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Association between distribution centre design and contextual characteristics

Marina Cardoso Guimarães (Department of Production and Systems Engineering, Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Florianopolis, Brazil)
Guilherme Tortorella (Department of Mechanical Engineering, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia; IAE Business School, Universidad Austral, Buenos Aires, Argentina and Department of Production and Systems Engineering, Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Florianopolis, Brazil)
Carlos Manoel Taboada (Department of Production and Systems Engineering, Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Florianopolis, Brazil)
Moacir Godinho Filho (Department of Production Engineering, Universidade Federal de Sao Carlos, Sao Carlos, Brazil)
Felipe Martinez (Faculty of Business Administration, University of Economics Prague, Prague, Czech Republic )

Journal of Facilities Management

ISSN: 1472-5967

Article publication date: 12 July 2021

Issue publication date: 21 April 2022

185

Abstract

Purpose

This paper aims to examine the relationship between the main decisions for designing distribution centers (DCs) and the contextual characteristics of the distribution networks.

Design/methodology/approach

Experts were surveyed and responses analyzed quantitatively through multivariate data techniques. This study considered four contextual characteristics that were deemed as influential for DC design: types of routes in the distribution network, quantity of DCs, distribution network levels and company size.

Findings

This paper evidenced which decisions are affected by each contextual characteristic encompassed in this study. This paper identified that the characteristic types of route in the distribution network must be carefully considered, as it had the greatest amount of associations with the decisions for designing a DC.

Originality/value

Despite its importance, most studies on design of DCs disregard the effect of the context in which DCs are inserted. This research provides arguments to support decision-making process of DCs design, increasing assertiveness of their planning. This work fulfills a literature gap by empirically examining the effect of contextual variables on the decisions related to DC design. Regarding practice, this paper addressed a fundamental issue for managers looking to design a DC, as it evidenced how contextual characteristics impact the decision-making.

Keywords

Citation

Guimarães, M.C., Tortorella, G., Taboada, C.M., Godinho Filho, M. and Martinez, F. (2022), "Association between distribution centre design and contextual characteristics", Journal of Facilities Management, Vol. 20 No. 2, pp. 172-192. https://doi.org/10.1108/JFM-12-2020-0090

Publisher

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Emerald Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2021, Emerald Publishing Limited

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