Editorial

Citation

Crum, M.R. and Poist, R.F. (2008), "Editorial", International Journal of Physical Distribution & Logistics Management, Vol. 38 No. 1. https://doi.org/10.1108/ijpdlm.2008.00538aaa.001

Editorial

The first issue of 2008 includes two papers comprising the second part of a Special Issue, guest edited by Árni Halldórsson and Gunnar Stefánsson, from the 19th Nordic Logistics Research Network (NOFOMA) Conference, arranged by the University of Iceland in Reykjavik, Iceland, in June 2007. The conference and its peer review process were described in more detail in the Editorial of the last issue of the journal (Volume 37, Number 10).

The first NOFOMA article, “Coordinated action in reverse distribution systems” by Flygansvaer, Gadde and Haugland, is based on a longitudinal case study of two distinctly different reverse distribution systems for electrical and electronic products in Norway. The study provides keen insights on the challenges faced in managing reverse product flows, the types of coordination mechanisms utilized and their performances, and how the characteristics of the end-users impacted the performance.

The second NOFOMA article, “A framework for purchasing transport services in small and medium size enterprises” by Holter, Grant, Ritchie and Shaw, addresses a universal challenge for SMEs – how to improve relationships with logistics service providers and enhance their own competitive advantage and profitability. As part of a longitudinal project between Heriot-Watt University and an industrial partner company, the research team developed a number of tools, methods, and measures that helped improve transport cost, reliability, and service. The lessons learned and approaches developed should be of interest and value to all SMEs.

The last two articles in this issue were submitted directly to the journal and were not part of the NOFOMA Conference.

Skipper, Craighead, Byrd, and Rainer provide a conceptual/theoretical foundation that ties interrelated, yet fragmented bodies of knowledge into a more holistic view of supply chain interdependence and IT-enabled coordination in their article “Towards a theoretical foundation of supply network interdependence and technology-enabled coordination strategies”. The authors provide a different perspective by recognizing the impact of interdependence within supply chains, applying the perspective of coordination as a coping mechanism, and identifying the type of IT needed to facilitate the coordination.

Like in Holter et al., the logistics performance of SMEs is the subject of the study by Töyli, Häkkinen, Ojala, and Naula. In “Logistics and financial performance – An analysis of 424 Finnish small and medium-sized enterprises” logistically top-performing firms were identified within different industry groups, and the financial performance of these firms was then examined vis-à-vis their industry peers using financial reports-based data.

As you will see, the articles herein make a substantial contribution to our understanding of a wide range of highly relevant logistics and supply chain issues. For this, we are grateful to the authors, organizers and manuscript reviewers for the NOFOMA Conference, the Special Issue Guest Editors, Árni Halldórsson and Gunnar Stefánsson, and to the large number of reviewers who have reviewed papers for IJPDLM during 2007. On behalf of the IJPDLM Editorial Team, we would like to thank them for their efforts.

Michael R. Crum and Richard F. Poist