Global Institute of Logistics Councils

The Global Institute of Logistics has set up four councils, each with a specific focus within the context of global outsource logistics. Other councils will follow

The four that are up and running cover Maritime Logistics, IT, Advocacy and Training & Development.

Collectively, all four councils will help the Global Institute of Logistics achieve one of its fundamental objectives: to help outsource logistics service providers become best in class.

Openness and sharing best practice in training and development, in putting forward the argument in favour of outsourcing logistics operations, in integrating ports into the logistics puzzle and how to make the most of IT investments will offer a way forward for all logistics service providers.
IT Council

The IT Council was launched in 2005 under the chairmanship of SAP AG. The software provider nominated the solutions manager for its Logistics Service Provider package of applications as the chair of the council.

The strategy behind the IT Council is to provide the global third party logistics sector with an authoritative forum through which it can debate the central IT issues affecting the development of the industry.

Mr Palem Srikanth Reddy, Managing Director of Hyderabad-based logistics software company FourSoft, is the second technology provider member of the council. IT experts from logistics service providers and from the supply chain teams of shipper organisations, as well as academics and analysts will take up the remaining places.

The IT Council has already begun its work. It has held meetings to discuss issues such as the IT needs of global logistics operators and how better technology can help logistics service providers improve their relationships with shippers. It has also produced a first white paper, covering the dilemma of how outsource logistics service providers can rise to the challenge of making the necessary investments in IT in the second half of this decade.

Further meetings and white papers, as well as newsletters, will follow as the Institute seeks to help educate the outsource logistics industry through the auspices of the IT Council. It will keep everyone with a stake in the logistics technology market abreast of developments globally.

The Training and Development council seeks to address the people needs of the logistics industry. Its goal is to heighten awareness amongst outsource logistics service providers globally of the need for education, training and people development.
Advocacy Council

The Advocacy Council, under the chairmanship of Amanda Rasmussen aims to build up the argument in favour of outsource logistics. It also aims to help convince shipper organisations to put this piece of their supply chains into the hands of the experts.

It has always been the Global Institute of Logistics ’ intention to act as an advocacy body for the third-party logistics industry throughout the world. To that end, the institute works with shippers to assist them in understanding the challenges they might face in outsourcing the logistics process.

As well as presenting a series of thought leadership papers on this subject, the Advocacy Council, led by Ms Rasmussen, will make itself to present to shipper organisations weighing up their options the arguments in favour of outsourcing logistics.

For a presentation like this to come from an objective, not-for-profit organisation, with no vested interest, will be a good way for shipper companies to consider the possibility of outsourcing their logistics activities.

For two years now, the institute has been running its G50 programme, aimed at establishing who the world ’s leading logistics service providers are. The case studies arising from these best-in-class companies will also support the process of the Advocacy Council ’s work.

Training & Development Council

The Training & Development Council has already produced a first white paper on the impact of training in the international logistics and transportation industry.

Under the leadership of founding chairperson, Lucia Simonsen, director of specialist logistics training provider Rasmussen & Simonsen International, the council has also prepared a an audit survey on training issues, which will be available on an ongoing basis on the Global Institute of Logistics web portal.

"This audit will provide a tool for users to evaluate their current organisations or teams in terms of training," Ms Simonsen explains. "It will help us establish a base for communication regarding the need for training and learning development, as well as an internal review of current training needs and assessment. Each audit will take approximately 20 –25 minutes to complete."

Another element of this council ’s work will be to publish case studies that demonstrate how training has already helped logistics organisations. Ms Simonsen is keen to encourage companies to submit their own training case studies for consideration.

She concludes: "The training programmes that logistics companies put in place have to be of the highest quality because they have to support the overall logistics process and add value to it."
Maritime Logistics Council

The Global Maritime Logistics Council’s objective is to bring together supply chain stakeholders, and encourage them to drive best practice and add value to the whole supply chain process.

Specifically, in the context of maritime logistics, the main stakeholders will be ports operators, carriers, outsource logistics service providers and shippers.

Representatives of these companies will be joined on the Council by academic experts.

As with the other groups, newsletters and white papers will provide a framework for the work of the Maritime Logistics Council will produce.

This collective effort will lead to what Mr Kenneth Tse, Director and General Manager of ports operator Yantian International Container Terminals (YICT), has referred to as "a fully transparent eco-system" in maritime logistics that will lead to real savings in time and money.

YICT is represented on the council by Mr Wilmer Aguilar, who will head up its efforts for the first year.

Exel US and Hellmann Worldwide Logistics have taken up the logistics service provider slots available, while the other places are still in the process of being decided.

Much of the initial focus will be on the trans-Pacific piece of the puzzle, as the heavy volumes of traffic on this trade lane will, arguably, provide some of the clearest early examples of the benefits in maritime logistics collaboration.

Meetings of the members of the Maritime Logistics Council will take place around important industry events to take advantage of key industry figures —at least at regional levels —being together in the same city at the same time.
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