Importance of Quality in Logistics Systems Case Study

Quality ought to be a fundamental concern for any organization that wishes to, at the very least, survive in the marketplace today. In a logistics system, quality entails ensuring that customer needs and expectations are met by delivering the right products, for the right cost, in the right condition and quantities, and at the right time and place (Korinek & Sourdin, 2011). The concept of total quality management is born when the quality imperative is integrated into a logistics system. It can, therefore, be defined as a concept "supported by a managerial system focused on meeting customer expectations with respect to all needs, from all departments or functions of an organization" (Bowersox, Closs, Cooper & Bowersox, year).

Total quality management is crucial because it enables an organization to meet the requirements and expectations of its customers and to subsequently ensure that they stay loyal to it. No organization can afford to fall behind in the provision of quality because, thanks to globalization and the internet, consumers have a wide range of suppliers and an even wider range of products to choose from, and can easily switch to a company that they consider more efficient -- one that is able to deliver products, quality products for that matter, at the right time (Bowersox, Closs, Cooper & Bowersox, year).The quality of an organization's logistic system, therefore, determines the demand for its products and how loyal its customers will be (Korinek & Sourdin, 2011).

A unit with a high-quality logistics system would most certainly have an effective information system (Korinek & Sourdin, 2011). Thanks to the increased coverage and quality of ICT, most units rely on electronic systems for information storage, processing, and distribution. However, information systems cannot work effectively in an environment with poorly-developed logistics and infrastructure (Korinek & Sourdin, 2011). Information is highly perishable; it is useless if not delivered and used in time. Poorly-developed logistic systems automatically translate to poorly-developed information systems, which implies that….....