Product return and logistics knowledge: Influence on performance of the firm

Survey data on reverse logistics processes from 284 Spanish firms are used to test a structural model that analyzes the importance of returned materials and the creation of logistics knowledge within processes of reverse logistics and their effects on organizational performance. The results show that the cost of reverse logistics and the value of returns were found to be positively related to reverse logistics activities. Further, their proper management and the creation of logistics knowledge that improves organizational performance.     

Knowledge management enablers in liner shipping

This study empirically identifies crucial knowledge management enablers and examines their impacts on organizational performance using survey data collected from liner shipping firms include shipping companies and agencies. Results indicated that knowledge management enablers such as organizational structure and knowledge management culture are found to have significantly positive effects on the organizational performance aspects of innovativeness, financial performance, and customer service, whereas information technology support is a positive effect on organizational performance aspect of innovativeness. Theoretical and managerial implications of the research findings on knowledge management for liner shipping companies are discussed.     

External organizational commitment among organizational implants: The case of logistics service providers

Using the concept of external organizational commitment (EOC), survey data from 312 logistics service provider (LSP) implants are used to test a model of the determinants of implant level of commitment to their host firm and the consequences of such commitment to the LSP. The results show that both inter-organizational outcome and task interdependence affect implant perceptions of the degree to which they are supported by their host organization. Perceived organizational support by the host organization, in turn, was found to be positively related to implant commitment to their host organization, which was positively related to LSP operation-level performance.     

Green supply chain management,reverse logistics and nuclear power generation

Built on the concepts of green supply chain management (G-SCM), this paper presents a multi-objective optimization programming approach to address the issue of nuclear power generation. In this study, a linear multi-objective optimization model is formulated to optimize the operations of both the nuclear power generation and the corresponding induced-waste reverse logistics. Factors such as the operational risks induced in both the power generation and reverse logistics processes are considered in the model formulation. Numerical results indicate that using the proposed approach, the induced environmental impact including the corresponding costs and risks can be improved up to 37.8%.     

Environmental governance mechanisms in shipping firms and their environmental performance

A growing number of shipping firms seek to improve their environmental performance in the hope of developing environmentally sustainable shipping operations. Although environmental governance plays an essential role in leading shipping firms to improve their environmental performance, there is scant knowledge on the relationship between environmental governance and environmental performance in the shipping literature. We propose and empirically validate an integrated model to study how various environmental governance mechanisms (i.e., contractual, relational, and organizational) are enacted by shipping firms and their influence on shipping firms’ environmental performance. Our study also examines the mediating roles of the relational and organizational mechanisms on shipping firms’ environmental performance.     

逆向物流成本核算模型研究

在论述逆向物流成本形成机制的基础上,运用基于作业的成本分析法,构建了逆向物流运作的流程结构,并通过作业流程的分析,构建了逆向物流成本的退货成本核算模型、再加工成本核算模型、材料再生成本核算模型、产品拆卸成本核算模型、包装物和载运品回收成本核算模型及废弃处理成本核算模型。     

A reverse logistics cost minimization model for the treatment of hazardous wastes

This study presents a cost-minimization model for a multi-time-step, multi-type hazardous-waste reverse logistics system. A discrete-time linear analytical model is formulated that minimizes total reverse logistics operating costs subject to constraints that take into account such internal and external factors as business operating strategies and governmental regulations. Application cases are presented to demonstrate the feasibility of the proposed approach. By using the proposed model coupled with operational strategies, it is shown that the total reverse logistics costs for the applications cases can be reduced by more than 49%.     

Dynamic network design for reverse logistics operations under uncertainty

The design of reverse logistics network has attracted growing attention with the stringent pressures from environmental and social requirements. In general, decisions about reverse logistics network configurations are made on a long-term basis and factors influencing such reverse logistics network design may also vary over time. This paper proposes dynamic location and allocation models to cope with such issues. A two-stage stochastic programming model is further developed by which a deterministic model for multiperiod reverse logistics network design can be extended to account for the uncertainties. A solution approach integrating a recently proposed sampling method with a heuristic algorithm is also proposed in this research. A numerical experiment is presented to demonstrate the significance of the developed stochastic model as well as the efficiency of the proposed solution method.     

可再制造产品逆向物流网络的构建

逆向物流是物流领域的新视野,它不仅强调对废弃物的回收利用,更强调实现节约资源、保护环境和增强竞争力等目标。建立多品种、单周期的可再制造产品逆向物流网络优化模型,并根据线性混合整数规划的特点,利用Lingo8.0进行求解。主要研究了确定环境下可再制造产品逆向物流网络的优化设计。     

关于呼和浩特铁路局现代物流发展对策的思考

在总结国外物流发展经验、归纳物流研究成果的基础上,针对现代物流发展面临的主要问题,探索呼和浩特铁路局发展现代物流的模式和对策：提出呼铁局现代物流的三层次渐进式发展模式和物流资源整合、货运场站的物流中心化、基础设施建设、发展大客户、发展合作伙伴、组织结构优化、物流信息系统建设和人才建设等八个方面发展对策。     

Criteria for services of air cargo logistics providers: How do they relate to client satisfaction?

This study investigates the factors that influence client satisfaction with logistics outsourcing, taking into account the client's subjective attitude towards service criteria for air cargo logistics providers. We define the construct of service criteria of air cargo logistics providers, provide an empirical validation of the construct, develop scales for service criteria and client satisfaction with desirable psychometric properties, and explore theoretical and practical applications. Empirical evidences support five key service criteria factors of importance; delivery value, knowledge innovation value, service value-added, information value, and performance satisfaction value. Four key client satisfaction factors are reliability, agility, customization, and flexibility. A significant relationship between the service criteria of air cargo logistics providers and client satisfaction is also identified.     

Logistics services in Taiwanese maritime firms

This paper examines logistics services and strategic dimensions in Taiwanese (Republic of China, ROC) maritime firms. This is done by means of a review of previous studies and personal interviews; data collection has also included a questionnaire survey. A factor analysis and a principal components analysis were conducted in order to assess the degree of importance of a large number of service attributes and a small number of underlying dimensions called strategic dimensions (factors). The results revealed that the most important strategic dimension was value-added service, followed by promotion, equipment and facilities as well as speed and reliability. This research attempted to link the relationship between performance and logistics services. While the average profit rate, sales growth rate and return on assets of implemented logistics firms were higher in degree of importance than for non-implemented logistics firms, the difference was not statistically significant. The approach utilized in this research could be useful for shipping practitioners to improve their performance and to enhance their competitive advantage.     

模糊随机环境下再利用逆向物流网络设计

考虑模糊随机环境下,再利用逆向物流网络在数量方面的不确定性,并考虑了回收点与回收中心的回收周期不同步等复杂因素,提出了第三方构建再利用逆向物流网络的数学模型。该模型结合遗传算法、模糊随机模拟及数学规划的混合智能算法,并通过算例验证模型和算法的可行性,得到模糊随机环境下的最优选址结果和回收点最优回收周期。     

Greening propensity and performance implications for logistics service providers

Stakeholders in the logistics industry have growing concern about the damage caused by logistics operations to the environment. Logistics service providers (LSPs) have taken steps to pursue environmental objectives by involving customers in their operations. This study defines greening propensity (GP) as “involvement of customers to perform logistics activities to achieve environmental performance”. We analyze survey data collected from the logistics industry in Hong Kong to address the following questions: What are the categories of greening capability in LSPs? What are the performance outcomes of LSPs’ greening capability? Theoretical contributions and implications of the study results are discussed.     

Integration of inland waterway transport in the intermodal supply chain: a taxonomy of research challenges

This paper identifies research opportunities which will enable the further integration of inland waterway transport in the intermodal supply chain. Intermodal transport may be interpreted as a chain of actors who supply a transport service. Inland navigation can play a crucial role in increasing supply chain service performance. A first group of research challenges lies in the evolving relationship between transport geography and logistics activities. The next set of research challenges has the objective to encourage efficient operations in IWT: development of a system wide model for IWT, integration of operational planning systems and analysis of bundling networks. A third group of research efforts is directed towards shippers and consignees who use the intermodal transport chain to send or receive their goods: further development of models that integrate intermodal transport decisions with supply chain decisions and creation of green supply chains. A fourth cluster of research challenges concerns the problem domain of external cost calculations. Finally detailed time series data on freight transport should be collected to support these future research tracks.     

基于低成本的逆向物流回收策略探讨

在产品回收活动中采取什么样的回收路线,才能降低回收成本是企业实施逆向物流的关键。回收路线的选择属于非线性规划问题,运用随机运筹中Markov决策规划的MDP模型,将逆向物流回收决策问题转化为有限阶段模型,用向后归纳法求解出最优策略,并运用节约矩阵法对回收路线进行优化。     

Logistics sprawl in the Brussels metropolitan area: Toward a socio-geographic typology

Logistics activities are concentrated around cities, for the purpose of accessing and serving these important markets. However, at a more refined level, because of land prices, availability and modern logistics schemes, suburban locations are preferred. This trend, the so-called logistics sprawl, creates land consumption, longer supply chains and jobs shifts. This article analyses the geography of logistics in the Brussels metropolitan area and highlights this suburbanization, notwithstanding the fact that some particularities appear, due to the Brussels, Belgian and European contexts. In a second step, we construct a spatial typology to understand the fine evolution of the Brussels metropolitan logistics space. These results reinforce our knowledge of logistics geography and add a frequently neglected institutional dimension to the extant literature on the subject – wholesale trade activities.     

Intermodal logistics: The interplay of financial,operational and service issues

This research addresses strategic planning for an interregional, hub based, intermodal logistics network operated by a logistics service provider. A tabu search meta-heuristic is used to solve a mathematical optimization model that extends the p-hub median model for interacting hub location-allocation problems to the domain of intermodal logistics. An empirical study based on a subset of US freight flows shows that intermodal logistics networks differ significantly from traditional over-the-road logistics networks in their hub locations, network structure, and their use of direct and inter-hub shipments. Furthermore, intermodal logistics networks are more sensitive to changes in service requirements and costs.     

A heuristic approach to logistics network design for end-of-lease computer products recovery

This paper discusses the logistics network design for end-of-lease computer products recovery by developing a deterministic programming model for systematically managing forward and reverse logistics flows. Due to the complexity of such network design problem, a two-stage heuristic approach is developed to decompose the integrated design of the distribution networks into a location–allocation problem and a revised network flow problem. The applicability of the proposed method is illustrated in a numerical study. Computational experiments demonstrate that high-quality solutions are obtained while modest computational overheads are incurred.     

Measures for evaluating supply chain performance in transport logistics

This study aims to investigate the construct of, and develop a measurement instrument for, supply chain performance (SCP) in transport logistics. Based on the supply chain operations reference model and various established measures, a measurement model and a measurement instrument for SCP in transport logistics are developed. A 26-item SCP measurement instrument was constructed, reflecting service effectiveness for shippers, operations efficiency for transport logistics service providers, and service effectiveness for consignees. The empirical findings suggest that the measurement instrument is reliable and valid for evaluating SCP in transport logistics.