new competencies and
innovations in logistics

The Danish economy is characterised by a majority of small and medium-sized companies. This has a direct impact on the level of statistical data available.

Companies report statistical data on a monthly basis to Statistics Denmark. Statistics Denmark's questionnaires make provision for a higher level of detail than ISCO-88. However, due to the number of companies supplying data and the small total population in Denmark, there is a risk that certain areas may be highly un-representative from a statistical point of view, especially when cross-referencing between different tables is required.

2.1 Statistics sources in Denmark
Statistics Denmark (www.dst.dk) is the main source of statistics in Denmark. This is the national organisation that collates all the official statistics for Denmark.

Information concerning logistics functions comes from various sources, mainly from employers' associations, who collect the required data from their members. Companies who are not members of employers' associations have to report directly to Statistics Denmark. This structure of data collection is related to information about conditions of employment.

If a specific statistical approach is required, Statistics Denmark can make individual investigations. Statistical information is reported in various publications, annual reviews, and reports and on the Statistics Denmark Website, www.statistikbanken.dk. This Website is especially useful, as it is possible to extract specific data from the existing tables. The information is available in both Danish and English, however the Danish version offers a greater coverage of information than the English version. Through this Website, it is also possible to request special statistical presentations.

2.2 Statistical treatment of logistics jobs and functions in Denmark - occupational classification
The Danish statistical classification system, DISCO, is based on the ISCO-88 (International Standard Classification of Occupations). The Danish version theoretically offers a higher level of details, being based on 6 digits rather than the 4 digits in ISCO-88. However, when considering logistics jobs, these extra digits do not prove useful, as the extra groups do not give additional information on logistics functions. In addition, there is a quantitative problem as there are groups where the total numbers per group are so low that the statistical data becomes unreliable. Therefore, it is not possible to use the 6-digit classification, rather one has to use the 4-digit or even the 3-digit ISCO-88 classification.

Table 1 shows employment in a range of logistics occupations for the period 2000 and 2001. These particular years are presented because they provide the only information available in the used data source.

This table shows that logistics jobs are concentrated in private companies, which is to be expected, as the state primarily provides service-related employment such as teaching, nursing and general administration. The sources are related to the type of ownership of the company, and therefore this is included in the tables.

The table shows a minor reduction in transport and logistics employment from 4.1% to 3.9%, but it is not possible to conclude whether this is an ongoing trend as ISCO codes 9322 and 9333 (manual handling of goods) cannot be extracted because of the statistical structure of the Danish version of ISCO. Without this information, it is not possible to prove the downwards trend. Indeed, the category 9333 freight handlers, saw an increase in 2001 of 3,238 jobs which raised the amount of logistics employment to show an upwards trend.

Statistics Denmark also collect and classify data using industrial classifications based on the NACE nomenclature. A cross-referencing table between occupational classifications and industrial sectors via NACE codes is available upon request from Statistics Denmark. In relation to the costs involved, Statistics Denmark does not consider that the further information would be worthwhile. In addition, it is felt that the results would not be reliable, due to the low numbers involved in each category when cross-referencing is undertaken between the occupation and the sectorial approach.

Diagram 1 Employment across target industrial sectors (%)

Table 2 and diagram 1 show that, over the years, the target sectors have maintained a quite stable size related to the total amount of jobs in Denmark. This information, combined with table 1 showing logistics occupations, indicates that the overall logistics sector is stable in Denmark. To get a more exact picture of this, it would be necessary to make a more detailed analysis, which is not possible with the present level of data in this research.

The industrial structure in Denmark is characterised by a lot of small companies with less than 100 employees.

Based on the available statistics sources, it can be concluded that there is a rather stable trend of logistics jobs in Denmark.

Job data is available according to the 4-digit level of the ISCO-88 classification, which is not a very high level of detail.

In Denmark it is generally not possible to find clear definitions of logistics jobs and functions. There are many different descriptions and titles, but there are no detailed job descriptions and definitions - either for logistics or for other kinds of jobs.

2.1 Union of semi-skilled workers in Denmark (SID)
This union organises members who do not necessarily have any vocational qualifications. Their job functions are typically warehouseman, truck driver, driver, and unskilled labourer. The members have jobs in a variety of companies. Typically, the union focuses on wages and working conditions. The union does not publish any statistics giving data on jobs. In the collective agreements negotiated by this union, logistics functions such as forklift drivers etc. are included, but there are no descriptions of the jobs, only some lesser descriptions of activities related to broader discussions with other unions. Further information about this union can be found on the following web site: www.sid.dk

2.2 Union of commercial and clerical employees in Denmark (HK)
This union organises members who work as office employees in private firms, municipal authorities and government offices, trade and commercial employees and shop and warehouse staff. The members will usually have a vocational qualification. The union's main focus is wage and working conditions. The union does not publish any statistics on logistics functions.

In the collective agreements negotiated by this union, some logistics functions, such as logistics planner/clerk, are included, but there are no definitions of the jobs and only some lesser descriptions on activities related to broader discussions with other unions. Further information on this union can be found on the following web site: www.hk.dk

Collective agreements in Denmark do not include formal job descriptions. Therefore, it is difficult to identify logistics jobs from the collective agreements. For example, a person with a forklift certificate can be covered by both the Union of semi-skilled workers in Denmark (SID) or the Union of Commercial and Clerical Employees in Denmark (HK), but the agreement is typically focused on the overall working conditions. The detailed working conditions will usually be determined by negotiation between the company and the local union.

2.3 The society of Danish engineers
This union organises graduates (bachelor of arts, masters or other similar qualification) with a technical degree. These members will normally hold functions such as engineer, scientist, quality manager, quality assistant, logistics planner and general manager. The union does not publish any statistics on logistics functions.

This union does negotiate collective agreements, but logistics functions are not specifically identified or defined. More information on this union can be found on the following web site: www.ida.dk

2.4 Association of Danish business economists
This union organises graduates (bachelor of arts, masters or other similar qualification) with an economics degree. These members will typically hold a function such as logistics manager, logistics assistant, quality manager, quality assistant, logistics planner, purchase manager, controller and general manager. The union does not publish any statistics on logistics functions.

The union does not negotiate collective agreements. The union does not have any job descriptions. More information on this union can be found on the following web site http://www.civiloekonomerne.org

2.5 Employers' organisations
The main organisation - Danish Employers' Confederation (Dansk arbejdsgiverforening, DA) does not directly study the logistic functions of their members. Their main statistical focus is on trends in employment, economic status and general cost levels for the industry.

One of the services offered to their members is the collection of statistical records from the companies for submission to Statistics Denmark. They therefore have access to member company data, making detailed statistical analysis possible.

The organisation negotiates collective agreements with the unions in Denmark, but has no job descriptions.

2.6 Danish Chamber of Commerce (HTS, Handel, Transport og serviceerhvervene)
This organisation covers all functions related to transport, commerce and other services and therefore they also have many traditional logistics functions within their member companies. One of the services they provide to their members is an "employee handbook". There are neither pre-defined titles nor job functions within the standard handbook. More information on this organisation can be found on the following web site: www.hts.dk. The "employee handbook" is an IT tool which can help companies to write their own handbook describing all the procedures within the company. The tool is designed especially for the haulage contractor business.

3.1 Labour market councils (Arbejdsmarkedsråd)
In each of the 14 counties in Denmark, there is a Labour Market Council. The council's responsibility is to focus on the labour market trends in each county. The councils each have a different focus depending on the actual situation in the particular county. Some councils have drawn up reports that focus on logistics qualifications. None of the councils have devised job definitions. The varioua councils focus on areas which are of special interest to their county. Therefore, there is no overall co-ordination of the focus areas. Some councils have analysed transport and related functions, but there are no logistics job descriptions in the reports.

3.2 Public employment service (Arbejdsformidlingen i Danmark)
The public employment service has a national database of CVs and is available for job seekers to register their CV. This database is open to the employed as well as to the unemployed. Many different jobs and functions are described in this database. The job descriptions are used for searching for new jobs and/or new employees. These definitions and titles are not available other than on the database, and therefore it is not possible to include them in this report. Job definitions are always described in relation to specific company requests.

The job descriptions are drawn up by the company and are not based on a nomenclature.
The following available jobs were found on 8 June 2004 by using "Logistics", "transport", "warehouse", in other words only Novalog related jobs, as the search criteria:

• Planning manager/supervisor
• Warehouse manager
• Logisticians/controller
• Logistics engineer
• Logistician
• Logistics manager
• Logistics assistant
• Logistics consultant
• Warehouse/transport operative
• Warehouse operative
• Warehouse manager
• Warehouse clerk/operative
• Forklift driver
• Warehouse and production operative

Further information can be obtained from the following web site: http://www.jobnet.dk/

Although Denmark is one of the smaller European countries with a population of just over 5 million, it has a long tradition in public vocational training and education. Nearly half of all young people enter vocational training schemes after finishing their compulsory education. There is also a well established system of labour market training for those adults who have not received proper vocational training or need re-training of new skills. This is called the AMU System.

4.1 The Transport Training Board of Denmark
The Transport Training Board (in Danish: Transporterhvervets UddannelsesRåd - TUR) is responsible for setting national standards and goals for all apprenticeship training for workers in the transportation sector in Denmark, as well as for all the labour market training (the AMU System) for the same sector.

Transport and logistics training and education, supervised by the Transport Training Board, covers all kinds of training for operative personnel, including:

• Driver training - Freight and Passenger
• Transport of dangerous goods by all modes
• Warehouse operation and management
• Health and safety training
• Quality and Customer service training
• International transport
• Waste management
• Refrigerated transport
• Livestock transport
• Removals
• Parcels and postal operation training
• Routing/Scheduling/Logistics
• Multi-modal transport and terminal operation
• Training of rescue services and ambulance personnel
• Port and Airport operations
• Lift truck operations
• Mobile crane and lorry mounted crane operations

The abovementioned training programmes are based on a variety of jobs related to the disciplines set out above.

Transport and logistics management for administrative personnel and for mid-level management is a new area of activity which will also become the responsibility of the Board.

The AMU training program includes more than 100 training plans, with a duration of between 1 day and 6 weeks. The Government pays all training costs and companies receive wage compensation when their employees attend AMU training courses. Unemployed people can also attend AMU training courses and about 25 % of all participants are unemployed.

The vocational training program covers ten different apprenticeship schemes which can be attended by both young people and older adults. In the apprenticeship scheme, part of the training is classroom-based, and part based in-company. The apprenticeship scheme consists of 50 weeks of classroom-based training over a 3 year contractual period for young people and of 37 weeks of classroom-based training over a 2 year contractual period for older adults. As with the AMU training scheme, all training costs and company wage compensation is paid by the government.

Fifteen AMU centres and ten technical colleges throughout the country provide the actual training courses. The training courses are attended by approximately 40,000 adults a year on short courses and the volume of the vocational training programme is approximately 800 new apprentices a year, amounting to about 2,500 apprentices attending the programme.

The secretariat has a thorough knowledge of European transport training through participation in the EuroTra - European Transport Training Association (http://www.eurotra.org), which includes partners from Western and Eastern Europe as well as from the United States. At present, the Board is involved in two LEONARDO projects with other European partners, such as VTenL of the Netherlands, TÜV-Akademie Rhienland and AFT-IFTIM of France.

TUR has a close partnership with TYA of Sweden with regular contacts on all levels. TUR and TYA were the originators of The Open Nordic Championship for Transport Students, which takes place every year in Scandinavia. TUR is the Leading Partner of "Partnership for Innovative Safety Transport Training - PISTT", a Consortia Preparatory Project under the EC/US Cooperation Program in higher education and vocational education and training.

More details on TUR can be obtained via the following website: http://www.tur.dk.

4.2 DUEL, Dansk Uddannelses & Erhvervs Leksikon
This annual handbook includes details of vocational training and education, giving a full description of each educational programme. This description includes the structure of the education programme, the typical job functions, payment/wages during the course, where to study and details of the entry qualifications.

Two examples of logistics training programmes are:

• Warehouse and transport worker (Lager- og transportarbejder)
• Logistics assistant (logistikassistent)

The handbook and other information are available on: http://www.r-u-e.dk.

4.3 VIDAR, Alt om offentlig uddannelse
This database, available on the www.vidar.dk web site, gives a short description of official education and training programmes. For each educational programme there is a short description relating to the required student background and details of the qualifications which may be obtained through the programme. Although no formal job descriptions are included in this database, some indication is given of the type of job a student might expect to do after completion of the training programme.

In this database, various logistics training courses are described. Examples are as follows:

• Logistics assistant (Logistikassistent)
• Warehouse assistant (lagerassistent)
• Forklift driver (truckfører)

DUEL and VIDAR both provide the same information. DUEL provides a hard copy of the information, whilst VIDAR provides the information through a web-based database.

Official education and training means training programmes provided by a state supplier or by a state-related organisation. A private supplier cannot be included in the database.

4.4 DILF (Danish purchase and logistic forum)
This logistics organisation has the aim of optimising the supply chain. They have drawn up some definitions of qualification requirements within logistics functions (e.g Logistick/SCM, see Annex 1). However, the primary focus for the group is the purchasing function at a high level within organisations. DILF are suppliers of logistics training and education. Further information can be obtained on the following web site: www.dilf.dk

Four Danish companies were interviewed and it was not possible to find any internal definitions of jobs. It was, however, possible to find most of the Novalog selected job functions within the companies, but actual job descriptions and definitions were not available.
The four companies interviewed in this project are involved in the following sectors:

• Production of sugar -> 500 employees
• Production of telephones -> 137 employees
• Productions of radiators, automobile -> 800 employees
• Wholesale, FMCG -> 160 employees in total

Some of the companies interviewed have an ISO 9001-2 quality management system. There was no evidence of job definitions within the ISO 9001-2 quality management system.

6.1 Statistics standard
The national statistical office, Statistics Denmark uses its own standards to classify data for its statistical reports. Industrial codes follow the NACE classification standard (General Nomenclature of Economic Activities in the European Community).

Occupational statistics are collected using a Danish version of the ISCO-88 code, called DISCO (Danish ISCO, see annex 2). This classification uses 6 digits instead of the 4 digits used in ISCO. It is therefore possible to obtain a more detailed level of reporting, because each group can be divided into several subgroups.

This classification standard is used when companies report to Statistics Denmark. For ease of use, the employers' organisation has devised guidelines within which the various different codes are "translated" for the purposes of common use. These guidelines are related to different industries and can be consulted on the following web site: http://indberetning.da.dk/disco/typiske/oversigt.htm.

Some of these guidelines give a very short definition of certain jobs (DISCO code 413100). E.g.:

• Logistics assistant
• Warehouse assistant
• Materials assistant

These guidelines help companies to report the correct information to Statistics Denmark. For examples of available guidelines see appendix.

6.2 LogistikSelskabet (Logistic Society)
The majority of members of this society are engineers who perform various logistics functions. One of the society's main activities is The Danish Logistics Award, which is given to a company for logistics excellence. In co-operation with KPMG, the Logistic Society publishes the Danish Logistic Analysis on an annual basis (http://www.logistikselskabet.dk/frontend.php). This report gives an overview of the situation regarding logistics for larger Danish companies and shows future expectations regarding logistics.
The primary function of this Society is to publish the "Danish Logistics analyses" report and to organize the "The Danish Logistics Award".

6.3 Job databases
There are several Danish internet-based job databases which advertise job vacancies. There are no formal job definitions or titles to be found in these advertisements, but there are, however, job titles and descriptions given by the recruiting company.

Input on these databases comes from newspapers, placement services, companies or other institutions.

Some job descriptions are explicit in a number of education and/or training programmes related to specific jobs and functions. But the general Danish situation is characterised by a very low level of formal job descriptions. Instead, it is possible to find job titles in many different situations, but without any clear definition of what functions are covered by a specific title.

In education and training handbooks and databases, different titles are given without there being a clear definition of activities.

The Danish public employment placement services have a national database for all job advertisements and CVs for all unemployed and employed people who would like to use the service in their search for a job. Various titles are to be found in this database. In relation to job titles, there is a short description of the responsibility and function the jobs usually entail. This information is used for searching in the database.