Czech Business & Trade 3/2018

LOGISTICS
Czech Logistics Market Is Keeping Pace with Innovative
Solutions and Benefits from It
What is the current condition of
logistics in the Czech Republic?
“Modern technologies are being
introduced much more readily
than before. Let us take, for
example, picking operations
where the aim is to get the
information in front of our eyes
while at the same time having
the hands free. Consumer
electronics developers expect this
technology to replace modern
smartphones with the help of
“smart glasses” fitted with 3D
depth sensors allowing their
carriers to physically control the
visualised virtual picture,” says
Václav Cempírek, President of the
Czech Logistics Association.
Can you give us an outline of the development
of the Czech logistics market?
Technical development, expanding markets
and growing population boost demand
for products and services. This
demand is naturally putting pressure on
production and consequently on logistics.
This pressure may lead to higher production,
the need to practise just-in-time
deliveries, ensure efficient manipulation,
automation, massive digitalisation, etc. This
necessitates the use of ever new innovative
solutions making the processes more
economical, friendlier to the environment
and more transparent and robust.
Logistics plays a great role in the areas of
output, profit and competitiveness. It is of
paramount importance for the creation of
values and is a source of sustainable competitive
advantages. That is why logistics is
considered one of the strategic priorities.
Automation in logistics often makes it possible
to redistribute the sources and raise
efficiency, which in turn may allow labour
cutbacks. This, however, may involve the
risk of losing important information and the
know-how of those made redundant. Automation
can be successfully used in areas
involving physical stress or work in an unpleasant
environment. As internal logistics
often comprise a large number of manual,
repetitive operations, involving the lifting of
heavy loads and long transport distances, it is
more advantageous to improve the working
environment with the use of better ergonomy
as one of the main advantages of
automation in internal logistics. That is why
automated loading and unloading systems
are increasingly being used, with autonomously
controlled trolleys, carousels, conveyer
belts, and industrial robots.
The operation of these automated systems
is supported by different forms of
communication, data processing, monitoring
and control systems, including
automatic identification and recognition
applications, such as bar code reading systems
and the RFID system.
The Czech logistics markets are keeping
pace with these innovative solutions and
benefit from them.
You are President of the Czech Logistics
Association. Can you tell us what tasks
your Association has set itself for 2018?
We want to become a worthy partner and
a good institution for our members. That
is why we would like to organise expert
seminars and excursions and seek support
for our participation in trade fairs featuring
logistics. Later this year, we´ll organise
seminars on “Logistics in Viniculture” and
“Logistics in Vegetable Growing”. Both seminars
will take place in South Moravia. We
are preparing a list of firms which we´ll be
visiting and which will be put on our website,
together with the programme: (http://
www.czech-logistics.eu). In September, we
are organising an expert excursion to the
Railway Testing Centre at Cerhenice, where
test drives of conventional and unconventional
rail vehicles are undertaken.
You are also Vice-Rector for Education
at the College of Logistics. What can the
graduates of your College offer would-be
employers?
Our graduates have comprehensive
knowledge of transport logistics, service
logistics, information management
and tourism, and are much demanded
in the labour market across different
sectors. Our Bachelor´s and Master´s degree
courses prepare experts in specific
multisectoral logistics and ensure the
College’s full-fledged status among other
technical higher learning institutions.
The courses and subjects prepare students
to meet the requirements in the
labour market as managers. The students
are prepared to organise the targeted
movement of people, information, materials,
and intermediate and final products
to the place of consumption.
Employers appreciate the fact that graduates
are prepared for a systemic approach
to solving problems and creative thinking
oriented towards technical originality and
practical usability of the required solutions.
Photo: Cushman & Wakefield archives, Václav Cempírek archives
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