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1 – 10 of over 2000The reason for this research originates from the time‐ and functional dependencies between firms’ activities and resources in supply chains. These dependencies cause…
Abstract
The reason for this research originates from the time‐ and functional dependencies between firms’ activities and resources in supply chains. These dependencies cause vulnerability. The principal objective of this research is to conceptualize the construct of vulnerability in firms’ inbound and outbound logistics flows. The vulnerability construct of this research consists of two components: disturbance and the negative consequence of disturbance. This research is based upon a two‐phase process utilizing sequential triangulation. It is proposed that the vulnerability in the inbound logistics flows from sub‐contractors, and the vulnerability in the outbound logistics flows to customers, may be measured and evaluated by four principal dimensions, namely: service level, deviation, consequence and trend. In addition, a model of inbound and outbound vulnerability scenarios in supply chains is introduced for teaching and training purposes, as well as to position and compare the outcome of replication studies of vulnerability in firms’ inbound and outbound logistics flows.
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Daniel Prajogo, Adegoke Oke and Jan Olhager
The purpose of this paper is to examine the value chain processes that represent the “black box” between supply logistics integration and competitive operational performance in…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to examine the value chain processes that represent the “black box” between supply logistics integration and competitive operational performance in firms. To realize this objective, the authors develop a research model which comprises a series of linkages from supply logistics integration to operational outcomes using Porter’s concept of value chain and the relational view of resource-based theory as theoretical lenses.
Design/methodology/approach
The data set for testing the hypothesized relationships in this study was drawn from 232 Australian manufacturing firms.
Findings
The findings show that there is no significant direct relationship between supply logistics integration and competitive operational performance; rather, the relationship is fully mediated by inbound supply performance and internal lean production processes. Further, lean production processes have a positive effect on inbound supply performance.
Research limitations/implications
The study shows the importance of managing both internal (production processes) and external processes (logistics and supply chain) of firms’ operations in an integrated manner in which supply logistics integration act through key internal processes to impact competitive performance which the end customers actually experience.
Originality/value
This is the first study which uncovers what happens “in between” the incoming materials and the end outputs delivered by firms into the market. This “in between black box” is important in improving our understanding of how inbound supply activities are translated into outbound competitive performance outcomes.
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Myoung-Kang Heo, Yong Jin Kim and Min-Sung Kim
The studies focusing on inbound logistics in the automobile industry have been limited because of the relatively small portion of logistics cost. But now it is recognized as one…
Abstract
The studies focusing on inbound logistics in the automobile industry have been limited because of the relatively small portion of logistics cost. But now it is recognized as one of the critical factors for efficient execution of supply chain management (SCM). The survey of suppliers in the automobile industry conducted in this study indicated significant relationships among logistics performance, logistics outsourcing, and performance evaluation level. This research is three-fold. First, current status of part supplier's logistics was analyzed by interviews with inbound logistics providers and suppliers. Second, management type of logistics was analyzed. There were three kinds of logistics -two kinds of logistics outsourcing and direct control by the supplier. Each type of logistics management showed differences about performance. Third, logistics performance evaluation and its relation with the actual logistics performance were presented. Comparable performance evaluation factors were selected, and it is shown that they had a correlation with actual performance.
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Consolidation, the grouping of several small shipments into one at a designated location, can reduce total logistics cost. Total logistics cost includes consolidation…
Abstract
Consolidation, the grouping of several small shipments into one at a designated location, can reduce total logistics cost. Total logistics cost includes consolidation, transportation and inventory costs. Identifying where cost‐saving opportunities exist is often confused by the interrelated nature of these various costs.
Dianne J. Hall, Joseph R. Huscroft, Benjamin T. Hazen and Joe B. Hanna
Although the importance of establishing sound metrics is often noted in the logistics literature, few research efforts have examined appropriate metrics for reverse logistics (RL…
Abstract
Purpose
Although the importance of establishing sound metrics is often noted in the logistics literature, few research efforts have examined appropriate metrics for reverse logistics (RL) processes. Through the lens of goal-setting theory, the paper identifies and align salient RL goals and metrics, and uncover some of the most common challenges to RL professionals. The paper aims to discuss these issues.
Design/methodology/approach
The paper used open-ended questions to gather qualitative data from 84 RL professionals from the defense industry. A content analysis method was employed to extract and categorize the goals, challenges, and metrics for RL processes.
Findings
The paper identifies specific categories of goals, challenges and metrics. Several themes emerged from the study, to include customer service, disposition, costs, and process efficiencies. Using these themes, the paper matched goals to metrics and found a lack of uniformity and noted that metrics and goals often were not matched or were misaligned.
Research limitations/implications
This research is limited by the defense industry sample and the research method. Caution should be used when generalizing the results, and further research is required to empirically test the validity of the findings. Nonetheless, in the context of goal-setting theory, the study contributes to the performance metrics literature by aligning RL metrics with goals and addressing challenges faced by RL practitioners. By investigating the topic from multiple perspectives, the study provides more detailed findings and demonstrates the differences between the inbound and outbound RL processes.
Practical implications
This study provides insight into the metrics used to monitor and control RL processes. The findings may help firms to identify shortcomings and choose metrics that they can employ to align RL processes with firm goals.
Originality/value
The study contributes to the performance metrics literature by aligning RL metrics with goals and addressing challenges faced by RL practitioners. By investigating the topic from both an inbound and outbound perspective, the study provides more detailed findings and demonstrates the differences between the inbound and outbound RL processes.
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Vahid Ghomi, David Gligor, Sina Shokoohyar, Reza Alikhani and Farnaz Ghazi Nezami
Collaborative Logistics (CL) and merging operations are crucial strategies for reducing costs and improving service in transportation companies. This study proposes a model for…
Abstract
Purpose
Collaborative Logistics (CL) and merging operations are crucial strategies for reducing costs and improving service in transportation companies. This study proposes a model for optimizing efficiency in supply chain networks through inbound and outbound Collaborative Logistics implementation among the carriers in centralized, coordinated networks with cross-docking.
Design/methodology/approach
A mixed-integer non-linear programming model is developed to determine the optimal truck-goods assignment while gaining economies of scale through mixing multiple less-than-truckload (LTL) products with different weight-to-volume ratios. Unlike the previous studies that have considered Collaborative Logistics from the cost and profit-sharing perspective, the proposed model seeks to determine an appropriate form of Collaborative Logistics in the VRP.
Findings
This article shows that in a three-echelon supply chain consisting of a set of suppliers, a set of customers and a cross-docking terminal, partial collaboration among the inbound carriers and outbound carriers outperforms no/complete collaboration. This approach enhances the supply chain efficiency by minimizing the total transportation costs, the total transportation miles and the total number of trucks and maximizing fleet utilization. While addressing the four points, the role of collaborative logistics among the carriers was discussed. In a three-echelon SC consisting of a set of suppliers, a set of customers and a cross-docking terminal, partial collaboration among the inbound carriers and outbound carriers outperforms no/complete collaboration. Using a combination of experimental analysis and optimization process, it was recommended that managers be cautious that too much (full or complete) or no collaboration can result in SC performance deterioration.
Originality/value
The suggested approach enhances the supply chain efficiency by minimizing the total transportation costs, the total transportation miles and the total number of trucks and maximizing fleet utilization. While addressing the four points, the role of Collaborative Logistics among the carriers was discussed.
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N Jena and Nitin Seth
The purpose of this paper is to understand the role of economic and social factors influencing the logistics cost for the Indian steel sector and its relationship with the service…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to understand the role of economic and social factors influencing the logistics cost for the Indian steel sector and its relationship with the service quality.
Design/methodology/approach
A structured questionnaire survey is used for the data collection in this research. The questionnaire included different elements of logistics cost on inbound and outbound logistics, and service quality.
Findings
This research identified various significant elements of logistics cost for Indian steel sector and observed its relationship with transportation cost, warehousing cost and administrative cost. The findings of this study showed positive relationship between logistics cost and service quality.
Research limitations/implications
The data for this study is cross-sectional; it is recommended that future studies can gather it longitudinally. This will help in gaining deeper understanding of the cause and effect relationship among the variables. The findings of this study are very useful in identifying the suitable training directions.
Practical implications
Logistics is very critical factor in deciding the competitiveness of steel sector globally. Particularly for steel manufacturing the inbound logistics is more critical as compared to outbound logistics both in terms of volumes and costs.
Social implications
For the Indian steel manufacturing companies, the logistics cost is very high as compared to other developed countries. Total logistics cost on inbound movements taken into consideration is around 16-18 per cent of material turn-over whereas; the world average is around 7-8 per cent.
Originality/value
To the best knowledge of the authors, this study is the first attempt to study the relationship of logistics cost elements on the service quality in the context of Indian steel manufacturing sector. The logistics cost in steel industry is considered as one of the top performance measurement of the entrepreneur in this research.
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Ebenezer Afum, Yaw Agyabeng-Mensah, Charles Baah, George Asamoah and Lawrence Yaw Kusi
The compounding impacts of climate change has mobilised unstinting endeavours of researchers, ecologists and corporate leaders to explore new ways for the logistics industry to…
Abstract
Purpose
The compounding impacts of climate change has mobilised unstinting endeavours of researchers, ecologists and corporate leaders to explore new ways for the logistics industry to manage environmental problems, improve social outcomes and gain competitive advantage. The purpose of this study is to investigate the mediation roles of inbound green logistics practices and outbound green logistics practices between eco-market orientation, green value competitiveness and social sustainability.
Design/methodology/approach
By employing explanatory research design, with questionnaire-based survey, data for the study was collected from Ghanaian logistics firms. The data is analysed using the partial least square structural equation modelling.
Findings
The results indicate that eco-market orientation has a significant positive impact on green value competitiveness. However, eco-market orientation was found to have an insignificant impact on social sustainability. The results further confirmed the notion that eco-market orientation substantially strengthens the implementation of inbound green logistics practices and outbound green logistics practices. Specifically, the mediation analysis confirmed that inbound green logistics practices and outbound green logistics practices serve as indirect mechanisms through which eco-market orientation significantly influences green value competitiveness and social sustainability.
Originality/value
Compared to previous literature, this is a pioneer study that develops an explanatory research framework under the lenses of the natural resource-based theory, stakeholder theory and resource advantage theory in illuminating how inbound green logistics practices and outbound green logistics practices act as mediation mechanisms between eco-market orientation and green value competitiveness and eco-market orientation and social sustainability.
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Randolph M. Russell and Martha C. Cooper
Addresses a number of issues relating to determining whetherproducts should be ordered independently and therefore shipped as asingle‐product order, or co‐ordinated and shipped as…
Abstract
Addresses a number of issues relating to determining whether products should be ordered independently and therefore shipped as a single‐product order, or co‐ordinated and shipped as a group, or multiproduct, order from a single source. Factors which might influence the decision include the level or volume of demand, the distribution of demand across products, the weight of items and the attractiveness of the quantity discount offered. Uses an optimal inventory‐theoretic model, that incorporates transport weight breaks and quantity discounts, to assess when product orders should be combined and what products should be ordered separately. The effects of these decisions on the order interval, the number of order groupings, the proportion of items ordered independently, the proportion of attractive discounts forgone in favour of consolidation, and the relative cost savings, are examined using an extensive set of simulated data that are based on a firm in the automobile industry supply chain.
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Logistics can be an indispensable part of integrated environmentalmanagement programmes because of its cross‐functional nature. Providesan overview of environmentally responsible…
Abstract
Logistics can be an indispensable part of integrated environmental management programmes because of its cross‐functional nature. Provides an overview of environmentally responsible logistics activities and their implications for corporate management. Also examines logistics functions in the context of the corporate value chain and identifies various environmental decision points. With environmental impact considered, many traditional trade‐off decisions need to be re‐evaluated. Provides examples in which innovative and environmentally‐friendly logistics ideas are used. Also discusses two system‐wide logistics elements, transportation and reverse logistics, that can have a profound impact on a firm′s environmental protection programme. Concludes that logistics managers can make environmentally responsible decisions that are coherent with corporate goals and objectives.
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