Marketing transportation - Essay Example

Marketing Transportation The product characteristics that can influence packaging and materials handling considerations are physical characteristics and chemical characteristics. Substances can come in three different forms (solid, liquid, and gas). Each of these forms needs to be packaged in a certain way so that it reaches its destination still intact. For chemical characteristics, some products do not react well with other products and so should be separated as much as possible.10. Many consumers now view packaging as a major environmental concern, so it is important that firms adopt environmentally friendly packaging strategies.

One way that firms can save is through the reduction of plastic bags, as they have a detrimental effect on the environment. One strategy that a firm could use is to encourage recycling among its customers. The benefits would be mutual is this instance because both parties would be helping to contribute.12. Carrier tariffs and classification go a long way to improving the performance of logistics systems. This is because a packing firm must try to take advantage of equipment’s weight and volume capabilities.

Also, there is less chance of products being damaged because of the way the goods are packed in.18. Of the 10 materials handling principles in this chapter, the two that are the most surprising to me is the ergonomics principle and the environmental principle. For the first one, I would have thought that machines would have been in charge of this process and not human workers. For the second principle, I would have thought that the fast and most efficient systems would be used and not the most environmentally-friendly. 2. The most obvious difference between a fragmented logistics structure and a unified logistics structure is that the former involves logistics being managed across multiple departments, whereas a unified logistics structure only uses one department.

One downside to a fragmented logistics structure is that logistics activities are organized by individual departments based on their own needs rather than those of the firm. On the other hand, a unified logistics structure has more cooperation through an organization. 5. Relevancy focuses on satisfying current and future customer needs, and this is done through mutually beneficial relationships. Responsiveness shows how an organization reacts to an unexpected or unplanned change. For this one, it is important that the key players in an organization are given correct information from which to base decisions from.

Flexibility is a mix of these first two; unexpected situations can be avoided through carefully planning, which often comes from understanding customer requirements.9. One challenge to improving productivity is that many logistics-operating employees are unionized, and this presents a problem in that job descriptions have to be very specific and a worker cannot stray from an assigned task. 19. In C-TPAT (Customs Trade Partnership Against Terrorism), public and private organization strive to stop terror attacks through two measures: imports and transportation.

Organizations can apply for C-TPAT certification, and then the importation process can be speeded up through fewer security checks. Also, this process has resulted in fewer thefts and losses among importers.