What Do Logistics Analysts Do (including Their Typical Day At Work)

Job Description

Logistics Analysts analyze product delivery or supply chain processes to identify or recommend changes. May manage route activity including invoicing, electronic bills, and shipment tracing. They also maintain databases of logistics information.

Other tasks include:

• Interpret data on logistics elements, such as availability, maintainability, reliability, supply chain management, strategic sourcing or distribution, supplier management, or transportation.
• Provide ongoing analyses in areas such as transportation costs, parts procurement, back orders, or delivery processes.
• Develop or maintain payment systems to ensure accuracy of vendor payments.
• Prepare reports on logistics performance measures.
• Confer with logistics management teams to determine ways to optimize service levels, maintain supply-chain efficiency, or minimize cost.
• Remotely monitor the flow of vehicles or inventory, using Web-based logistics information systems to track vehicles or containers.

We asked Logistics Analysts 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 47% 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, Logistics Analysts maintain databases of logistics information. They maintain logistics records in accordance with corporate policies.

A typical day for a Logistics Analyst will also include:

• Enter logistics-related data into databases.
• Communicate with or monitor service providers, such as ocean carriers, air freight forwarders, global consolidators, customs brokers, or trucking companies.
• Remotely monitor the flow of vehicles or inventory, using Web-based logistics information systems to track vehicles or containers.
• Confer with logistics management teams to determine ways to optimize service levels, maintain supply-chain efficiency, or minimize cost.
• Develop or maintain freight rate databases for use by supply chain departments to determine the most economical modes of transportation.

We asked some Logistics Analysts 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?	88% said yes
	How important is it to work in a team in this job?	38% said very important
	Do you have group discussions everyday in this job?	79% said yes
	Do you talk or work with customers everyday in this job?	4% said yes
	Do you have to deal with angry customers everyday in this job?	4% said yes
	Do you have to make decisions everyday in this job?	16% said yes

Other responsibilities

Besides their typical day, Logistics Analysts also compute reporting metrics, such as on-time delivery rates, order fulfillment rates, or inventory turns. They may also identify opportunities for inventory reductions.

On a weekly to monthly basis, Logistics Analysts Develop or maintain freight rate databases for use by supply chain departments to determine the most economical modes of transportation. They might also Prepare reports on logistics performance measures.

In addition, they Review procedures, such as distribution or inventory management, to ensure maximum efficiency or minimum cost.

Although specific duties may vary, many of them Provide ongoing analyses in areas such as transportation costs, parts procurement, back orders, or delivery processes.

To some Logistics Analysts, it is also their responsibility to Interpret data on logistics elements, such as availability, maintainability, reliability, supply chain management, strategic sourcing or distribution, supplier management, or transportation.

Working life

More than 40 hours per week

Regular schedule like a 9 to 5

In a typical work week as a Logistics Analyst, 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 following set procedures and routines. They like working with data and details more than with ideas..

They also 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.

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/