new competencies and
innovations in logistics

Finland has a well organised statistical information service, with classifications based on the ISCO and NACE system allowing a detailed overview of a wide range of occupations and industry sectors. Statistical data shows that the logistics sector in Finland is very stable from an employment point of view. The level of employment remains over the years at a rate of 4% or 15% depending on the focus (ISCO and NACE category respectively). A cross tabulation between ISCO and NACE figures shows that the level of employment remains over the years at a rate of approx. 2,5%.

Statistics Finland is the main source for statistical records in Finland.

The latest population census has been taken in Finland on 31 December 2000. The census will yield important data describing the population structure, employment, families and housing. There are about thirty administrative sources for the register-based population census:

• Employment data concerning private sector employees are obtained from the Central Pension Security Institute's register of employment pension insurance. Employment data concerning public sector employees are obtained from from the State Treasury and from the Local Government Pension Institution's register of employment relationships.
• Data on income are obtained from registers maintained by the Tax Administration.
• Data on unemployment are obtained from the register of unemployed jobseekers maintained by the Ministry of Labour.
• Data on pensions are obtained from the Social Insurance Institution and the Central Pension Security Institute.
• Data on the industry and location of a person's workplace are mainly obtained from Statistics Finland's Business Register and from the register of general government...

Until 1985, data related to occupation were obtained by census questionnaires, but now are obtained from registers or administrative records.

Statistics Finland's Labour Force Survey is a monthly sample survey in which data are also collected about employment.

Statistics Finland operates administratively under the Ministry of Finance. They publish all official statistics and collect a variety of data. Administrative registers are the prime source of information, however if specific details are required such as ad hoc analysis this can be obtained by interview and other direct contact with the source.

The statistical material is primarily displayed on paper and on the Statistics Finland Web site www.stat.fi. This Web site includes a great deal of general material, however upon request Statistics Finland can supply more detailed information. The quality of the results of such detailed treatment is dependant on the nature of the original statistics, the awareness of statistical materials and how the treatment request is briefed.

2.1 Statistical treatment of logistics jobs by occupational classification
Finnish data on employees is classified by occupational classification. This classification follows the ISCO-88 system (International Standard Classification of Occupations) it is therefore possible to show the extent of logistical occupation in Finland. Using this focus it is possible to show all occupations across all industrial sectors. This approach is related to titles and functions in all companies. The Finnish national classification of occupations based on the EU standard was introduced in March 1997 and its revised version in 2001.

ISCO groups are wide in content, for example: 1226 "Production and operations managers in transport, storage and communications". The Novalog study specifically focuses on transport and storage, but not especially on communications. By using ISCO-88 codes there is a risk that some functions are included in the statistical results which are not included in the Novalog focus. For this reason figures for ISCO 9322 and 9333 are not available as they can not be extracted from the broader categories 9320 and 9330.

Table 1. Logistics and Transport Employment based on ISCO occupational codes
Occupation		1997			1999
EMPLOYED PERSONS IN 1000		2121,1			2295,9
Total logistic functions		93,4	4,40	100,0	103,9	4,53	100,0
1226	Production and operations managers in transport, storage and communications	2,0	0,09	2,14	2,1	0,09	2,02
1235	Supply and distribution managers	1,2	0,06	1,28	2,2	0,10	2,12
1316	Managers of small enterprises in transport, storage and communications	15,3	0,72	16,38	18,1	0,79	17,42
3416	Buyers	4,5	0,21	4,82	5,2	0,23	5,00
3422	Clearing and forwarding agents	2,2	0,10	2,36	2,5	0,11	2,41
4131	Stock clerks	11,6	0,55	12,42	9,9	0,43	9,53
4132	Production clerks. No figures as category too small	N/a	N/a	N/a	N/a	N/a	N/a
4133	Rail traffic controllers and other transport clerks	4,1	0,19	4,39	8,9	0,39	8,57
8324	Heavy truck and lorry drivers	40,0	1,89	42,83	39,6	1,72	38,11
8334	Lifting-truck operators	7,0	0,33	7,49	6,0	0,26	5,77
9151	Newspaper and advertisement deliverers and messengers	5,5	0,26	5,89	9,4	0,41	9,05
Others		2027,7	95,60		2192,0	95,47
Occupation		2000			2001
EMPLOYED PERSONS IN 1000		2335,4			2367,2
Total logistic functions		102,7	4,40	100,0	102,6	4,33	100,0
1226	Production and operations managers in transport, storage and communications	2,3	0,10	1,57	2,9	0,12	2,83
1235	Supply and distribution managers	2,1	0,09	1,43	2,3	0,10	2,24
1316	Managers of small enterprises in transport, storage and communications	16,1	0,69	10,99	13,7	0,58	13,35
3416	Buyers	5,1	0,22	3,48	5,8	0,25	5,65
3422	Clearing and forwarding agents	3,0	0,13	2,05	2,5	0,11	2,44
4131	Stock clerks	9,5	0,41	6,48	9,5	0,40	9,26
4132	Production clerks. No figures as category too small	N/a	N/a	N/a	N/a	N/a	N/a
4133	Rail traffic controllers and other transport clerks	8,3	0,36	5,67	8,4	0,35	8,19
8324	Heavy truck and lorry drivers	40,6	1,74	27,71	41,4	1,75	40,35
8334	Lifting-truck operators	7,0	0,30	4,78	8,0	0,34	7,80
9151	Newspaper and advertisement deliverers and messengers	8,7	0,37	5,94	8,1	0,34	7,89
Others		2232,7	95,60		2264,6	95,67
Source: Special query from Statistics Finland, ultimo 2002

* Note the categories 9322 hand packers and other manufacturing labourers and 9333 freight handlers are not included in this table because these figures could not be extracted from the more generalised category of 9330.

Diagram 1. Logistics Employment based on ISCO occupational codes (% of total amount)

Occupational data highlighted in table 1 and diagram 1, shows that logistic functions are relatively stable over the period 1997-2001. There are some small displacements between the groups, but it is not possible to detect any major trends showing changes in the selected logistics occupations.

Statistics Finland also records information with the traditional NACE industrial classification codes (see table 2). By using NACE (Statistical Classification of Economic Activities in the European Community) codes alone one can not establish the amount of logistics employment over a given time, but only how many employees there are in each industrial group (including transport and other jobs not specific related to logistics).

Table 2. Occupation by industrial codes (NACE)
		1997			1999
	In 1000 persons
24	Manufacture of chemicals and chemical products	20,7	0,98	6,71	20,2	0,88	6,16
25	Manufacture of rubber and plastic products	13,5	0,64	4,37	17,3	0,75	5,27
30	Manufacture of office machinery and computers	2,8	0,13	0,91	2,0	0,09	0,61
31	Manufacture of electrical machinery and apparatus n.e.c.	16,9	0,80	5,47	19,5	0,85	5,94
34	Manufacture of motor vehicles, trailers and semi-trailers	6,4	0,30	2,07	6,8	0,30	2,07
52	Retail trade, except of motor vehicles and motorcycles; repair of personal and household goods	128,8	6,07	41,72	144,9	6,31	44,16
60	Land transport; transport via pipelines	78,4	3,70	25,40	73,2	3,19	22,31
61	Water transport	9,6	0,45	3,11	9,2	0,40	2,80
62	Air transport	8,2	0,39	2,66	9,3	0,41	2,83
63	Supporting and auxiliary transport activities; activities of travel agencies	23,3	1,10	7,55	25,6	1,12	7,80
Total of above industries		308,7	14,55	100,00	328,1	14,29	100,00
Others		1812,4	85,45		1967,8	85,71
Total (1000 persons)		2121,1			2295,9
		2000			2001
	In 1000 persons
24	Manufacture of chemicals and chemical products	19,9	0,85	5,96	20,3	0,86	5,96
25	Manufacture of rubber and plastic products	19,7	0,84	5,90	19,3	0,82	5,66
30	Manufacture of office machinery and computers	1,3	0,06	0,39	1,4	0,06	0,41
31	Manufacture of electrical machinery and apparatus n.e.c.	17,4	0,75	5,21	18,0	0,76	5,28
34	Manufacture of motor vehicles, trailers and semi-trailers	7,7	0,33	2,31	8,3	0,35	2,44
52	Retail trade, except of motor vehicles and motorcycles; repair of personal and household goods	144,6	6,19	43,33	145,3	6,14	42,65
60	Land transport; transport via pipelines	76,4	3,27	22,89	78,4	3,31	23,01
61	Water transport	9,8	0,42	2,94	12,3	0,52	3,61
62	Air transport	8,9	0,38	2,67	8,5	0,36	2,49
63	Supporting and auxiliary transport activities; activities of travel agencies	28,1	1,20	8,42	28,9	1,22	8,48
Total of above industries		333,7	14,29	100,00	340,7	14,39	100,00
Others		2001,7	85,71		2026,5	85,61
Total (1000 persons)		2335,4			2367,2
Source: Special query from Statistic Finland, ultimo 2002

Diagram 2. Occupation by industrial codes (NACE)

By comparing results from table 2 and diagram 2, it can be concluded that the selected industries are quite stable over the years. Although the industries selected in the Novalog study cover the majority of logistics jobs and functions, these figures alone provide a partial picture of the logistics industry.

A cross tabulation of occupational statistics and industrial data gives a more interesting view of the evolution of logistics occupations over a number of key sectors.

Table 3. Employment levels by occupation and by sector 1997-2001
1 - All sectors 100 persons 2 - Total Novalog sectors 3 - Manufacture of chemicals and chemical products 4 - Manufacture of rubber and plastic products 5 - Manufacture of office machinery and computers 6 - Manufacture of motor vehicles, trailers and semi-trailers 7 - Manufacture of motor vehicles, trailers and semi-trailers 8 - Retail trade, except of motor vehicles and motorcycles; repair of personal and household goods 9 - Land transport; transport via pipelines 10 - Water transport 11 - Air transport 12 - Supporting and auxiliary transport activities; activities of travel agencies
	Year	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12
EMPLOYED PERSONS	1997	21211	3087	207	135	28	169	64	1288	784	96	82	233
	1999	22959	3281	202	173	20	195	68	1449	732	92	93	256
	2000	23354	3337	199	197	13	174	77	1446	764	98	89	281
	2001	23672	3407	203	193	14	180	83	1453	784	123	85	289
Total in selected groups	1997	1367	669	9	27	-	4	7	59	431	8	24	100
	1999	1498	670	24	12	1	13	6	50	428	11	24	100
	2000	1465	682	24	16	1	8	5	44	437	9	27	113
	2001	1488	699	28	15	2	12	4	62	429	8	21	117
1226 Production and operations managers in transport, storage and communications	1997	20	20	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	4	-	16
	1999	21	12	1	-	-	1	-	-	3	3	-	5
	2000	23	12	1	-	-	1	-	-	6	2	-	3
	2001	29	16	2	-	-	-	-	-	5	2	-	7
1235 Supply and distribution managers	1997	12	4	3	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	2
	1999	22	1	1	-	-	-	-	0	-	-	-	-
	2000	21	2	1	-	-	-	-	1	-	-	-	-
	2001	23	4	2	-	-	-	-	1	-	0	-	-
1316 Managers of small enterprisesin transport, storage and communications	1997	153	136	-	-	-	-	-	-	133	-	-	3
	1999	181	153	-	-	-	-	-	4	147	-	-	2
	2000	161	141	-	-	-	-	-	0	140	-	-	0
	2001	137	113	-	-	-	-	-	-	112	-	-	1
3416 Buyers	1997	45	9	-	-	-	-	6	3	-	-	-	-
	1999	52	10	3	-	-	1	0	4	0	-	-	-
	2000	51	10	3	0	-	1	1	4	-	-	1	-
	2001	58	15	2	2	1	2	2	5	-	-	1	-
3422 Clearing and forwarding agents	1997	22	11	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	11
	1999	25	18	-	-	-	-	-	1	0	1	-	16
	2000	30	22	-	-	-	-	-	-	1	1	-	19
	2001	25	21	-	-	-	-	-	0	2	-	-	19
4131 Stock clerks	1997	116	11	-	6	-	-	-	3	-	-	-	3
	1999	99	18	2	2	-	3	1	4	1	1	-	3
	2000	95	23	2	3	-	2	3	5	1	2	-	6
	2001	95	21	4	3	-	2	1	5	0	1	-	5
4133 Rail traffic controllers andother transport clerks	1997	41	29	-	-	-	-	-	-	11	4	4	11
	1999	89	73	1	-	-	-	-	-	22	3	19	29
	2000	83	68	1	-	-	-	-	-	18	2	21	26
	2001	84	67	1	-	-	-	-	-	23	3	16	24
8324 Heavy truck and lorry drivers	1997	400	277	-	2	-	-	-	13	262	-	-	-
	1999	396	259	1	0	-	1	-	9	240	-	1	7
	2000	406	281	1	1	-	-	-	6	263	-	1	9
	2001	414	294	1	2	-	-	-	10	271	-	0	10
8334 Lifting-truck operators	1997	70	28	-	4	-	-	-	9	12	-	-	3
	1999	60	10	2	-	-	1	2	-	1	-	0	3
	2000	70	8	2	-	-	1	-	-	1	-	-	5
	2001	80	16	2	1	-	2	-	-	2	-	-	10
9151 Newspaper and advertisement deliverersand messengers	1997	55	5	-	-	-	-	-	2	3	-	-	-
	1999	60	10	2	-	-	1	2	-	1	-	0	3
	2000	87	1	1	-	-	-	-	0	-	-	-	-
	2001	81	1	1	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
9320 Manufacturing labourers	1997	127	28	7	10	-	-	-	2	-	-	9	-
	1999	94	2	-	-	-	-	-	2	-	-	-	-
	2000	143	17	9	3	-	3	0	2	-	-	-	-
	2001	141	17	8	2	1	2	-	2	-	-	0	1
9330 Transport labourers and freight handlers	1997	306	111	-	5	-	4	1	26	11	-	11	52
	1999	167	21	8	7	-	3	1	3	-	-	0	0
	2000	294	98	5	8	1	1	1	26	7	2	3	44
	2001	323	114	6	6	0	4	1	38	14	1	4	40
Others	1997	19844	2418	198	109	28	165	57	1230	353	89	58	133
	1999	21462	2611	178	160	19	182	62	1399	304	81	69	156
	2000	21890	2656	174	181	13	166	73	1403	327	89	62	168
	2001	22184	2708	175	178	12	168	78	1391	355	115	64	172

Table 3 clearly shows that the functions of transport, storage and communication managers and truck and lorry drivers are concentrated in the traditional transport industrial sectors. Buying and stock control functions are spread over the range of retail and manufacturing sectors. The general trend for logistics and non logistics employment is increasing over the period 1997-2001.

The result of this cross tabulations is showing all logistics occupations in the selected sectors. The level of logistics jobs is quite stable over the years on a level of approx. 2,5%. There are some small fluctuations, but it is not possible to point any trends out by the available data.

Table 4. Cross tabulation between functions and industrial codes
	1997			1999
In 1000 persons	Total amount of jobs	Jobs, industries	Job, occupation	Total amount of jobs	Jobs, industries	Job, occupation
Total amount	2121,1	308,7	93,4	2295,9	328,1	103,9
Per cent of total jobs		14,55%	4,40%	100%	15,47%	4,53%
	2000			2001
In 1000 persons	Total amount of jobs	Jobs, industries	Job, occupation	Total amount of jobs	Jobs, industries	Job, occupation
Total amount	2335,4	333,7	102,7	2367,2	340,7	102,6
Per cent of total jobs		15,73%	4,40%		16,06%	4,33%
Cross tabulation between industries and occupation (Logistics jobs in industries with in major logistics activities)
	1997			1999
Total	53,0			55,6
Per cent of total jobs	2,5%			2,42%
Logistics jobs outside the selected industries.	40,4			48,3
	2000			2001
Total	56,7			53,8
Per cent of total jobs	2,43%			2,27%
Logistics jobs outside the selected industries.	46			48,8

Finland has a well organised statistical information service with classifications based on the ISCO and NACE system allowing a detailed overview of a wide range of occupations and sectors. Statistical data shows that the logistics sector in Finland is very stable. When statistics are produced according to occupation rather than sector the level of employment remains stable over the years at a rate of 4,5 %. When the focus is changed to include logistics jobs only in traditional industries, the rate is reduced to 2,5%. During the whole period the total amount of jobs is increasing, both in logistics and non-logistics sectors.

Trade unions in Finland have a strong presence in the workplace. Union membership is high amongst employees and covers a wide range of economic activities. Employers are also well catered for by a organised central employers unions. Finland also has a network of employment offices to assist job seekers who are looking for information on careers and training. Logistics training is available in Finland and in some cases such training leads to a specific job title.

Finland has a long tradition of high union membership amongst employees. Over 80% of Finnish employees are members of the trade union of their own branch of industry. There are altogether 77 employees trade unions in Finland belonging to three different central organisations. Employers trade unions are also well organised in Finland. Employers have central unions in each sector i.e. industry, service sector, and agriculture and also within municipalities, the state and the church. All central employers organisations have their own member unions negotiating the labour agreements with the central organisations of the employees.

Social agreements are made up of different levels, and at the highest level there will not normally be any job titles or job definitions. Agreements typically describe the co-operation at a higher level such as terms of working hours and wage levels.

The next level of agreements is the locally settled agreements between companies and the employee's shop stewards. These locally settled agreements describe in detail local co-operation in place. It has not been possible to identify logistics job definitions and titles in the local agreements.

The Finnish unions are members of the Central Organisation of Finnish Trade Unions, SAK, www.sak.fi.

The organisation for the employers' association is TT (Tenllisuuden ja Työnantajain Keskusliitto) www.tt.fi. The main aim of this organisation is to be politically active in relation to industrial policy.

As unions are primarily related to areas of industry, it is therefore difficult to identify amongst collective agreement the areas that concern logistics functions. In some collective agreements, job definitions are included, however it is not possible to identify any logistics related job definitions. Even in the agreements for truck drivers (Kollektivavtal för lastvilsabranchen) it is not possible to find any job definitions. This social agreement is between Finnish Transport Workers' Union (Auto- ja Kuljetusalan Työntekijäliitto AKT ry), www.akt.fi and the Finnish Trucking association, www.skal.fi (Bil- och Transportbranchens Arbetareförbund rf).

3.1 Ministry of Labour (TYÖMINISTERIÖ)
The regional and local administration in Finland consists of fifteen labour market departments at the Employment and Economic Development Centres and of 176 employment offices. The labour market departments support the regional development of labour and the labour market. The employment offices, part of the labour market departments are responsible for supplying and training the labour force and for giving career guidance, and training information services to young people and adults.

The labour administration (http://www.mol.fi/) is a modern and flexible co-operation partner working with employers, employees, micro entrepreneurs, unemployed and interest groups. It is an expert in labour markets and is internationally renowned substantially contributing to labour and immigration policy substantially by:

• making the employment rate of Finland take the international lead
• making skill-based growth rapid
• securing the availability of labour needed by enterprises
• approaching full employment
• reducing structural unemployment and other unemployment, thus making it possible to fight poverty and exclusion
• increasing equality in the labour market and reducing the division of work between women and men in the labour market
• increasing the safety of employees and the flexibility needed by enterprises in working life,
• investing considerably in the development of work organisations and their staff in workplaces
• increasing well-being at work and making people remain in working life longer than at present
• making people experience work as the primary source of livelihood and balancing the regional matching between demand for and supply of labour force.

The administration provides up-to-date information about all-round education, vocational training and higher education covering the whole of Finland.

Information available also includes training options, educational establishments, the period of application, entrance requirements, curricula and ways of financing studies. The administration also gives information to assess different occupations i.e. what do they entail, what are the conditions like, what kind of wages are paid and what the chances are of employment.

Job definitions are provided directly, and are stated by companies seeking new employees through this service.

The jobs definitions interesting for NOVALOG concern mostly the warehouse function (three jobs) and the assistance function (one job).

Among warehousing jobs, either the jobs defined are the operators, in charge of operational part of reception, storage and retrieval activities, or it is the warehouse manager, in charge of the complete process in the logistics site. The assistance job found is the Logistics engineer, who is responsible for problem solving, assessment activities and who directly contributes to decision making for a performance improvement of the supply chain.

Each job definition provided by the Ministry of Labor is structured as following:

• Mission and activities
  The definition describes mission, aims, what is realized by the whole of jobs in the aggregation, that is to say its "common core". The most specific situations to certain jobs can be indicated.
• Access conditions (diplômas, qualifications)
  That heading clarifies the most commonly expected levels and domains of training to accede to the occupation/job. The diploma or the establishment is mentioned when it concerns the only access to the occupation/job or that is very particular.
• Abilities requested to perform the job
  These are abilities expressed by companies, analysed and placed in the context of occupation/job according to common basic activities or general conditions of exercise. It concerns the role that the company expects from the employee in the occupation.
• General conditions of exercise and salary
  That heading indicates places, time tables, salary means, statutes, the physical, particular and commune constraints to the whole aggregation.

Order picker (Pakkaaja)
Generally operating in warehouses where order assembly for customers take place. Order assembly takes place by following a pick list which lists the stock locations in rotation. Following the list the operators move through the warehouse in sequence loading a pallet or wheeled cage. Some order pickers work as detailed pickers. When assembled the order is brought to the wrapping station for checking and wrapping prior to loading. The assembler then proceeds to the next order.

The work is repetitive and the workload tends to increase with the adding of complementary packing operations, such as labelling and packaging.

No specific training is required. Only the truck driving is required.

Some differences are observed between the conditions of exercise of this job in industry, where work conditions are less automatised and improved and the conditions in trade, especially in catalogue selling, where work conditions become easier with a modern work organisation.

The main requirements concern rigor, precision (for barcode scanning, for example), ability to adapt to new technologies and health requirements. Have an allergy to dust makes this job impossible.

Forklift driver (Trukinkuljettaja)
Using a highly manoeuvrable truck to move product on and off vehicles or production lines, and into storage in factories or building sites or other locations. The workload depends on the size of the warehouse or of the logistics site.

The main activities are the following:

1. Carrying out instructions regarding the movement of product
2. Ability and concern to ensure safety at all times
3. Ensuring the maintenance of the vehicle
4. It may include order picking.

The required kills are: Safety awareness; alertness to other people and vehicles; working indoors and outdoors; ability to assess height and balance; good physical co-ordination and reflexes; ability to get work done on your own, but also in co-operation with others.

There is an opportunity to move into warehouse supervisory/management positions, and to move into a variety of different sectors.

Warehouse operator (Varastotyöntekijä)
Carrying out the work required for receiving, storing and despatching goods from a warehouse in a variety of businesses including manufacturing, retailing, public sector etc.

The key duties:

1. Checking goods received against documentation
2. Putting goods into the correct location
3. Rotating the stock in the locations if they are date sensitive
4. Accurate picking of orders for despatch
5. Packing orders for despatch and checking for completeness
6. Periodic counting of stock, for comparison against what should be there.

Are required for this job:

• Good numeracy and attention to detail; willingness to use computers; orderliness and tidiness; awareness of safety requirements; physical work; willingness to work indoors and outdoors.
• The physical condition is required specifically when warehouses are located underground. Allergies or anxiety are conditions of inability for these jobs.
• A specific emphasis is put on the specific taste of order and precision. All operations have to follow a rigorous order, according to a detailed planning. The job is characterized by routines operations.
• Warehouse operatives can move to warehouse supervisory or management positions, or into stock control or order processing positions.

Warehouse manager (Kuljettussuunnittelija)
Directs the efficient and cost effective operation of commercial or industrial distribution centres or warehouse facilities. Manages inbound activities related to the receipt and storage of goods, and the control of stock. Oversees outbound activities related to order filling, stock replenishment and distribution. Responsible for budgeting, customer service, facility and equipment operations. Administers overall stock management, productivity, accuracy and stock security to ensure customer requirements are met.

The Key Duties are the following:

1. Co-ordinates inbound and outbound activities
2. Implements safety, security, housekeeping and hygiene programmes
3. Responsible for accurate stock and warehouse productivity levels
4. Hires, supervises, schedules and trains warehouse staff
5. May manage documentation and flow of imported goods through a bonded warehouse.

Main requirements:

• Knowledge of materials handling, warehouse operations and transport systems required; knowledge of industry (if necessary), knowledge of safety and health legislation and requirements, skills in communication, leadership, and management; computer proficiency and knowledge of warehouse automated systems.
• A diploma of 3rd level is required, such as experience in a similar job. Personal requirements re mainly ability to lead, logical behaviours, adaptability to situations, and ability to face unexpected events.
• The job is mostly performed in Helsinki and in the main ports cities in Finland.
• The career paths: Work as a distribution supervisor, production supervisor or logistics analyst can lead to this area. Success may lead to opportunities in Distribution, Operations or Logistics management.

Logistics engineer (Kuljetusteknikko)
Assistant to the Logistics Manager. Supervises particular areas in the overall Logistics function.

Areas to be managed: Transport i.e. fleet utilisation and third party management on a day to day basis. Incoming product movement and storage especially third party managed stock. Finished product management in transit, storage and distribution.

The main responsibilities for this job are:

1. Cover the area of logistics incoming and outgoing
2. Directing personnel in day to day logistics operations
3. Own Transport fleet and third party fleet management
4. Ongoing daily / weekly cost and performance analysis (KPI)
5. Order fulfilment from receipt of order to shipment of order
6. Ensuring Customer orders are grouped by delivery area
7. Ensuring transport vehicles are loaded with the highest possible fill rate
8. Ensuring incoming loads and outgoing loads planned to suit labour and capacity availability.

Requirements for this job are:

• Logical thinking, ability to assess resources, problem solving, anticipating problems, ability to work on partnership, decision making, adaptation to changings. Ability to be aware of financial and budgetary+ IT dimensions.
• The Europe enlargement offers new opportunities for this kind of jobs and the assistance function is valorised by development of the European market.

3.2 Public placement service (Arbetskraftsbyråns)
The public placement service (http://www.mol.fi/vasa/vasa_etusivu.html) uses a database with basic information on jobs for employees and the unemployed. The system does not use any sort of standardisation on job titles and job functions.

3.3 Finnish Logistics Association (Suomen Logistiikkayhdistys r.y.)
The purpose of the Finnish Logistic Association is to develop procedures for purchasing of materials and services and to promote physical logistics (i.e. transport, storage, and handling) and the professional skills of employees in logistics for the benefit of the Finnish economy and society. The objectives are to improve logistics and increase the internal and external integration of logistics to develop the utilisation of computer processing and data interchange in logistics and to present Finnish logistics services.

The organisation manages the Education Centre of Logistics - ECL, which is the leading logistics education organisation in Finland. ECL offers training courses leading to internationally recognised diplomas in procurement and purchasing and also in physical logistics. This organisation does not operate with any formal job definitions in logistics. More information on this organisation can be obtained from www.logy.fi.

A number of logistics specific training programs are available in Finland, some of these lead to a logistics related job title.

4.1 EDU.fi
EDU.fi (http://www.edu.fi/) is an educational portal for non-academic education and training in Finland. It is edited by the National Board of Education. The portal offers services categorised according to the different levels, fields and themes of the Finnish education and training system.

Professions linked to logistics obtained via EDU.fi are as follows:

• Basic training in logistics (Grundexamen i Logistik). The program focuses on truck driving and how to handle pick and packing.
• Training program for warehouse services (Utbildningsprogrammet för lagerservice) - this leads to the title warehouse keeper.
• Training program for transport service (Utbildningsprogrammet för transportservice) - this leads to the title driver.

Within the descriptions of the above training programs there are no formal job definitions, only a description of what main functions the student will cover when in employment.

4.2 Central organisation of Finnish Trade Unions (Suomen ammattiliittojen keskusjärjestö-SAK)
The union is a supplier of training for its members (http://www.sak.fi/). The training programs are focused on social and political aspects. No job titles or job definitions related to logistics functions are identified.

Job definitions or titles in logistics are used differently in companies all over Finland. No standards on job titles and definitions have been identified within different lines of business.

6.1 Job databases
There are several Internet based job databases, which display job advertisements. Typically there are no formal job definitions or titles in these advertisements and search facilities, but there are however job titles and a descriptions often related to specific companies. Input to these databases comes from newspapers, public placement services, companies or other institutions.

Definitions of logistics jobs and functions in Finland are available from various parts of the labour market and the education/training system.

Although social and collective agreements play a central role in the labour market, they are not however a source of logistics job descriptions.

In the education and training system, some logistics training programs lead to specific titles. In other situations, a description of the training and related job functions is given rather than a formal title.

The public placement service uses a system to categorise the available jobs in their database. This system does not have a direct connection between a job title and a standard job description. The job titles used in their system are merely the job titles attributed by the recruiting companies.