(1) Foundation and purpose
The Japan Logistics Society (Nihon Butsuryu Gakkai: JLS) was established in May 1983 with the aim of studying and promoting both academic and practical research on logistics and related matters based on an interdisciplinary approach. The society is also responsible for disseminating research results as well as addressing conceptual models and technical exchange among the researchers concerned. The President of the Association is Osamu NISHIZAWA (Waseda Univ.) and there are 513 members (including 449 regular members) as of May 11, 2007.
(2) Organization and research fields
The structural organization of the society is composed of the General Assembly, the Board Meeting, six Chapters throughout Japan and eleven committees including the editorial committee, public relations committee, planning committee, etc. In line with social, academic, educational, political, economic changes in the environment, the lineup of committees or chapters has been changed and enhanced. The research fields of the society currently cover all the fields of logistics including logistics management such as logistics strategy, logistics planning, logistics control and logistics operation, logistics organization, logistics cost management, logistics psychology, logistics law and regulation, logistics information, logistics technology, logistics human management and so on from theoretical and practical points of view.
(3) Activities
The Activities of the Society can be summarized as follows: ①Conferences, Chapter workshops and seminars ②Publications of research results ③Communication and exchange of Society activities with other related domestic and foreign organizations ④Other related activities
(4) Membership
There are three membership categories: regular member, associate member and supporting member. Regular membership has gradually been increasing in number since establishment (See Table 1). This tendency of only slight increases in number is due to the comparatively strict qualifications for regular membership; these qualifications need to be discussed and reevaluated in the near future. Table 1. Number of Regular Members by Year
| No. | Year |
No. of Regular Members |
1 |
1983 |
135 |
|
1984-93 |
(abridged) |
12 |
1994 |
267 |
13 |
1995 |
273 |
14 |
1996 |
286 |
15 |
1997 |
297 |
16 |
1998 |
305 |
17 |
1999 |
297 |
18 |
2000 |
309 |
19 |
2001 |
339 |
20 |
2002 |
360 |
21 |
2003 |
379 |
22 |
2004 |
413 |
23 |
2005 |
428 |
24 |
2006 |
443(500 in total) |