Physical Distribution: Has It Reached Maturity?

In 1966, Professor Donald J. Bowersox mused that the acceptance of the physical distribution (logistics) concept was in “semi‐maturity”. The question then becomes—now, more than a decade later, has the concept of physical distribution reached maturity? Today, most senior executives at least recognise that physical distribution activities generally represent a significant expense item to their firms. While their respective views of the importance of physical distribution vary, most can empathise with this anonymous observation: “Line executives are a happily blessed race who radiate confidence and power. They stride confidently. They can develop a new pathway to greater profits by using decisive words and gestures. However, each line executive usually has one or more logisticians riding on his back. He knows that, at any moment, the logisticians may lean forward and whisper, “No, you can't do that”.”