For a considered overview of the reasons for adopting supply planning and the advantages it can bring you will probably need to visit online journals such as Industry Week Value Chain , where you will find articles on issues such as the impact of supply planning on success and how to measure the performance of supply chains . There are indeed a number of dedicated supply chain web sites from where you can obtain information on supply planning, and while many charge for information there is still a lot that can be obtained free of charge. Finally, there are the consultancies that carry information on the subject areas that they consult in. Amongst those whose information is not just a sales pitch are Dementra , which makes a case for managing demand as a means of managing supply, and VisOpt , which gives a good account of Advanced Planning and Scheduling. It incorporates transportation and distribution, warehousing and other storage, and management of inventories, all of which are essential for ensuring goods get where they are supposed to be when they are supposed to be there.
Coverage includes freight forwarding, e-commerce, software and research.
Another directory, though focussing more on available services, is LogisticsWorld . For those working in the logistics field, the leading professional organisation is the Institute of Logistics and Transport , which aims to be the focus for professional excellence, the development of the most relevant and effective techniques in logistics and transport, and the development of policies that respond to the challenges of a changing world. The web site of the Freight Transport Association carries little information itself, but it does act as a hub for web sites on logistics-related issues such as freight taxes and rail freight , as well as material like the Lex Transfleet Report on Freight Transport 2001 . The site includes research papers, both from themselves and other institutions, and details of EU projects and government contacts. Results of a major survey to understand the changes that are likely to take place in European Logistics up to the year 2005 can also be found on the site.