Karachun I. S., Reutskova O. M.

Oles Honchar Dnipropetrovsk National University, Ukraine

LOGISTICS AS AN INTEGRAL PART OF AN ENTERPRISE

The term «logistics» which is relatively new in the economy has a long history. The origin of the Greek word «logistics» was used with different meanings. In ancient Greece it meant art of thinking, performing calculations. In the Roman Empire this word meant rules of products distribution. Some time later the notion of logistics came across in a militaryscience as the sound mechanism of a military life. Terminology related to «logistics» entered into the economy in the mid of 50s in the United States.

Today logistics is an integral part of an enterprise functioning in the Ukrainian market. The basic idea of ​​the logistics is organizing a single-line process of materials movingand information through the whole chain from a producer to a consumer. That involves the processes such as transportation, loading, unloading, movement, warehousing and storage of materials. Logistic approach to a functional planning at an enterprise supposes a setting up a Logistics Department, which controls material flows, from contractual relations with a supplier to a delivery of a finished product to customers. Thus the purpose of logistics is to provide a consumer with a product at the right time and a certain placeat a minimal cost for the implementation of logistics operations and use of productive resources.

There is no appropriate awareness of the importance of logistics in our country yet, especially it concerns information services sector, analysis of total costs and risks. But in fact, logistics introduction and its level of organization at an enterprise are the most important determinants for its competitiveness. The development of enterprise logistics is determined by two factors that are associated with the movement of goods to reduce time and monetary costs.

The urgency of logistics introduction is related to:

1) the intensification and expansion of commodity-money relations in our country;

2) the increase of economic relations between enterprises;

3) the development of industrial infrastructure and expansion of enterprise economic independence.

Studying research findings of notable economists, dealt with the problems of logistics in the system of a company management, leads to the following conclusion. In this field of action there is no complete formation of the concept and definition of its importance.

In Ukraine the concept of enterprise logistics is now at the stage of development. An essential condition for its successful growth in this case is to train highly qualified specialists to be able to perform designing of automated logistic systems and apply them in the workplace.