Logistics

1st thought = I wonder what is more significant, the material or the logistics of working with that material? Example: World-changing, humanity-altering, "the greatest thing ever discovered" type of rock ore that we can't get to or process.

2nd thought = 'The Ever Given' becoming stuck in the Suez Canal in 2021 and impacting the entire world. The logistics of logistics is hard to think about.

3rd thought = Entropy. Similar to thought 2, environmental variance is forever known-unknown and all consistent and repeatable processes require a smudge of give. Example: big ship sideways in a small river.

My special guest Kaarlo Hietala and his company Liuos Thinking, Inc. are leaders in the logistics industry. Kaarlo and I are both members of the Government Contracting Academy , studied under Randal Wimmer and met to discuss GovCon every Wednesday afternoon for the last 3 years.

What is Logistics?

I know what it means overall but I'm curious to hear how Kaarlo would describe it. I'm aware my opening 3 thoughts (my current state perspective) are so high level, my perception is likely simple and lame = insert this Friday's Deep Easy to read Deep Thoughts conversation on Logistics.

I led national teams and implemented national programs. I navigated state codes and regional businesses. I've been worked over by surprise logistics problems more times than I can count = I appreciate it when things show up on time.

Things not showing up on TIME

Worth calling out as its own paragraph, running out of material is a show-stopping situation. In most large projects, managers need to send people home and turn off the hard-to-start-again machines. Well-considered, well-reviewed, well-intentioned contract stipulations start to charge bank accounts the day after missed deadlines = poor logistics could take you out.

Hospitals running out of materials came to mind when writing the above. Not everything is storable and not everything is replaceable when it breaks = plan on plans changing = logistic flexibility = hard to think about.

"Lean" ideology

I like the concept of Lean and appreciate those who seek to achieve it. My appreciation is different than an ideology buy-in = Lean causes a ton of problems for simple, sometimes shameful reasons. Example: sending home a factory full of low-wage, they needed that paycheck, you messed with their Christmas-type decisions are the default of LEAN thinking.

The environment does what it wants

I'm a Six Sigma Black Belt with the American Society for Quality (ASQ) and drank the perfect process Kool-Aid going through the certification. Actually working as a Six Sigma Black Belt changed my perspective in a matter of days.

It's possible significant crew, significant materials, and significant tools all go to H** on the same day at the same time = I've seen enough Logistical nightmares to listen closely when a Logistic expert speaks = Kaarlo Hietala

I'm interested to hear his Deep Thoughts on this World impacting Deep Topic. JOIN US this 12pm (EST) this Friday (3/21) by using the @Linkedin LIVE registration link in the comment section.