Improvements in pre-revolution French military logistics: lessons for modern day supply chains

Abstract

ABSTRACTWe discuss improvements in pre-Revolution French military logistics and their implications for modern day supply chains. We use a historical review approach tracing three themes: changes in French military logistics in the period, activities in modern-day military logistics stemming from such changes, and implications for modern day supply chains. We review prominent French military theorists of that time but focus on Philippe-Henri, comte de Grimoard as the progenitor of various improvements. Insights from Grimoard include decentralization and smaller activity units that are agile, flexible and well-coordinated supply sourcing and stock positioning. Such strategies continue in modern-day military settings and implications for modern day supply chains include being agile within global activities including organizing systems based on local resources and products instead of transporting goods over long distances to meet demand requirements of timeliness and lower cost. These contributions suggest modern day supply chains might be reconfigured towards more agile strategies that consider different positioning, stock management and demand planning solutions.