Logistics Engineering and Systems

Question: Describe about the Logistics Engineering and Systems. Answer: Introduction Definition of the Problem The world we live in is always in risk of getting affected from extreme effects of natural and artificial calamities. Such catastrophic incidents have been taking place since the origin of this planet. With respect to the last decades, it is seen that there has been adverse effects of such calamities resulting to death and injuries to several people. Thus, it is imperative for emergency logistics management to play a pivotal role in the global issue with respect to such incidents. Such serious accidents require relief and rescue operations as well as recovery activities from the part of the logistics systems after the calamity. These adverse effects of natural and artificial disasters needs swift, effective relief functions and such activities become a challenge for them as they need to create a supply structure, distribution network, assessment of disaster, coordination, inventory management etc. This system like any other process also tries to improve its process from time to time to provide service that is more efficient to the affected (Dai, 2014). Objective There always remains a goal for the execution of such activities and so the main objective of this study is to assess the activities during calamity rescue and relief and to recognize the experience for addressing such logistic challenges. The other aim is to create policies that can be gained from the evaluating the current case. Methodology of the Project There have been many research based on the emergency logistics management and the researchers have identified some relevant matters that they have mentioned in their study. This study only concentrates on the emergency logistic activities undertaken after the Haiti earthquake. The study thus includes the transportation, product supply, relief and rescue operations, medical facilities, communications etc. The methodology used for this study is later discussed in this paper. Organization of the Project report The project is done on the Haiti Earthquake 2010, which cost lives of thousands and injuries to millions. The report is prepared by analyzing all the logistic support and data used during that time to rescue and relief the people affected there. Literature Review The literature review provides some discussions related to the modern knowledge on disaster management and relief and includes specific evidence and adds knowledge about the operations related to calamity relief by concentrating on the agencies that react to such incidents. The review finds out the cooperation among the organizations from the start to end of an emergency logistic system. The logistics require a wide range of transport to provide efficient and relevant deliveries from outside to the affected area. It also looks after a process or system, which will provide priority to the relief inputs. The items received from various regions needs to be stored in an inventory so that it can be moved when required. Moving or migrating people from the affected region to safety is also a prime concern for the logistic system. There should always be coordination for the usage of the transport asset to accelerate the relief process (Li,and Sheng, 2013). The logistics needed in the emergency relief are created through a process where the organizations primarily acquire the equipments and stores the supplies in a single place. The firms then distribute the emergency facilities and provide training to the desired personnel. There exists a common agreement to provide aid to the affected victims. A resource inventory is created so that is becomes easier to allocate the commodities during emergency. The logistic teams react differently after a disaster has taken place. It then uses it primary process to provide ailment to the victims. It provides maps to the people going to the affected area and provides safety sheets to the employees in order to abide by them. They move in the back up machineries and tools so that it is used when deemed necessary. They even provide food, clothing and medical support to provide the basic amenities to the affected people. A shelter to stay is also allocated as many may have lost their houses in such advers e accidents. A proper communication system is generated so that there remains a contact with the outside world during this crisis period. A proper supply chain exists in the emergency logistic system where the suppliers or donors are the government and other organizations and foundations, followed by the recipients like the NGOs. The transportation facilities are conducted mainly by the army, government or the NGOs and local bodies after which the reliefs are received by the people in need (Nickerson et al.2015). Methodology The methodology applied for this study was created to reach the goals of the research and to answer the questions to the research accordingly. The research question in mind is the lesson learned from the Haiti Earthquake rescue and relief operations and the policies, which can be implemented after assessing this study. The results of this study show the correct operations within an occurrence and that can be used to create theories in different types of research. The theories constructed either are taken from the older ones or have been new theories. The actual study is based on the earthquake in Haiti in 2010. The information collection is concentrated on the rescue and relief operations during the primary stage, and secondary data collection from the reports of the government and the NGOs. The results of this study are based on the secondary information. The evaluation process comprises of a series of focus group discussions, which in the basis of the People First Impact methodology. There were key informant interviews with respect to the stakeholders from the communities of Haiti and International foundations. These international foundations comprised of CARE, project agencies of ECB, INGOs, the government and sector networks like Sphere etc. the relevant information interviews analyzed the huma nitarian response that have gone well and things which havent. The activities, which could have been improved according to the present response and essential recommendations for the humanitarian community (zdamar, and Ertem, 2015). The literature review undertaken was a desk-based study related to the literature reviews made earlier regarding the Haiti earthquake like the statements, reports and strategies, other experiences of disaster and assessment of those literature reviews. The study also explains the method used for the focus group interviews and shows the way in which the data received is in accordance to the OECD-DAC criteria. Limitations There were various factors, which restricted the methodology of this study. The assessment team fumbled to gain relevant data from the agencies and to gain the essential elements for the interviews. Thus, the informant interviews were exclusive of Haitian government, UN, diplomatic community etc. There were some concentrated group discussions where the participants were limited due to a short notice period provided to them. The information received during the discussions was short as the time of debriefing was limited. The survey conducted was generally based on the urban areas and so the information did not provide a global overview of the disaster. Case Study Selection and Justification The case study selection is the crucial part for the assessment of the emergency logistics system as it can reveal a lot of new information and data, which can be useful for the researchers to create new theories about logistic management. The earthquake in Haiti with a magnitude of 7.0 MW, the total infrastructure of the country fell as there was a loss of the communication system, medical and transport facilities and the connection with the outer world got disconnected as the airport and the port got damaged thus postponing the relief work. The response to this calamity was just after the incident when the government and international foundations reached the scene within 36 hours with a coordinated effort from the National Disaster Management, the army, the NGOs like Red Cross and the foreign and national government to evacuate the place and provide relief and rescue operations to the victims. Around 10,000 volunteers were involved in the operation to provide ailment and support to the victims (Beresford, and Pettit, 2013). The international response through UN providing $10 million as emergency fund and other countries providing monetary, supplies and military help to the country also reduced the tension in Haiti. Results and Discussion The results of the study cover the regions of response, evacuation, resettlement, supplies etc. it also analyzes the major problems like the accessing the blocked roads to resume transport, reestablishing the communication system, guaranteeing supply of necessary goods etc. It also reveals the rescue and relief capacity of the country as seen that Haiti having limited number of armed forces had initial problems for rescue operations. The country being an island also faced problem as the airport the ports were destroyed (Gong, Chen, and Hu, 2012). The evacuation and the settlement process needed time as being a small country, and most of it destroyed the victims needed to be taken into temporary shelters and government buildings with the threat of aftershocks as well. The secondary treatment of the disaster comprising of the international and NGO response also took a vital part. Logistics Management With the advent of such a mishap in Haiti, merits and the challenges pertaining to the logistics management has been identified. Merits Swift Response Allocating the needed supplies Requesting to the national and international sector to provide supply Providing troops to the affected regions and providing equipments for rescue Real-time supervision of the situation and evacuating the victims. Effective emergency plans. Restoration of the communication and medical facilities Challenges Lack of communication among the various troops of different countries Unbalance of rescue force in some regions Inadequate national reserve for supplies Uncoordinated international donations Lack in Government coordination Small army force Concentration of population in the affected area Therefore, the logistics management pros and cons have been identified. Recommendation The evaluation of this study recommends that there are some questions regarding logistics, which has not been answered properly and they are: Coordination of demand and supply at the total environment Improving the level of emergency logistics relief supply chain for better result Controlling of the distribution of relief under the emergency situation These are the problems related to the emergency logistics and proper and efficient support over these topics can be useful for the maximization of the emergency logistics level. Conclusion The paper thus aims to innovate efficient regulations and rules so as to mitigate the problems faced by the emergency logistic management. The study of Haiti earthquake was taken to find out the logistics supply chain and system operating in the country and the level of quick response after the incident. 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