Abstract
The strategics for dealing with the many challenges involved with the trade-offs that must be overcome by diversifield logistics activities are a means for promoting corporate unity. I Have analyzed 10 cases in four different categories-vertical integration, supply chain development, horizontal integration, and network integration-to determine the primary factors for these logistics activities.
The analyses were performed from the perspective of identifying the basic objectives of corporate unity, organizational relationships, and the primary factors involved with the logistics activities that are required to enhance and expand unification. These analyses resulted in showing that the main capabilities are management resources, the capability of the systems expected to integrate these resources, and the capability of management to improve and enhance the system. I term the corporate logistics capacity that integarates these three factors the logistics capability.
The structure of this logistics capability corresponds to typical Japanese management behavior. It is not limited to applications for corporate unity-it can be used to enhance logistics activities in each company. Logistic resources, one aspect of logstics capability, are comprised of both quantitative and qualitative resources. Qualitative resources include informational resources and non-informational resources derived from the corporate culture and other sources. These other resources are both apparent and latent, and can be widely sought ourside the company as well as inside the company.
The capacity for establishing system objectives cannot be overlooked when clarifying the strategies for dealing with the challenges inherent in trade-offs. Further, the capacity to establish a system based on these objectives required individual and organizational capabilities for promoting unification, standardization, and modularization. Fianlly, management capabilities derived from evaluation abilities and other factors are indispensable for further improving and enhancing this system.
The important elements for improving the three aforementioned factors that enhance the logistics activities capable of immediately responding to an environment in which drastic change is a constant include the establishment of a corporate-wide structure that supports the extensive sharing of information and the development of operational capability in the field.
