The role of logistics is indeed fundamental to the entire functioning of supply chain management (SCM) within an organisation. Here's a justification of this statement:

(i) Efficient Movement of Goods: At the heart of logistics lies transportation management, where the art of optimising and executing the movement of goods takes centre stage. By meticulously planning routes, optimising shipment loads, and managing carriers, logistics professionals ensure that goods reach their destinations seamlessly. Without efficient logistics operations, the flow of goods within the supply chain would be disrupted, leading to delays, stockouts, and increased costs.

(ii) Cost reduction is the process of decreasing a company's expenses to maximise profits. It involves identifying and removing expenditures that do not provide added value to customers while also optimising processes to improve efficiency. Cost reduction typically focuses on generating short-term savings.

(iii) Inventory Management: Logistics plays a crucial role in managing inventory levels throughout the supply chain. By optimising transportation, warehousing, and distribution processes, logistics helps ensure that the right quantity of goods is available at the right time and in the right location. Effective inventory management minimises excess inventory holding costs while avoiding stockouts, thereby enhancing overall supply. 

(iv) Risk Management: Risk management is the continuing process to identify, analyse, evaluate, and treat loss exposures and monitor risk control and financial resources to mitigate the adverse effects of loss. Loss may result from the following: financial risks such as cost of claims and liability judgments.

(v) Information Management: Information management is an emerging field that is concerned with: The infrastructure used to collect, manage, preserve, store and deliver information.

(vi) Strategic Alignment: Strategic alignment is the process of ensuring that all aspects of an organisation, including its goals, resources, and activities, are coordinated and in harmony with its overall strategy. Logistics aligns with the strategic objectives of the organisation by supporting market expansion, new product launches, and customer service initiatives. By integrating logistics with overall business strategy, organisations can leverage logistics capabilities to drive growth, enter new markets, and gain a competitive advantage in the industry.