Logistics
The
Department of Logistics was founded in 1960. It is the only academic
department at a South African university which offers comprehensive
training in logistics. The subjects offered by the Department can be
followed in several BComm and BSc programmes. Note that the
Department's undergraduate teaching is in Afrikaans.
In
common parlance, logistics often refers to the smooth execution of a
complex or problematic operation. In a business context, it refers to
the process of transporting resources from their place of origin,
supporting the processing of these resources, and delivering the
finished products on the intended time at a designated place at
acceptable cost for consumption or use. In view of the fact that
logistics adds value through the most profitable application of
available means, adequate logistics competency gives firms and
practitioners a competitive advantage.
The
Department's four major subjects all commence on second year level. The
subjects are Logistics Management, Quantitative Management, Operations
Research and Transport Economics.
Logistics Management
is the process of planning, organising and controlling the efficient,
effective flow and storage of goods, services and related information
from the place of origin to the place of consumption or application for
the purpose of optimally meeting client and customer requirements in
order to help maximize the welfare of the firm.
Quantitative Management
incorporates the use of mathematical models to take and support
management decisions. The techniques can be applied in a wide
variety of management areas, for example, quality control, forecasting
of demand, routing, inventory management, decision making and
scheduling of resources and personnel.
Operations Research
is a practice-oriented subject with a systematic and scientific
approach to finding the best (optimal) solution for problems. These
problems usually have a high degree of complexity, uncertainty and
conflict. The subject is a powerful tool in the hands of managers,
enabling them to make mathematically-based decisions. Typical
environments in which such decisions are made are factories,
businesses, banks, mining, agriculture and consulting. Persons
interested in the practical applications of mathematical sciences will
benefit from this subject. Students from both Natural Sciences and
Economic and Management. Sciences have access to this subject.
Transport Economics
is that field of Economics which deals with the optimal allocation of
scarce resources within the transport sector and between the transport
sector and other sectors in the economy. In the discipline, the
principles of domestic and international transport are studied in order
to obtain the largest benefit from the supply of transport by making
use of the minimum resources.
The
Department offers complete undergraduate as well as postgraduate
training through to doctoral level in all four of the above-mentioned
subjects. Graduates who have not pursued any of these subjects at
undergraduate level are eligible to enrol for Transport and Logistics
Studies or for Maritime Studies on postgraduate level. Both these
fields are also offered through to doctoral level. Note that the
teaching in Maritime Studies is in English.
