Overview

Logistics, Transport

Today, goods and people are being transported to any place in the world at any time, and the transport network is becoming ever so dense. This places special demands on logistics and traffic.

The study field at a glance

Logistics means much more than the mere transport, handling or warehousing of goods. Today, logistics in companies includes the holistic planning, control, coordination, implementation and control of all intra-company and cross-border flows of goods and information. Logistics ensures that the right goods are in the right quantity, in the right condition, in the right place and at the right time for the right customer at the right cost. This requires a correspondingly well-functioning infrastructure and sound know-how in the control of traffic flows. Only in this way can one meet the increasing pressure of competition and the increased customer expectations.

The courses of study in the area of logistics and traffic are understood as a cross-sectional discipline. Many actors are needed to precisely control the transport of raw materials and goods.

Logistics integrates the processes from raw material procurement through to sales to the customer across the entire supply chain (supply chain management) or into global networks. Procurement, production, distribution and transport logistics as well as knowledge of management are important subfields that flow into all process chains and cycles. It also includes waste disposal and recycling.

With a corresponding emphasis on different types of traffic such as maritime transport, aviation or sectors, such as trade, chemicals, transport can focus on.

Offered courses

Bachelor's programs in logistics and transport are mainly offered at universities of applied sciences but also at universities.

Possible designations for the study courses are passenger traffic management, traffic management, air traffic management, traffic management and logistics, logistics and trade, logistics management, ship and ship owner management, shipping and chartering. The deepening in the master's program is often in the area of supply chain management.

Contents of the course

The bachelor program offers an interdisciplinary and practice-oriented education. Usually a deepening in the economic or (information) technical field is possible. Bachelor studies include mathematical, scientific and engineering fundamentals and methods, business administration, production logistics (material flow planning, production planning and control), information technology, distribution management, transport and logistics, logistics management (corporate planning, logistics controlling), international logistics, supply chain management, Law. In addition there are industrial placements, excursions and project work (also abroad).

Possible careers after graduation

In the logistics industry around three million people work in Germany, a quarter of them in pure logistics companies. The industry is thus the third largest industry. A significant part of the importance of the logistics location Germany is the good traffic infrastructure and the dense communication network. Academically trained specialists work for domestic and foreign industrial enterprises of all economic sectors, e.g. in the aviation, automotive or capital goods industry, in trade and service companies, in forwarding companies, in airlines and shipping companies, in vehicle rental companies or in consulting companies.