What Do Logisticians Do (including Their Typical Day At Work)

Job Description

Logisticians analyze and coordinate the logistical functions of a firm or organization. Responsible for the entire life cycle of a product, including acquisition, distribution, internal allocation, delivery, and final disposal of resources. They also maintain and develop positive business relationships with a customer’s key personnel involved in, or directly relevant to, a logistics activity.

Other tasks include:

• Develop an understanding of customers’ needs and take actions to ensure that such needs are met.
• Manage subcontractor activities, reviewing proposals, developing performance specifications, and serving as liaisons between subcontractors and organizations.
• Develop proposals that include documentation for estimates.
• Review logistics performance with customers against targets, benchmarks, and service agreements.
• Direct availability and allocation of materials, supplies, and finished products.
• Redesign the movement of goods to maximize value and minimize costs.

We asked Logisticians how satisfied they are with their job. Here is what they said.

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70% of them said they were satisfied with their job and 48% said they find that their job makes the world a better place or helps to make someone else’s life better.

Typical Day At Work

On a daily basis, Logisticians direct team activities, establishing task priorities, scheduling and tracking work assignments, providing guidance, and ensuring the availability of resources. They protect and control proprietary materials.

A typical day for a Logistician will also include:

• Maintain and develop positive business relationships with a customer’s key personnel involved in, or directly relevant to, a logistics activity.
• Manage subcontractor activities, reviewing proposals, developing performance specifications, and serving as liaisons between subcontractors and organizations.
• Redesign the movement of goods to maximize value and minimize costs.
• Develop and implement technical project management tools, such as plans, schedules, and responsibility and compliance matrices.
• Perform managerial duties such as hiring and training employees and overseeing facility needs or requirements.

We asked some Logisticians a few questions to find out what else does their work day look like. Here is what we found.

	Do you have telephone conversations everyday in this job?	82% said yes
	How important is it to work in a team in this job?	42% said very important
	Do you have group discussions everyday in this job?	81% said yes
	Do you talk or work with customers everyday in this job?	23% said yes
	Do you have to deal with angry customers everyday in this job?	19% said yes
	Do you have to make decisions everyday in this job?	39% said yes

Other responsibilities

Besides their typical day, Logisticians also report project plans, progress, and results. They may also review logistics performance with customers against targets, benchmarks, and service agreements.

On a weekly to monthly basis, Logisticians Explain proposed solutions to customers, management, or other interested parties through written proposals and oral presentations. They might also Manage the logistical aspects of product life cycles, including coordination or provisioning of samples, and the minimization of obsolescence.

In addition, they Develop and implement technical project management tools, such as plans, schedules, and responsibility and compliance matrices.

Although specific duties may vary, many of them Perform managerial duties such as hiring and training employees and overseeing facility needs or requirements.

To some Logisticians, it is also their responsibility to Plan, organize, and execute logistics support activities, such as maintenance planning, repair analysis, and test equipment recommendations.

Working life

More than 40 hours per week

Regular schedule like a 9 to 5

In a typical work week as a Logistician, you can expect to work more than 40 hours per week.

Is this right for me

People who are suitable for this job tends to like starting up and carrying out projects. They like leading people and making many decisions. Sometimes they require risk taking and often deal with business..

They also like following set procedures and routines. They like working with data and details more than with ideas.

You can read more about these career personality types here.

Explore other careers

http://www.bls.gov/OOH/business-and-financial/logisticians.htm

http://www.apics.org/

http://www.sole.org/