Let's start with a simple question: “What is logistics? ”
Many people find it difficult to give a concrete definition for the term and in most cases the answers are restricted to more traditional areas such as transport, storage and inventory, among others.
We have already seen in other posts that “logistics” is something broader and is present and/or related to the most diverse sectors and activities, such as technology and entertainment. I would like to bring another application of logistics and how it can impact people's lives in a positive way, helping to reduce child mortality in regions of extreme poverty, for example.
A problem that affects many children in Zambia, Africa, is dehydration resulting from severe cases of diarrhea, due to the great difficulty in getting the appropriate medication to the region. However, you can find Coca-Cola almost everywhere on the planet, including here. The question that was asked by some people involved with the cause in 2008 was: if Coca-Cola can deliver its products, why not take a ride and deliver medicine?
That's how the ColaLife, a non-profit organization that started its activities as a project: to use the Coca-Cola distribution network to take kits with basic medicines, such as zinc supplements and hydration solutions to regions that are difficult to access.
The idea is simple: kits are assembled in packages specially developed to be transported together with the soft drinks, taking advantage of the empty spaces between the bottles in the famous red crates.
The initiative received support from other companies such as Johnson&Johnson, Janssen EMEA and Honda, in addition to support from countries such as the United Kingdom and Canada.
Video 1 – The Cola Road
Source: Claire Ward
Cases of how efficient logistics can be used in the service of humanitarian causes are found in different places and times. One can mention the large mobilizations in disaster situations, such as earthquakes and landslides, which seek to ensure that basic supplies reach isolated or homeless populations. Or, imagine the enormous challenge faced by the organization's professionals Doctors Without Borders, for example, which must ensure that the few available resources reach very hostile environments quickly and efficiently, allowing the treatment of patients with different levels of complexity.
These are just a few examples of how managing operations efficiently can make a difference in many people's lives.
References
Jessica Silva
5 years of experience in training, consulting and market research projects in Supply Chain for companies from different sectors such as Coca-Cola, LASA, Silimed, O Boticário, Monsanto, among others. Worked on inventory planning projects, logistical master plan, transportation and indicator management. He also participated in the development of the ILOS online courses on Logistics and Supply Chain, Procurement Processes and Industrial Management, in addition to research in the pharmaceutical sector.
