensure delivery capability.
- Bestandsführung
Inventory management refers to the system-supported administration and continuous updating of all warehouse and material stocks within a company. It forms the basis for planning, procurement and accounting – and ensures that the book inventory and physical inventory are in agreement at all times.
- Bestandsmanagement
Inventory management refers to the systematic planning, control, and monitoring of stock levels across the entire supply chain. The goal is to ensure delivery capability while keeping capital commitment and warehousing costs within economically viable limits.
- Disposition
Disposition refers to the operational planning and control of resources, quantities, and orders in logistics – for example in transport or materials disposition. It encompasses capacity assignment, scheduling, prioritization, and response to disruptions.
- Dispositionssoftware
Dispatching software is a software solution for the operational planning, control, and optimization of transports, routes, and resources in logistics. It helps dispatchers efficiently coordinate orders, capacities, and time windows.
- Distributionslager
A distribution center is a type of warehouse that consolidates goods and prepares them for targeted delivery to customers, branches, or downstream locations.
- Distributionslogistik
Distribution logistics encompasses all processes that move goods from the manufacturer or warehouse to the end customer – from network planning through storage and transportation to order fulfillment.