Logistics is often described as the art of getting the right product to the right place at the right time and in the right condition. The definition sounds tidy. The reality is anything but. Behind every successful delivery sits a dense latticework of schedules, suppliers, warehouses, vehicles, vessels, customs procedures, inventory records, forecasts, personnel, and contingency plans. One weak link can disturb the entire chain. A delayed shipment can become a production stoppage. A forecasting error can create mountains of excess inventory. A poorly documented consignment can languish in customs. A minor communication failure can propagate through an operation like a crack traveling across glass. Logisticians therefore need more than…