Section 7: Global Logistics & Production

Logistics (Cowen)

The organization and management of how goods move through supply chains and transportation networks.

Containerization (Cowen)

The use of standardized shipping containers to move goods efficiently across ships, trains, and trucks.

Just-in-time (Cowen)

A production and delivery system that minimizes inventory by receiving goods close to when they are needed.

Intermodalism (Cowen)

Moving freight through multiple transportation modes using standardized containers without repacking the goods.

Flags of convenience (Cowen)

Registering ships under another country's flag, often to benefit from different tax, labor, or regulatory rules.

Fordism

A system of standardized mass production using assembly lines and relatively stable large-scale employment.

Scientific management

A system of organizing labor by measuring, standardizing, and optimizing workers' tasks for efficiency.

Universal Product Code

A standardized barcode system used to identify and track retail products.

Walmart

A multinational retailer whose large-scale supply chains and purchasing practices illustrate global logistics and retail power.

Maritime chokepoint (Milne et al.)

A narrow strategic waterway through which large amounts of maritime trade must pass.