Policy and politics behind Shanghai’s Free Trade Zone Program

China launched the Shanghai Free Trade Zone (FTZ) Program on September 29, 2013 in a bid to reduce administrative interventions, ease restrictions on investments, further open up its financial system, and internationalize its currency to booster shipping, logistics, and commerce. This article aims to present a background of the Shanghai FTZ and some reflections on it. China’s economic reconstruction has made a major impact on its port cities. Competitions between ports are gradually evolving into competitions between supply chains, with ports no longer considered as isolated links in the transport chain but rather as integral links in the supply chain. Ports are transitioning into fourth-generation ports with the establishment of logistics and value-added activities, which are developed in conjunction with local industrial and service businesses. In this trend, China’s port cities can provide a wide range of value-added services and become centers of commodity flow, capital flow, and information flow. Specifically, the combined effects of driving the development of peripheral industries and actively coordinating the activities of relevant parties help regulate the operations of the entire supply chain to obtain potential value-added benefits. The implementation of the Shanghai FTZ will not only stimulate trade but will also bring increased shipping and finance opportunities to the city. With free trade as the new direction and focus of the country’s economic initiatives, the Shanghai FTZ will hopefully lay the groundwork for a new round of reforms and restructuring of the Chinese economy.     

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.     

基于代理协商的制造业供应链自动物流

针对电子商务对供应链物流敏捷性和自动化的需求,提出适应电子商务发展趋势的制造业供应链自动物流方法,通过分析构成自动物流系统的框架、任务模块和接口中间件环境,研究实现自动物流的关键技术,指出应用供应链自动物流的特点,并举例说明自动物流和协商的过程。     

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.     

Reprint of “Enhancing green supply chain initiatives via empty container reuse”

In this paper, the maritime industry’s commitment to green supply chain has been analyzed. The objective of this study is to show that the reuse of empty containers not only adds value to a firm, but leads to waste reduction in the supply chain. The novelties of this article include (i) empty and laden containers are treated in accordance with a shipping company’s green effort; (ii) both the volume and weight of containers are introduced to indicate a potential constraint on green effort; (iii) empty container storage costs are included as a value-added component which stem from green effort.     

Impact of decision sequence on reliability enhancement with supply disruption risks

This paper considers a supply chain that consists of a manufacturer and a supplier who faces disruption risks. We investigate the impact of decision sequence on the supplier’s endogenous reliability enhancement and the firms’ equilibrium pricing strategies. The supply chain reliability achieves a higher level under the supplier–leader game, but this does not always lead to a higher payoff for the supply chain. Each firm prefers to make the decision first, while any decision sequence can become dominant for the supply chain. We also show that the supply chain can achieve coordination via the revenue sharing contract.     

A critical review on the evolution and development of inland port research

Over the past twenty-five years a considerable amount of literature has emerged that addresses inland port development in a variety of ways and in different institutional contexts. A recurring issue throughout most papers focusing on inland ports is the wide diversity of definitions, actors, functions, levels and geographies that are of relevance. Therefore, a literature review on inland port development contributes to defining the most important streams in inland port research. Recent studies show that the concept of inland ports is clearly much richer and more diversified than merely an extension of deep-sea ports or port logistics. However, as much of the literature is still largely based on individual case studies and anecdotal evidences, the conceptualization of inland ports has proven to be particularly difficult. Therefore, this review paper presents a systematic and integrated review of inland port studies, covering 80 international peer-reviewed academic journal papers on inland port development between 1992 and 2017. The results show that much attention is paid on inland ports as components of the ‘transport/logistics/supply chain’ systems (follower), while their roles as components of the ‘regional’ systems (leader) are largely overlooked. Such a tweaked focus is likely to pose significant impacts on planning, management, and governance of inland ports.     

Determinants of blockchain adoption in the aviation industry: Empirical evidence from Korea

Recently, blockchain technology has gradually been used in the logistics and supply chain sector. However, research related to blockchain applications in aviation remains in its infancy. This research provides actionable insights into the determinants of blockchain adoption in the aviation industry. The technology acceptance model is applied to explain the aviation industry's intention to adopt blockchain technology for potential applications and future improvements. Six factors are developed by reviewing the literature. Moreover, a two-step structural equation modeling approach with confirmatory factor analysis is used to analyze the research data and test hypotheses in this study. Results reveal that tracking and tracing, digitalized management, air traffic management, regulatory governance and industry standards, and technological improvements and optimization on efficiency exert a positive influence on intention to use blockchain. Moreover, future improvements in regulatory governance and industry standards, and technological improvements and optimization on efficiency are demonstrated to enhance users' perceived usefulness in tracking and tracing, digitalized management, and air traffic management.     

Comparison of major air freight network hubs in the U.S. and China

The increase in global economic connectivity spurred by ties between Chinese manufacturing and a global market, particularly in high value low weight goods, pushed establishment of air cargo networks. These remain under-examined but impactful particularly for second and third tier metropolitan hub cities. This research looks at the air freight connections within China, a major rapidly developing trade center, and use of the aerotropolis concept to accelerate growth in the lagging inland region. References are made to FedEx and UPS networks within their U.S. headquarter region and in China to note differences in political economic contexts and China’s adaptation of developed world models. The theoretical framework includes global production networks strategically coupled by transport logistics linked to aerotropolis type development. Data comes from government aviation and transportation sources, research analyses, corporate and industry reports, and interviews with Chinese officials. Focus falls particularly on Zhengzhou, capital of Henan Province in central China and the country’s first airport-centered economic zone. The conclusion finds that Chinese hub cities more closely correspond to major manufacturing and population centers and central policy directives for development dispersion.     

Valuation effects of mergers and acquisitions in freight transportation

This study investigates valuation effects of mergers and acquisitions in the freight transportation industry. It is found that mergers and acquisitions create synergistic gains, especially tender offers, consistent with the view that freight transportation mergers and acquisitions occur for synergistic reasons rather than management’s desire for empire building or perk consumption. Both target’s and bidder’s shareholders are better-off, but most of the synergistic gains accrue to the target’s shareholders. Targets’ valuation effects are greater for vertical rather than horizontal mergers, indicating a positive valuation for firms that control and manage a more extensive supply chain. The bidders’ wealth effects are greater for friendly mergers. Overall, the findings have important implications for professional practice and the development of the theoretical literature.     

面向电子供应链的企业物流信息系统模型研究

面向电子供应链的企业物流信息系统的开发和建设,有助于实现企业、供应商、销售商之间的协调发展,减少库存,降低操作成本,缩短交易时间等。根据电子供应链的网络环境特点,在研究制造业企业物流一般流程的基础上,根据主、辅制造商物流流程,提出企业物流信息系统的参考模型结构设计。     

Dynamics of liner shipping network and port connectivity in supply chain systems: analysis on East Asia

The study of ports in supply chain systems is an emerging area of importance which has drawn more attention from researchers in recent years. This paper presents a new perspective in this research area by examining the calling patterns of container shipping services in order to understand the dynamics of port connectivity and inter-port relationships in the supply chains. Empirical evidence is drawn from four major ports in East Asia, namely Shanghai, Busan, Kaohsiung and Ningbo. The study identifies the shipping capacity, trade routes and geographical regions connected to the ports, shipping lines involved, and the extensity and intensity of inter-port relationships among the four container ports from liner shipping network’s perspective. The findings show that most of the shipping capacity employed on the major east–west trade routes became non-exclusive and involved calls at two or more of the four ports. Port planners, terminal operators and carriers could capitalise on opportunities through exploitation of complementary relationships that exist among the selected ports, such as offering a package for shipping lines to call at a portfolio of terminals owned by the same terminal operator. Policy and research implications as well as recommendations are discussed for various stakeholders concerned with port planning and regional development.     

Design and planning for green global supply chains under periodic review replenishment policies

We quantify the impact of jointly optimizing strategic network design and tactical inventory planning on the cost and CO₂ emissions of multi-echelon logistics networks. The obtained insights indicate that longer optimized replenishment cycles reduce a node’s transportation cost and CO₂ emissions but increase its inventory costs. Moreover, under a fixed replenishment cycle, a node’s service level increases when supplied by a satellite warehouse. Finally: (i) the costs of implementing optimal green network design decisions could be misleading if inventory planning is neglected, (ii) greening of supply chains could become expensive, (iii) current legislative CO₂ ton prices hardly influence logistics networks.     

基于现代物流时空特性的我国铁路产业物流发展重点探究

在现代物流特性分析基础上,探讨我国铁路产业发展现代物流业的重点.我国铁路发展现代物流业十分必要,可充分利用铁路运输资源,改善运输经营绩效,增加铁路运输进款收入,缓解资金供求缺口压力,促进铁路市场化进程.在发展现代物流增值服务过程中,要遵循现代物流的发展规律,从观念创新、机制创新、平台创新、组织创新、产品创新、多元创新等方面入手,不断推进我国铁路产业物流发展水平.     

A supply chain model of vendor managed inventory

This research evaluates how vendor managed inventory (VMI) affects a supply channel. Specifically, VMI always leads to a higher buyer's profit, but supplier's profit varies. In the short-term, VMI is found to reduce total costs of the channel system, but under certain cost conditions between buyer and supplier, it could decrease the purchasing price and supplier's profit. In the long-run, it could more likely increase supplier's profit than in the short-run. Finally, VMI is an effective supply chain strategy that can realize many of the benefits obtainable only in a fully integrated supply chain.     

“新零售”背景下智慧物流治理策略探讨

"新零售"商业形态给物流产业带来了巨大商机,同时给物流产业提出了全新要求。智慧物流是现代物流创新转型适应"新零售"发展的重要途径。阐述"新零售"背景下我国智慧物流发展现状及存在的问题,针对"新零售"对智慧物流发展提出依托供应链整合全渠道物流、订单驱动导向的精准物流服务、高强度的城市配送承载能力等要求,提出应充分发挥政府引导作用,加快智能物流基础设施建设;赋予市场引导功能,建构智慧物流信息平台;彰显社会共治效用,建设智慧物流多重保障体系,形成"政府引导、市场主导、社会共治"三位一体的智慧物流治理策略,以实现对"新零售"的高质量支撑。     

Robust supply chain strategies for recovering from unanticipated disasters

Recovering from unanticipated disasters is critical in today’s global market. This paper examines the effectiveness of popular recovery strategies used to address unpredictable disasters that derail supply chains. We create a formal model to portray dynamic operational performance among supply chain firms facing disruptions caused by natural and man-made disasters. Our analysis shows that a supply chain recovers best if member firms adopt a radical, rapid, costly recovery strategy that immediately resolves the disruption. This observation is robust to various resource consumption requirements. We apply our methodology in the case of Taiwan’s 2011 food contamination scandal and provide managerial insights.     

供应链下铁路货运站开展物流服务的研究

针对铁路货运站现有组织管理形式、运作情况及发展趋势,运用供应链管理理论和现代物流管理理论,围绕供应链下铁路货运站突破现有生产组织模式,积极开展现代物流服务的有关问题进行了探讨。     

A scheduling model of logistics service supply chain based on the mass customization service and uncertainty of FLSP’s operation time

Building on previous research, this paper establishes a new multi-objective program scheduling model of Logistics service supply chain that considers the uncertainty of operation time for functional logistics service providers (FLSPs) in a mass customization service environment. This model aims to minimize total scheduling costs, minimize the difference between the scheduled and actual time of each service process, and maximize the average satisfaction of FLSPs. Considering the differences in target priority, the goal programming method is applied to solve the model hierarchically. In addition, the effects of scheduling parameters on scheduling objectives are provided after numerical analysis.     

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%.