Order processing is the final key activity. Its costs usually are minor compared to transportation
or inventory maintenance costs. Nevertheless, order processing is an important element in the total
time that it takes for a customer to receive goods or services. It is the activity triggering product
movement and service delivery.
Although support activities may be as critical as the key activities in any particular circumstance,
they are considered here as contributing to the logistics mission. In addition, one or more of the support
activities may not be a part of the logistics activity mix for every firm. For example, products such as
finished automobiles or commodities such as coal, iron ore, or gravel not needing the weather and
security protection of warehousing will not require the warehousing activity, even though inventories
are maintained. However, warehousing and materials handling are typically conducted wherever
products are temporarily halted in their movement to the marketplace