Material Economy and Logistics 11/2021

The aim of this article is to show the relationship between logistification of the world and the basic premises of this phenomenon, such as the need to recognise logistics as a new management science, a redefinition of international flow of the factors of production, or the use of information asymmetry measuring methods in international business. The theory part, featuring a review of the latest literature on the subject, emphasizes not only the need but also a necessity to develop logistics as a new branch of the management science. A special role is attributed to the impact of logistification on the interdisciplinary character of international business. Further, the article shows a pur les flux accomplishment of logistification through the flow of factors of production. Rationalisation of this process is expressed by the "flying geese formation" model, an exemplification of international flow of technical knowledge, both representational (knowing-that) and embodied (knowing-how). Finally, a new logistic model of information asymmetry (LMAI) is developed, providing a theoretical measure of the impact of logistics on reducing the effects of information asymmetry. The theoretical considerations are supplemented with an original numerical illustration of potential benefits derived by selected Polish firms from the measuring of information asymmetry levels. For this purpose the author used the results of empirical studies conducted in the period 2010–2018, from which firms representing manufacturers, distributors and service providers from nine industries were selected on a random basis. The findings of this preliminary study enabled a general estimation of the information asymmetry levels in key industries of the Polish economy.

This publication presents the options of life cycle assessment in terms of categorisation of the environmental characteristics of a product achieved through the analytical methods used, as well as in terms of the identification of harmful substances along with the route of emission into the environment. These emissions are linked to specific products, processes and even the raw materials necessary for the production of the materials studied. The knowledge gained in this way makes it possible to carry out environmental optimisation by replacing and correcting processes, materials or raw materials characterised by such negative emissions, as well as increasing the share of components with a positive character of the generated impacts.

The aim of the study was to determine the specific impacts of a product while indicating the substances responsible and identifying the processes that generate them throughout the product life cycle. Precise verification of the environmental damage caused by a product system allows specific preventive measures to be taken. The indirect aim of the study was to make it possible to determine corrective steps for the product by identifying areas that are particularly exposed to negative environmental effects from the product and thus make it possible to perform environmental optimisation. The results obtained can be particularly useful in the implementation of eco-design, as well as in planning future versions of the device. Carrying out a detailed LCA analysis enables an in-depth understanding of the nature of product manufacturing, as well as presenting the capabilities of the research method. Furthermore, in each of the stages identified, important aspects can be demonstrated which should be continuously improved through various measures as part of a continuous quality improvement process, regardless of the hierarchy of the phases of the product life cycle.

The main objectives behind this article are to compare the statistics for the selected European Union countries' transportation and storage sector and to assess the impact of COVID-19 crisis on these numbers. This is not a systematic review but reliable data analysis. This analysis is divided in two parts. First, the data from the Eurostat database and the Office for National Statistics website (the executive office of the UK Statistics Authority) is used to compare the transportation and storage sector's statistics in selected countries in the years 2011–2020. The main indicators are gross value added and employment level. The analysis shows that the transportation and storage sector is very sensitive to fluctuations in socio-economic activity across countries, and the 2020 crisis resulted in large declines in employment levels (with minor exceptions). The aim of the article in the second stage, is to address these changes and attempt to show the current possible trend in the labor market in the studied sector. The data downloaded from job websites is used for the study. Conclusion is that the warehouse workers and logistics managers are currently in greatest demand and this trend is manifested in most surveyed countries.