LOGISTICS MANAGEMENT



       Doç. Dr. Bülent SEZEN
What is Logistics?
 Logistics is the . . . “process of planning,
 implementing, and controlling the
 efficient, effective flow and storage of
 goods, services, and related information
 from point of origin to point of
 consumption for the purpose of
 conforming to customer requirements.“

               Council of Logistics Management
Is it different from SCM?
 Not really!

 “Supply Chain Management deals with the
 management of materials, information, and
 financial flows in a network consisting of
 suppliers, manufacturers, distributors, and
 customers.” (Stanford Supply Chain Forum)

 So, Logistics and Supply Chain are
 equivalent terms.
Logistics Functions

Purchasing /         Facility Location /
  Procurement          Network Design

Inventory Control    Transportation

Warehousing          Customer Service

Materials Handling   Order Processing
A List of Approaches in Log. Man.

   Just in Time Inventory        Build to Order
   Vendor Managed Inventory      SC Visibility Software
   Quick Response                Internet / EDI
   Collaborative Planning,       Collaborative
    Forecasting, and               Transportation
    Replenishment                  Management
   Outsourcing / 3PLs            Auctions / Exchanges
   Cross-docking / Flow          Merge - In - Transit
    Through Centers               Partnerships / Alliances
Logistics firms in Turkey
A Sample Logistics Firm: EKOL
Value Added Services

 Value added services, such as
 quality control, labeling, sorting,
 repacking, etc. can be included in the
 logistics processes.
Video: EKOL Lojistik
Video: Borusan Logistics (VLC Player)
Bonded Warehouse
(In Turkish: “Antrepo”)
 Bonded warehouse is a warehouse in which
 goods are stored without customs duties
 being paid until they are removed from the
 warehouse.

 Such warehouses are used for the storage
 of import merchandise, subject to duty, until
 the duties are paid or the goods reshipped
 without entry.
Bonded Warehouse…
 In accordance with the limitations and
 authorities defined by laws of customs,
 bonded warehouse stores merchandise,
 not subject to free circulation, under
 internationally acclaimed standards prior
 to nationalization.

 Operations in the warehouse may include
 assembly, manipulation or storage but
 usually not manufacturing.
Cross Docking
 a logistics activity that attempts to reduce
 costs and total lead time.

 breaks down received items on the
 loading dock and immediately matches
 them with outgoing shipment
 requirements, instead of stocking the
 items in warehouse locations and
 returning to pick for orders at a later time.
Cross Docking…

 eliminates the need to place
 inventory in storage.

 This can mean moving pallets across
 the docking areas (hence the name)
 for loading onto delivery vehicles.
Cross Docking…
 Crossdocking essentially eliminates the
 inventory-holding function of a warehouse
 while still allowing it to serve its
 consolidation and shipping functions.

 The idea is to transfer incoming
 shipments directly to outgoing trailers
 without storing them in between.
Cross Docking…
 In a traditional warehouse, goods are
 received from vendors and stored in
 devices like pallet racks or shelving.

 When a customer (e.g., the consumer or
 perhaps a retail outlet) requests an item,
 workers pick it from the shelves and send
 it to the destination.
Cross Docking…
 In a crossdock, goods arriving from the
 vendor already have a customer assigned,
 so workers need only move the shipment
 from the inbound trailer to an outbound
 trailer bound for the appropriate
 destination.

 The already part should make you think of
 information system requirements--a chief
 obstacle to implementing crossdocking
 successfully.
Cross Docking…(classification)
 One way to classify crossdocking operations is
 according to when the customer is assigned to
 an individual pallet or product.

 In pre-distribution crossdocking, the customer is
 assigned before the shipment leaves the vendor,
 so it arrives to the crossdock bagged and tagged
 for transfer.

 In post-distribution crossdocking, the crossdock
 itself allocates material to its stores.
Cross Docking…(classification)
 Pre-distribution is definitely more difficult to
 implement because the vendors of the crossdock
 must know which customers of the crossdock
 need what before they send the shipment.

 This involves quite a bit of information transfer,
 system integration, and coordination.

 For a distributor with hundreds of vendors, the
 problem is big, big, big!
Logistics Experience will be
different from one sector to another
Textiles
   – speed and variety due to seasonality concerns
Retailing (FMCG)
   – prevents stores from having empty shelves or shelves with
     overstocks
   – Frozen storage and transportation
Health
   – hygienic, have limited shelf life, require special storage
     conditions and entertain high inventory risks
Automotive
   – just in time (JIT), delivering parts from thousands of
     kilometers, special packaging
Fuel and Petroleum Transportation
   – very special tanker security systems
Fuel and Petroleum
Transportation
 Fuel tankers have bodies, including the
 chassis, made of aluminum alloy and are
 the lightest tankers in weight and highest
 in volume (20.000 to 38.000 liters).

 Thetanks have a bottom loading and
 unloading system and all the necessary
 security equipments for overloading.
Fuel and Petroleum
Transportation…
   The tanks have capacities between 20.000 and
    38.000 liters, 4 to 7 compartments and 3.200 to
    7.000 liters of compartment capacities.

   Along with these tankers there are three-level
    security systems, bottom loading equipments,
    anti-rolling system, a security system locking the
    brakes when the API drum is opened and the
    valves when it is closed, emergency buttons at
    three sides and an EBS brake system.
Fuel and Petroleum
Transportation…
There are also:

  Emergency power switch,

  Emergency valve locking switch,

  6 rear-view mirrors
Fuel and Petroleum
Transportation…
 The drivers clothes have long sleeves and long
 trousers.

 The fabric is 100% cotton to avoid static
 electricity.

 In addition, all drivers wear anti-static shoes.

 The drivers’ equipments also include gloves
 resistant to the material they carry, a helmet
 compliant to EN norms and glasses against the
 material vapor.
Video: Shell Oil Tanker Distribution
Vehicle Logistics
Vehicle logistics services include:

   – Vehicle Transportation

   – Marine Transportation (RO-RO)

   – Ship Loading and Unloading

   – Storage and Parking Lot Services

   – Dealer Distributions

   – Information Systems and Reporting
Vehicle Logistics …
Special transportation
 services are:

  Inter-dealer transportation,

  Fair exhibitions,

  Sports competitions,

  Collection vehicles
Vehicle Logistics …
During the placement of
  vehicles on to the
  ship;

   Minimum parking
     distances,

   Installation of the safety
     equipment


 should be realized.
Vehicle Logistics …
Storage and Parking Lot
   Services:

  - Transfer to addressed area,

  - Transfer to the dispatch area,

  - Transfer of the out of order
  vehicles to the service area,

  - Transfer from the service
  area to the addressed area
Video: Interview with People at
Omsan Vehicle Logistics Dept.
Video: Şahsuvaroğlu Tractor
Shipment
Case Studies with EKOL:
Intra Medikal
 Intra Medikal used to perform inventory,
 warehouse and distribution management
 internally before Ekol partnership.

 After a comprehensive project, logistics
 processes are outsourced to Ekol.

 The first value obtained by this project was
 eliminating the short distance transportation
 costs of bonded goods from customs area to
 warehouse.
Case Studies with EKOL:
Intra Medikal…
 The inventory records database enables a
 systematical display of shelf lives and other
 product specific information.

 Before export and internal distribution, products
 are barcode labeled according to the accepting
 criteria of customers and hospitals.

 Customers in Istanbul receive daily deliveries,
 while customers out of Istanbul receive cargo
 shipments.
Case Studies with EKOL:
Çarşı (Boyner)
 Carsı, one of Turkey's leading retailer chain
 stores, has become a pioneer in the field of
 logistics outsourcing.

 On its quest for a logistics partner, Carsı looked
 out for many candidates and finally preferred
 Ekol.

 By consolidating Carsı store supply strategies
 according to the product groups as "cross-dock",
 "flow thru" and "replenishment" strategies, EKOL
 achieved inventory minimization and delivery
 efficiency.
Case Studies with EKOL:
Çarşı (Boyner)…
 Interfaces have been built between EKOL
 and Carsı softwares which have different
 infrastructures running independently and
 a data processing structure has been
 established enabling both parties to
 monitor all processes, create work orders
 and report the results simultaneously.

 Thanks to this system, any data Carsı keys
 in to the software can be utilized for
 generating work orders to EKOL.
Case Studies with EKOL:
Braun
 Operating within Gillette group, Braun is the
 world's largest electric shaving machines, small
 kitchen appliances and blood pressure and fever
 measurement devices provider.

 Braun was working with a company for supplying
 spare parts, after sales support and product
 change under insurance coverage.

 Spare parts purchased by service supplier from
 Braun's center in Germany were later transported
 by freight forwarder companies.
Case Studies with EKOL:
Braun…
 After being cleared of customs by customs
 broker firms they were sent to Braun technical
 services via cargo companies.

 There was hardly any integration achieved on
 these steps, and no advantage of automation
 technologies for computer and product flow.

 Transportation, customs handling, stock and
 order management is taken over by Ekol
 providing roofconsolidation.
Case Studies with EKOL:
Braun…
 Taking 3rd Party Logistic service provider
 concept one step further, EKOL imports Braun
 products and takes the burden of all inventory
 and financial costs and risks.

 In this context, EKOL proved that Third Party
 Logistic service suppliers can be relied on, in
 maintaining minimum inventory levels, financing
 inventory keeping costs, assuming stock risks,
 and making direct sales decisions.
What is Ro-Ro?
Roll-on/roll-off (RORO) ships are
 designed to carry wheeled cargo
 such as automobiles, trailers or
 railway carriages.

This is in contrast to lo-lo (lift on-lift
 off) vessels which use a crane to
 load and unload cargo.
What is Ro-Ro?
RORO vessels have built-in ramps which
 allow the cargo to be efficiently "rolled on"
 and "rolled off" the vessel when in port.

While smaller ferries that operate across
 rivers and other short distances still often
 have built-in ramps, the term RORO is
 generally reserved for larger ocean-going
 vessels.
What is Intermodal (Combined)
Transport?
 It is a transport method that more than
 one transport mode is used for the same
 transport container.

 The process can also be defined as a
 transportation method where transport
 mode changes for the same transport
 container or land vehicle, but the goods
 themselves are not handled during these
 changes.
What is Intermodal (Combined)
Transport?

 In other words, it is a transport method
 that integrates advantages of different
 transport modes.

 In intermodal transport, the aim is to
 achieve an effective combination of cost,
 delivery time and service quality.
Features of Intermodal Transport
Using standard transport units (like standard
  containers, trailers or pallet).

The suitability of the transport units for loading,
  carriage and unloading.

The compatibility of the technological, legal and
  organizational parts of the process chain within
  the transport system.

The goods inside the transportation container are
  not handled
Advantages of Land-Railway
Intermodal Transport
Guarentee of long-term fixed price

Secure shipping

Minimum interference by weather conditions and
  traffic constraints

Easier border crossing

Cost and equipment supply advantage in high
  volume and planned shippings
Omsan Lojistik’s Intermodal
Transport
Omsan Lojistik’s Intermodal
Transport (cont’d)
What is Milk Run Distribution?
 It is the combination of shipments
 from multiple vendors in close
 geographic proximity into one
 shipment received by the customer,
   normally done for a defined route on a
    recurring basis.
What is Milk Run Distribution?...
Milk Run Distribution…
What is a Freight Forwarder?
 An independent business that handles
 export/import shipments for a fee.

 A freight forwarder is among the best sources of
 information and assistance on export regulations
 and documentation, shipping methods, and
 foreign import regulations.

 Forwarder assembles, collects and consolidates
 less-than-truckload (LTL) freight .
What is a Freight Forwarder?...
 Forwarder consolidates freight for many
 shippers, arranges for shipment and delivery via
 LTL carriers and gets lower (freight) rates based
 on volume than the individual shippers could
 obtain.

 At the request of the shipper, the forwarder
 makes the actual arrangements and provides the
 necessary services for expediting the shipment
 to its overseas destination.

 It also clears the freight through customs.
What is a Freight Forwarder?...
 The freight forwarder does not actually carry the
 cargo or conduct business for the ship.

 It is an intermediary between carrier and owner of
 goods being transported.

 The forwarding agent assists the exporter in
 finding the most economic and efficient methods
 of transporting and storing cargo.
E-marketplace, Online Auctions and
Exchanges
 An E-marketplace is a virtual online
 market where organizations register as
 buyers or sellers to conduct B2B e-
 commerce over Internet.

 They can be operated by an independent
 party, or be run by some form of industry
 consortium that has been set-up to serve
 a particular sector.
An Online Marketplace:
Equipnet.com
Online Auctions
 Online auctions are computerized
 versions of traditional auctions
 where prices are set by buyers
 bidding against each other.

 Online auctions use Internet
 technology, so, vast numbers of
 businesses can bid.
Online Exchanges
 Online Exchanges are websites
 where buyers and sellers trade
 goods and services online.

 There are successful exchanges in
 markets as diverse as energy,
 textiles and logistics.
Online Exchanges…
Types of exchanges:

  – Request for quotation
     • An invitation to suppliers to provide a quote for a
       specific product or service


  – Request for bid
     • An invitation to buyers to bid for a specific product
       or service that you are able to provide

Logistics management

  • 1.
    LOGISTICS MANAGEMENT Doç. Dr. Bülent SEZEN
  • 2.
    What is Logistics? Logistics is the . . . “process of planning, implementing, and controlling the efficient, effective flow and storage of goods, services, and related information from point of origin to point of consumption for the purpose of conforming to customer requirements.“ Council of Logistics Management
  • 3.
    Is it differentfrom SCM? Not really! “Supply Chain Management deals with the management of materials, information, and financial flows in a network consisting of suppliers, manufacturers, distributors, and customers.” (Stanford Supply Chain Forum) So, Logistics and Supply Chain are equivalent terms.
  • 4.
    Logistics Functions Purchasing / Facility Location / Procurement Network Design Inventory Control Transportation Warehousing Customer Service Materials Handling Order Processing
  • 5.
    A List ofApproaches in Log. Man.  Just in Time Inventory  Build to Order  Vendor Managed Inventory  SC Visibility Software  Quick Response  Internet / EDI  Collaborative Planning,  Collaborative Forecasting, and Transportation Replenishment Management  Outsourcing / 3PLs  Auctions / Exchanges  Cross-docking / Flow  Merge - In - Transit Through Centers  Partnerships / Alliances
  • 6.
  • 7.
  • 8.
    Value Added Services Value added services, such as quality control, labeling, sorting, repacking, etc. can be included in the logistics processes.
  • 9.
  • 10.
  • 11.
    Bonded Warehouse (In Turkish:“Antrepo”) Bonded warehouse is a warehouse in which goods are stored without customs duties being paid until they are removed from the warehouse. Such warehouses are used for the storage of import merchandise, subject to duty, until the duties are paid or the goods reshipped without entry.
  • 12.
    Bonded Warehouse… Inaccordance with the limitations and authorities defined by laws of customs, bonded warehouse stores merchandise, not subject to free circulation, under internationally acclaimed standards prior to nationalization. Operations in the warehouse may include assembly, manipulation or storage but usually not manufacturing.
  • 13.
    Cross Docking alogistics activity that attempts to reduce costs and total lead time. breaks down received items on the loading dock and immediately matches them with outgoing shipment requirements, instead of stocking the items in warehouse locations and returning to pick for orders at a later time.
  • 14.
    Cross Docking… eliminatesthe need to place inventory in storage. This can mean moving pallets across the docking areas (hence the name) for loading onto delivery vehicles.
  • 15.
    Cross Docking… Crossdockingessentially eliminates the inventory-holding function of a warehouse while still allowing it to serve its consolidation and shipping functions. The idea is to transfer incoming shipments directly to outgoing trailers without storing them in between.
  • 16.
    Cross Docking… Ina traditional warehouse, goods are received from vendors and stored in devices like pallet racks or shelving. When a customer (e.g., the consumer or perhaps a retail outlet) requests an item, workers pick it from the shelves and send it to the destination.
  • 17.
    Cross Docking… Ina crossdock, goods arriving from the vendor already have a customer assigned, so workers need only move the shipment from the inbound trailer to an outbound trailer bound for the appropriate destination. The already part should make you think of information system requirements--a chief obstacle to implementing crossdocking successfully.
  • 18.
    Cross Docking…(classification) Oneway to classify crossdocking operations is according to when the customer is assigned to an individual pallet or product. In pre-distribution crossdocking, the customer is assigned before the shipment leaves the vendor, so it arrives to the crossdock bagged and tagged for transfer. In post-distribution crossdocking, the crossdock itself allocates material to its stores.
  • 19.
    Cross Docking…(classification) Pre-distributionis definitely more difficult to implement because the vendors of the crossdock must know which customers of the crossdock need what before they send the shipment. This involves quite a bit of information transfer, system integration, and coordination. For a distributor with hundreds of vendors, the problem is big, big, big!
  • 20.
    Logistics Experience willbe different from one sector to another Textiles – speed and variety due to seasonality concerns Retailing (FMCG) – prevents stores from having empty shelves or shelves with overstocks – Frozen storage and transportation Health – hygienic, have limited shelf life, require special storage conditions and entertain high inventory risks Automotive – just in time (JIT), delivering parts from thousands of kilometers, special packaging Fuel and Petroleum Transportation – very special tanker security systems
  • 21.
    Fuel and Petroleum Transportation Fuel tankers have bodies, including the chassis, made of aluminum alloy and are the lightest tankers in weight and highest in volume (20.000 to 38.000 liters).  Thetanks have a bottom loading and unloading system and all the necessary security equipments for overloading.
  • 22.
    Fuel and Petroleum Transportation…  The tanks have capacities between 20.000 and 38.000 liters, 4 to 7 compartments and 3.200 to 7.000 liters of compartment capacities.  Along with these tankers there are three-level security systems, bottom loading equipments, anti-rolling system, a security system locking the brakes when the API drum is opened and the valves when it is closed, emergency buttons at three sides and an EBS brake system.
  • 23.
    Fuel and Petroleum Transportation… Thereare also: Emergency power switch, Emergency valve locking switch, 6 rear-view mirrors
  • 24.
    Fuel and Petroleum Transportation… The drivers clothes have long sleeves and long trousers. The fabric is 100% cotton to avoid static electricity. In addition, all drivers wear anti-static shoes. The drivers’ equipments also include gloves resistant to the material they carry, a helmet compliant to EN norms and glasses against the material vapor.
  • 25.
    Video: Shell OilTanker Distribution
  • 26.
    Vehicle Logistics Vehicle logisticsservices include: – Vehicle Transportation – Marine Transportation (RO-RO) – Ship Loading and Unloading – Storage and Parking Lot Services – Dealer Distributions – Information Systems and Reporting
  • 27.
    Vehicle Logistics … Specialtransportation services are: Inter-dealer transportation, Fair exhibitions, Sports competitions, Collection vehicles
  • 28.
    Vehicle Logistics … Duringthe placement of vehicles on to the ship; Minimum parking distances, Installation of the safety equipment should be realized.
  • 29.
    Vehicle Logistics … Storageand Parking Lot Services: - Transfer to addressed area, - Transfer to the dispatch area, - Transfer of the out of order vehicles to the service area, - Transfer from the service area to the addressed area
  • 30.
    Video: Interview withPeople at Omsan Vehicle Logistics Dept.
  • 31.
  • 32.
    Case Studies withEKOL: Intra Medikal Intra Medikal used to perform inventory, warehouse and distribution management internally before Ekol partnership. After a comprehensive project, logistics processes are outsourced to Ekol. The first value obtained by this project was eliminating the short distance transportation costs of bonded goods from customs area to warehouse.
  • 33.
    Case Studies withEKOL: Intra Medikal… The inventory records database enables a systematical display of shelf lives and other product specific information. Before export and internal distribution, products are barcode labeled according to the accepting criteria of customers and hospitals. Customers in Istanbul receive daily deliveries, while customers out of Istanbul receive cargo shipments.
  • 34.
    Case Studies withEKOL: Çarşı (Boyner) Carsı, one of Turkey's leading retailer chain stores, has become a pioneer in the field of logistics outsourcing. On its quest for a logistics partner, Carsı looked out for many candidates and finally preferred Ekol. By consolidating Carsı store supply strategies according to the product groups as "cross-dock", "flow thru" and "replenishment" strategies, EKOL achieved inventory minimization and delivery efficiency.
  • 35.
    Case Studies withEKOL: Çarşı (Boyner)… Interfaces have been built between EKOL and Carsı softwares which have different infrastructures running independently and a data processing structure has been established enabling both parties to monitor all processes, create work orders and report the results simultaneously. Thanks to this system, any data Carsı keys in to the software can be utilized for generating work orders to EKOL.
  • 36.
    Case Studies withEKOL: Braun Operating within Gillette group, Braun is the world's largest electric shaving machines, small kitchen appliances and blood pressure and fever measurement devices provider. Braun was working with a company for supplying spare parts, after sales support and product change under insurance coverage. Spare parts purchased by service supplier from Braun's center in Germany were later transported by freight forwarder companies.
  • 37.
    Case Studies withEKOL: Braun… After being cleared of customs by customs broker firms they were sent to Braun technical services via cargo companies. There was hardly any integration achieved on these steps, and no advantage of automation technologies for computer and product flow. Transportation, customs handling, stock and order management is taken over by Ekol providing roofconsolidation.
  • 38.
    Case Studies withEKOL: Braun… Taking 3rd Party Logistic service provider concept one step further, EKOL imports Braun products and takes the burden of all inventory and financial costs and risks. In this context, EKOL proved that Third Party Logistic service suppliers can be relied on, in maintaining minimum inventory levels, financing inventory keeping costs, assuming stock risks, and making direct sales decisions.
  • 39.
    What is Ro-Ro? Roll-on/roll-off(RORO) ships are designed to carry wheeled cargo such as automobiles, trailers or railway carriages. This is in contrast to lo-lo (lift on-lift off) vessels which use a crane to load and unload cargo.
  • 40.
    What is Ro-Ro? ROROvessels have built-in ramps which allow the cargo to be efficiently "rolled on" and "rolled off" the vessel when in port. While smaller ferries that operate across rivers and other short distances still often have built-in ramps, the term RORO is generally reserved for larger ocean-going vessels.
  • 41.
    What is Intermodal(Combined) Transport? It is a transport method that more than one transport mode is used for the same transport container. The process can also be defined as a transportation method where transport mode changes for the same transport container or land vehicle, but the goods themselves are not handled during these changes.
  • 42.
    What is Intermodal(Combined) Transport? In other words, it is a transport method that integrates advantages of different transport modes. In intermodal transport, the aim is to achieve an effective combination of cost, delivery time and service quality.
  • 43.
    Features of IntermodalTransport Using standard transport units (like standard containers, trailers or pallet). The suitability of the transport units for loading, carriage and unloading. The compatibility of the technological, legal and organizational parts of the process chain within the transport system. The goods inside the transportation container are not handled
  • 44.
    Advantages of Land-Railway IntermodalTransport Guarentee of long-term fixed price Secure shipping Minimum interference by weather conditions and traffic constraints Easier border crossing Cost and equipment supply advantage in high volume and planned shippings
  • 45.
  • 46.
  • 47.
    What is MilkRun Distribution? It is the combination of shipments from multiple vendors in close geographic proximity into one shipment received by the customer, normally done for a defined route on a recurring basis.
  • 48.
    What is MilkRun Distribution?...
  • 49.
  • 51.
    What is aFreight Forwarder? An independent business that handles export/import shipments for a fee. A freight forwarder is among the best sources of information and assistance on export regulations and documentation, shipping methods, and foreign import regulations. Forwarder assembles, collects and consolidates less-than-truckload (LTL) freight .
  • 52.
    What is aFreight Forwarder?... Forwarder consolidates freight for many shippers, arranges for shipment and delivery via LTL carriers and gets lower (freight) rates based on volume than the individual shippers could obtain. At the request of the shipper, the forwarder makes the actual arrangements and provides the necessary services for expediting the shipment to its overseas destination. It also clears the freight through customs.
  • 53.
    What is aFreight Forwarder?... The freight forwarder does not actually carry the cargo or conduct business for the ship. It is an intermediary between carrier and owner of goods being transported. The forwarding agent assists the exporter in finding the most economic and efficient methods of transporting and storing cargo.
  • 54.
    E-marketplace, Online Auctionsand Exchanges An E-marketplace is a virtual online market where organizations register as buyers or sellers to conduct B2B e- commerce over Internet. They can be operated by an independent party, or be run by some form of industry consortium that has been set-up to serve a particular sector.
  • 55.
  • 56.
    Online Auctions Onlineauctions are computerized versions of traditional auctions where prices are set by buyers bidding against each other. Online auctions use Internet technology, so, vast numbers of businesses can bid.
  • 57.
    Online Exchanges OnlineExchanges are websites where buyers and sellers trade goods and services online. There are successful exchanges in markets as diverse as energy, textiles and logistics.
  • 58.
    Online Exchanges… Types ofexchanges: – Request for quotation • An invitation to suppliers to provide a quote for a specific product or service – Request for bid • An invitation to buyers to bid for a specific product or service that you are able to provide