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By Olivier Bilodeau · May 17, 2023 · Updated September 2026

Logistics is the management of the flow of goods, people and information between an origin and a destination, in the shortest possible time and with the best possible quality of service, while optimizing inventory and flows.

Say “logistics” and most people picture a truck. The truck matters, but it is only part of the story.

Logistics is more than transport

In business, logistics is often seen as moving inputs from suppliers and finished products to customers. That is a strictly material definition. The one I learned in school is wider, and it covers three flows:

• Goods, from raw materials to finished products
• People, as any airline can tell you
• Information, inside the company and with suppliers, customers and the community

A chain is only as strong as its weakest link

The old saying applies to companies too. Your weakest division sets the strength of the whole business, which is why looking at each piece in a silo can mislead you.

Is a production problem a logistics problem?

Picture a company that delivers orders within 24 hours whenever the item is in the warehouse. Great. But its machines keep breaking down. Is that a logistics problem? Yes. A late order is a late order, whether it got stuck on the road or on the plant floor.

Focusing only on transport can hide the weak points in your supply chain. Take production. Is your plant laid out so products move easily through manufacturing? Does your warehouse make it simple to rotate stock, especially perishable goods? These questions belong to your supply chain, because they affect your ability to deliver.

How to map your supply chain

You can’t fix a route you haven’t drawn. Try this simple exercise:

• Sketch your supply chain, starting with your raw material suppliers.
• Follow each step through production, storage and delivery.
• Finish with customer service.
• Mark every spot where things slow down, break or get lost.

Don’t forget the information flow

Information matters as much as the other two flows. Like in a couple, a company does better when everyone talks, whether it’s employees among themselves or the company with its suppliers, customers and community. Do your employees have the right tools? Do customers get accurate information about their orders? Are you clear with your suppliers and customers?

The big picture

Logistics is not just the department that makes sure supplier orders arrive and customer shipments go out. It is a view of the whole situation that helps you make the best decision and see how it touches every other part of the business.

Need a hand with commercialization or international projects? The 48e Nord team is happy to help.

About 48e Nord International

48e Nord International is a dynamic and present team for companies wishing to lead their activities towards sustainable business development and thus achieve their objectives. Its services are aimed at companies established in the Abitibi-Témiscamingue territory and companies in the mining sector in Quebec.

For any questions, contact us.