Developing intelligent logistics - Building a competence model for logistics systems engineer

Logistics is an interdisciplinary field. Modern logisticians need to integrate business management skills with technology design, IT systems know-how and other engineering fields. However, based on research of university curricula and competence standards in logistics, the engineering aspect is not represented in full potential. There are a few treatments of logistician competences relating to engineering, but not a modernized one with wide-spread recognition. This paper aims to explain the problem from conceptual history viewpoint and suggests a competence profile for “logistics system engineer” that has been created via analyzing various topical competence models and integrating introductory competences of systems engineering into logistics. In current approach, logistics systems engineering integrates networks, technologies and ICT, process and service design and offers broader interdisciplinary approach. Another suitable term for this would be intelligent logistics. The practical implication of such competence profile is to utilize it in curriculum development and also suggest it as an occupational standard. The academic relevance of the promoted concept is to offer a specific way to differentiate education in logistics.