The construction industry is associated with problems such as low productivity and high costs. This has been highlighted in several government-funded reports in both Sweden and in the UK during the course of over two decades. The construction industry is a large industry sector employing hundreds of thousands and a large contributor to a country’s GDP. The problems therefore have a large impact on society. Some of the problems are rooted in the organizational structure of the construction industry. Compared to other manufacturing industries, the construction industry is organized in temporary organizations. The temporary organizations cause temporary supply chains, fragmentation among construction industry actors and adversarial relationships between those actors. Partnering has been but forward as a solution to overcome the temporariness and the adversarial relationships in the construction. Another solution to mitigate the problems suggested in the reports is supply chain management (SCM). Both concepts have been taken from the manufacturing industries and partnering has been more successful compared to SCM in the construction industry. In the construction industry the progress towards SCM has focused on logistics. In recent years dedicated third-party logistics (TPL) solutions have emerged in the Swedish construction industry, where a company is hired to manage the logistics in a construction project. The purpose with the research presented in this licentiate thesis is to explore how client initiated TPL solutions and partnering can be facilitators for SCM in the construction industry. Being a new phenomenon in the construction industry TPL solutions provide a logistical competence not necessarily included in a traditional construction project. Therefore, TPL solutions are of particular interest when studying the realization of SCM in the construction industry. In the process of realizing SCM in the construction industry, the construction clients have been put forward as having a crucial and important role. The clients are the initiator and funder of construction projects and as such the client can influence the course of a construction project. Therefore, it is of interest to study how the client can take an active role in this process. Initiating a TPL solution in a construction project is one way for a client to take an active part in the realization of SCM in construction. However, in order to study how clients can take an active role towards the realization of SCM in the construction industry, there have to be an understanding of how SCM is to be adopted to the construction industry context. SCM that derives from the manufacturing industry is designed to be used in long-term relationships with permanent organizational structures. The construction industry on the other hand is associated with short-term relationships and a temporary organizational structure. Partnering that is designed to mitigate the temporariness and establish long-term relationships have been quite successful in the construction industry, and could therefore be used as a facilitator for SCM in construction. To study the use of client initiated TPL-solutions in construction and the realization of SCM in the construction industry the following research questions have been addressed: RQ1: To what extent can a third-party logistics solution be a facilitator for client driven SCM in the construction industry? RQ2: How will upstream and downstream tiers be affected when a thirdparty logistics provider is used in a construction project? RQ3: How can partnering be used a mean to facilitate the realization of SCM in the construction industry? To answer the research questions two main methodologies have been used; case study for the empirically grounded research and conceptual studies for the analysis of the case studies as well as for comparing the two concepts of partnering and SCM. All questions have been grounded in literature and previous research. The findings of this research is therefore grounded in both theory and in practice. The main findings of this research is that TPL solutions are not a quick fix for realizing SCM in the construction industry. However, if used right a TPL solution can be an effective tool to address logistical issues in a construction project and to establish an interface between the supply chain and the construction site. By initiating a TPL solution the client addresses the importance of logistical competence in a construction project. A TPL solution does not have a purpose of its own; a TPL solution is a service function to the construction project, providing expertise on logistics management. There are also a number of driving forces and concerns that have been identified, if they are addressed prior to a TPL solution is implemented, the likelihood of its success will increase. Furthermore, both partnering and SCM rely on high trust and share several key components and issues that have to be addressed. Partnering on strategic level with several suppliers included can even be hard to distinguish from SCM. Wherefore, partnering is considered a facilitator for the realization of SCM in construction. By addressing the necessary issues in both concepts a good foundation for SCM is established.

Small and medium-sized enterprise (SME) managers struggle to stay competitive. The purpose of this multiple case study was to explore the strategies SME managers located in Canada use to engage third-party logistics (3PL) providers to improve their supply chains. Porter's value chain theory formed the conceptual framework for this study. Data collection included semistructured interviews with 3 managers from 3 different SMEs in the province of Ontario and a review of the documents related to the use of 3PL providers. Member checking was conducted to enhance credibility of interpretation of the data collected. Data analysis was used to identify key themes, and data triangulation was performed on data from interviews and relevant company documents. Main themes that indicated the benefits of 3PL providers were identified through data analysis. The main themes included access to resources, competitive advantage, and enhanced customer service. Study findings may contribute to social change by helping SME managers improve their survival rate in Canada, maintain or create employment, and generate more personal income and taxes.

The evolution of third-party logistics has sparked much academic interest over the years, with researchers looking at how the industry has grown and the factors that have contributed to it. The primary goal of this thesis is to examine the factors that have driven third-party logistics companies’ growth in Sweden for eighteen years (2002–2020). Growth in this thesis is considered as the growth of net sales. A total of 924 observations of ninety-five active third-party logistics companies operating in the Swedish market are analyzed in this thesis. An Ordinary Least Squares (OLS) linear regression analysis is carried out to examine the growth factors of third-party logistics companies in Sweden, taking into consideration the direct effect of the variables, number of employees, liabilities, operating profit, Earnings Before Interest and Taxes (EBIT), accessibility, technology, reverse logistics, service offer, customer relationship management (CRM), marketing, and distribution systems on the growth of net sales. Results from the OLS model shows that the size of the company, profitability, and the company's level of competence, has a significant positive influence on third-party logistics (3PL) company's growth.

I byggsektorn genomförs just nu stora framsteg gällande logistik och externa stödfunktioner. Senaste åren har stort fokus lagts på bygglogistik och många av de större byggföretagen har internt börjat ta fram logistikverktyg i ett sätt att systematisera sin logistikhantering. Det här examensarbetet syftar därför till att undersöka möjligheterna med en intern logistiklösning, och hur entreprenören kan utöka användningsområdet för en sådan lösning. Examensarbetet har vidare tittat på tredjepartslogistik (TPL), om det går att systematiskt definiera olika typer av TPL samt vilka behov en entreprenör har av en sådan lösning. Den interna logistiklösningen är väl förankrad och omtyckt på NCC - dess ytterligare utvecklingspotential är således stor. Den interna logistiklösningen skulle kunna utnyttjas vid externa mellanlager, där mellanlagret skulle kunna representeras av en materialzon. I TPL-lösningar där flera entreprenörer arbetar under gemensam logistiker är den interna logistiklösningen mer svårapplicerad då gemensam logistikplan gäller, och då ofta med tillhörande verktyg. Gällande systematisering av TPL-lösningar har det framkommit att man kan dela in lösningarna efter fyra teoretiska typer. Det har konstaterats att de TPL-lösningar som NCC använder sig av kan kategoriseras enligt någon av dessa fyra typer. Beroende på omfattningen av den tjänst som logistikern tillhandahåller blir upplägget från NCCs perspektiv olika. En kategorisering av lösningarna bidrar således till ett standardiserat tillvägagångssätt för NCCs logistikhantering.  Entreprenörens behov av en TPL-lösning har visat sig vara relativt okomplicerat formulerade, men svårare att faktiskt tillämpa. Det entreprenören behöver ha ut av en TPL-lösning är en flexibel plan som kan revideras under projektets gång. Det krävs även att TPL-lösningen har kapacitet att hantera materialflödet under hela projektet, vilket varierar stort under projektets gång. Bygglogistik är som ovan nämnt ett aktuellt ämne och en av de främsta anledningarna är den förbättrade arbetsmiljön som visat sig tillkomma vid en genomtänkt logistikplan. Genom att ha en strukturerad och ordningsam arbetsplats förbättras arbetsmiljön för samtliga projektdeltagare. Att väl utförd bygglogistik kan bidra till förhöjd arbetsmiljö skapar en potentiell konkurrensfördel då säkerhet många gånger är A och O i byggbranschen. / A lot of progress is today made in the Construction Industry regarding logistics and external support functions. A large focus has the last year been put on building logistics and a lot of the larger Contractors has internally developed logistic tools as a measure to systematize their logistics process. This master thesis therefore aims to reflect over the possibilities with such an internal logistic tool, and how the field of application can augment. The master thesis has further investigated third party logistics (TPL) and if it is possible to systematize different types of TPL-solutions and what the entrepreneurs needs are of a solution as such.  It has been found that the internal logistic solution can be used further by adding external stores as material zones. The internal logistic solution is well anchored and appreciated at NCC – its’ development potential therefor big. In TPL-solutions where more than one contractor is working with a common logistician, it has shown that the internal logistic solution is more difficulty applied due to the common layout of the logistics, with the belonging logistic tools.  Regarding systematization of TPL-solutions, some categorization can be made. It has also shown that NCC internally uses several of these types. Depending on the extent of the service the logistician provides, the setup for NCC is different and a categorization contributes to a standardized approach for NCCs own logistic management.  The contractors needs in a TPL-solution has shown to be rather uncomplicated to phrase, but more difficult to actually apply. What the contractor needs of a TPL-solution is a flexible plan that can be modified during the project. It is also a demand that the TPL-solution has the capacity of managing the flow of material throughout the entire project, which may vary greatly during the project.  Building logistics is as mentioned above a very current and up-to-date topic, and one of the premier reasons is the improved work environment that has shown to be a result of a carefully prepared layout of the logistic. By having a structured and orderly project site, the work environment is improved for all project members. That a well conducted logistic layout can contribute to improved work environment creates a big competitive advantage since safety many times is vital in the construction industry.

How supply chain visibility could benefit the field of supply chain management is well-known, both within academia and among practitioners. However, less is known about the challenges that supply chain visibility may be coupled with, especially when it comes to organisational challenges for a broader market presence where actors may have conflicting incentives. This thesis tries to explore this issue and does so through a case study by analyzing organisational challenges for supply chain visibility to see greater presence in the third-party logistics market. Most importantly, the findings suggest that an ecosystem perspective is necessary inorder to fully comprehend the organisational challenges. By applying an ecosystem perspective, previously known challenges can be better understood by connecting them with market dynamics, and it also revealed previously unknown challenges related to regulatory challenges. The purpose of this thesis is not to provide definitive theory, but rather show the promise of utilizing an ecosystem perspective in the contemporary supply chain visibility field. This could prove helpful within academia as well as for practitioners. / Det är välkänt hur supply chain visibility kan gynna supply chain management, både inom akademin och för yrkesverksamma. Däremot är det mindre känt vilka utmaningar som är förknippade med marknadsetablering av supply chain visibility, särskilt när det gäller organisatoriska utmaningar. Denna uppsats syftar till att utforska dessa utmaningar genom en fallstudie, med fokus främst på de organisatoriska utmaningar som supply chain visibility skulle kunna innebära inom tredjepartslogistik. Den viktigaste insikten från denna studie är att ett ekosystemsperspektiv är nödvändigt för att fullt ut förstå de organisatoriska utmaningarna. Genom att tillämpa ett ekosystemsperspektiv kan tidigare okända utmaningar bättre förstås genom att kopplas samman med marknadsdynamik. Dessutom upptäcktes en ny kategori av utmaningar som tidigare forskning inte har redogjort för, nämligen juridiska utmaningar. Syftet med denna uppsats var inte att skapa ett definitivt ramverk utan att visa möjligheterna med tillämpning av ett ekosystemsperspektiv inom det för närvarande heta ämnet supply chain visibility. Detta kan vara till nytta både för forskare och yrkesverksamma.

The construction industry is associated with problems such as low productivity and high costs. This has been highlighted in several government-funded reports in both Sweden and in the UK during the course of over two decades. The construction industry is a large industry sector employing hundreds of thousands and a large contributor to a country’s GDP. The problems therefore have a large impact on society. Some of the problems are rooted in the organizational structure of the construction industry. Compared to other manufacturing industries, the construction industry is organized in temporary organizations. The temporary organizations cause temporary supply chains, fragmentation among construction industry actors and adversarial relationships between those actors. Partnering has been but forward as a solution to overcome the temporariness and the adversarial relationships in the construction. Another solution to mitigate the problems suggested in the reports is supply chain management (SCM). Both concepts have been taken from the manufacturing industries and partnering has been more successful compared to SCM in the construction industry. In the construction industry the progress towards SCM has focused on logistics. In recent years dedicated third-party logistics (TPL) solutions have emerged in the Swedish construction industry, where a company is hired to manage the logistics in a construction project. The purpose with the research presented in this licentiate thesis is to explore how client initiated TPL solutions and partnering can be facilitators for SCM in the construction industry. Being a new phenomenon in the construction industry TPL solutions provide a logistical competence not necessarily included in a traditional construction project. Therefore, TPL solutions are of particular interest when studying the realization of SCM in the construction industry. In the process of realizing SCM in the construction industry, the construction clients have been put forward as having a crucial and important role. The clients are the initiator and funder of construction projects and as such the client can influence the course of a construction project. Therefore, it is of interest to study how the client can take an active role in this process. Initiating a TPL solution in a construction project is one way for a client to take an active part in the realization of SCM in construction. However, in order to study how clients can take an active role towards the realization of SCM in the construction industry, there have to be an understanding of how SCM is to be adopted to the construction industry context. SCM that derives from the manufacturing industry is designed to be used in long-term relationships with permanent organizational structures. The construction industry on the other hand is associated with short-term relationships and a temporary organizational structure. Partnering that is designed to mitigate the temporariness and establish long-term relationships have been quite successful in the construction industry, and could therefore be used as a facilitator for SCM in construction. To study the use of client initiated TPL-solutions in construction and the realization of SCM in the construction industry the following research questions have been addressed: RQ1: To what extent can a third-party logistics solution be a facilitator for client driven SCM in the construction industry? RQ2: How will upstream and downstream tiers be affected when a thirdparty logistics provider is used in a construction project? RQ3: How can partnering be used a mean to facilitate the realization of SCM in the construction industry? To answer the research questions two main methodologies have been used; case study for the empirically grounded research and conceptual studies for the analysis of the case studies as well as for comparing the two concepts of partnering and SCM. All questions have been grounded in literature and previous research. The findings of this research is therefore grounded in both theory and in practice. The main findings of this research is that TPL solutions are not a quick fix for realizing SCM in the construction industry. However, if used right a TPL solution can be an effective tool to address logistical issues in a construction project and to establish an interface between the supply chain and the construction site. By initiating a TPL solution the client addresses the importance of logistical competence in a construction project. A TPL solution does not have a purpose of its own; a TPL solution is a service function to the construction project, providing expertise on logistics management. There are also a number of driving forces and concerns that have been identified, if they are addressed prior to a TPL solution is implemented, the likelihood of its success will increase. Furthermore, both partnering and SCM rely on high trust and share several key components and issues that have to be addressed. Partnering on strategic level with several suppliers included can even be hard to distinguish from SCM. Wherefore, partnering is considered a facilitator for the realization of SCM in construction. By addressing the necessary issues in both concepts a good foundation for SCM is established. / <p>QC 20181004</p>

The logistics industry causes various harms to the environment. The literature assigns the main responsibility for alleviating such harms to two supply chain actors: shippers (logistics buyers) and logistics service providers (LSPs), which motivated studying them in this thesis. Specifically, this thesis explores and identifies how green logistics practices can be facilitated through aligning both actors throughout the different phases of their relationships. Two studies are compiled. The first study is based on five distinct cases -- three shippers and five LSPs, providing the basis for two papers: (i) one that analyses the institutional pressures (regulatory, market, competitive) on shippers to purchase green logistics services, and on LSPs to provide these services, and (ii) one that investigates the two actors’ stances on environmental concerns in the four key logistics purchasing phases (request for proposal, negotiations, contracting, execution), while proposing ways to align their efforts along such phases. The second study covers a single case of a dyadic relationship between a shipper and its LSP, handling enhancing logistics performance (cost efficiency, on-time delivery) in the early stages of their relationship. The findings indicate a general lack of regulatory pressure in driving shippers and LSPs to engage in green logistics, contrasted by a long-term influence of competitive pressure and a prevalent influence of market pressure. It was also found that both actors must put substantial efforts in the beginning of their relationships to reach a mutual business understanding, allowing performance and green enhancements. In the execution, it was found that both partners should regularly communicate performance metrics while modifying working standards, which would also support their green practices. For practitioners, insights are offered to align shippers’ and LSPs’ efforts within their relationships to attain positive performance and green outcomes. / <p>QC 20180223</p>

Postnord TPL är en ledande aktör inom 3PL-branschen i Norden. På önskemål av företaget har en studie genomförts av returprocessen för Postnord TPLs största kund inom elektronikbranschen. En effektiv hantering av returprocessen är en viktig del för tredjepartslogistikföretag för att behålla konkurrenskraft på marknaden. Den effektiva hanteringen är grunden för att skapa en returprocess med låga kostnader, hög grad av resursutnyttjande och tillfredsställande av kundens önskemål.  Syftet med studien är att identifiera avvikelser i returprocessen och de bakomliggande orsakerna samt att föreslå förbättringsåtgärder för att reducera avvikelser och effektivisera returprocessen vid Postnord TPL. För att uppnå syftet har författarna genomfört en fallstudie av returprocessen för Postnord TPL. Genom deltagande observationer, processpromenad och semistrukturerade intervjuer med anställda har empiri samlats in för att skapa en förståelse av processen. Empirin har analyserats för att identifiera avvikelser och möjliga förbättringsåtgärder. Analysen i studien identifierade ett antal avvikelser i returprocessen och de bakomliggande orsakerna till att de uppstår. Avvikelserna berörde onödiga förflyttningar, överarbetning, mänskliga fel samt kompetens och kunskap hos nuvarande personal. Författarna har via observationerna och intervjuerna identifierat var avvikelserna uppstår. Ett orsak-verkan diagram har tagits fram för att definiera de bakomliggande orsakerna till avvikelserna. Vidare har författarna genom en analys av avvikelserna och orsakerna formulerat konkreta förbättringsförslag för att reducera eller eliminera avvikelserna. Förbättringsåtgärderna som presenteras är; flytt av processen till samma våning, eliminera dubbelhantering av returer från företag, använda samma system, skapa rörlighetsklassificering av produkter, skapa nya standarder och rutiner, arbeta med förebyggande analyser, implementera PDCA-cykeln och Lean-verktyg för arbete med ständig förbättring samt att skapa tydliga mål för processen. Målet med en implementering av förbättringsförslagen är att reducera avvikelser och därigenom bidra till ökad effektivitet och konkurrenskraft för Postnord TPL. Samarbetet med företaget har varit avgörande för att säkerställa relevansen och genomförbarheten av förslagen. / Postnord TPL is a leading company in the 3PL-industry in the Nordics. At the company's request, a study was conducted on the return process for Postnord TPL's largest customer in the electronics industry. Efficient handling of the return process is a crucial aspect for third-party logistics companies to maintain competitiveness in the market. Efficient management forms the foundation for creating a return process with low costs, high resource utilization and customer satisfaction. The purpose of the study is to identify deviations in the return process and the underlying causes, as well as to propose improvement measures to reduce deviations and create a more efficient return process at Postnord TPL. To achieve this goal, the authors conducted a case study of Postnord TPL's return process. Through participatory observations, process walkthroughs, and semi-structured interviews with employees, empirical data was collected to understand the process. The empirical data was analyzed to identify deviations and possible improvement measures. The study's analysis identified several deviations in the return process and the underlying causes of their occurrence. The deviations involved unnecessary movements, overprocessing, human errors, as well as the competence and knowledge of current staff. Through observations and interviews, the authors identified where the deviations occur. A cause-and-effect diagram was created to define the underlying causes of the deviations. Furthermore, through an analysis of the deviations and their causes, the authors formulated concrete improvement suggestions to reduce or eliminate the deviations. The improvement measures presented include; relocating the process to the same floor, eliminating double handling of returns from companies, using the same system, creating a mobility classification of products, establishing new standards and routines, working with preventive analyses, implementing the PDCA cycle and Lean tools for continuous improvement, and setting clear goals for the process. The goal of implementing these improvement suggestions is to reduce deviations and thereby contribute to increased efficiency and competitiveness for Postnord TPL. Collaboration with the company has been crucial to ensure the relevance and feasibility of the proposals.

Ett effektivt informationsflöde är väsentligt för att skapa möjligheter till väl fungerande transportkoordination. Utmaningen i byggbranschen är att det finns flera aktörer som behöver ta del av informationen. Systemen som används i dagsläget har sällan möjlighet att dela information med varandra. Den bristande informationsdelningen har lett till en fragmenterad försörjningskedja vilket påverkar projektens produktion negativt.   Tidigare studier har tydliggjort behovet av digitala verktyg för styrning av försörjningskedjan inom byggprojekt. Andra studier har identifierat problem vid implementation av nya rutiner och digitala verktyg i byggbranschen. Därmed finns det ett behov av att undersöka hur företag framgångsrikt kan implementera digitala verktyg för att underlätta informationsdelning och transportkoordination.  Målet med studien har varit att definiera transportkoordinationssystem, samt analysera och undersöka vilka strategier byggherrar kan tillämpa för en effektiv implementering i byggsektorn. Syftet är att identifiera de bakomliggande hinder som begränsar företagen att använda systemen. Utifrån begränsningar och lösningar görs rekommendation för vilka strategier som bör användas.   Studien har utförts som en flerfallsstudie på större husbyggnationsprojekt i Sverige och Norge. I fallstudien ingick sju projekt, där samtliga använt sig av ett transportkoordinationssystem under produktion. Transportkoordinationssystemet har använts i olika utsträckning i varje projekt, beroende på hur logistiklösningen var utformad. Datainsamling genomfördes med semi-strukturerad intervjustudie där minst en representant från vart projekt medverkade. Utöver respondenterna från byggprojekten inkluderades även intervjuer med två konkurrerande mjukvaruutvecklare.   En analys av effekten av logistiklösningen i de olika projekten, och framför allt transportkoordinationssystemets påverkan har genomförts. Det har varit av stor vikt att särskilja det digitala verktygets påverkan från den generella logistiklösningens påverkan. Från respondenterna har det framkommit tydligt att olika strategier vid implementation har haft varierande mottagande i produktionen.   Studien har identifierat tre nyckelfaktorer som ligger till grund för strategier vid implementationen av digitala verktyg:  <li data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="5" data-list-defn-props="{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}" aria-setsize="-1" data-aria-posinset="1" data-aria-level="1">Kravställning - Förutsättningarna för projektet måste framgå tydligt i ett tidigt skede. Om beställaren sätter krav på huvudentreprenören blir implementationen smidigare, då under-leverantörer och -entreprenörer måste anpassa sig för att vinna kontrakten.  <li data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="5" data-list-defn-props="{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}" aria-setsize="-1" data-aria-posinset="2" data-aria-level="1">Integration - Då det förekommer många aktörer på projekten behöver man ha möjlighet att integrera systemet med redan befintliga.   <li data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="5" data-list-defn-props="{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}" aria-setsize="-1" data-aria-posinset="3" data-aria-level="1">Incitament - För att främja användningen kan man med fördel använda bonussystem, som gynnar aktörerna som använder systemet. Allt fler aktörer kommer därmed få positiva erfarenheter av systemet vilket kan underlätta en bredare implementation.   Tidigare studier har beskrivit att byggherrarna inte tidigare fokuserat på bygglogistik. Studien har bekräftat att det i viss mån fortfarande är så, då logistiklösningar främst utformas vid större projekt. Från respondenterna har det framkommit att mindre projekt inom samma byggkoncern inte har samma resurser eller fokus på bygglogistik. Samtidigt kan de större projekten fungera som pilotprojekt, och ligga till grund för en bredare implementation. / An effective flow of information is essential to create opportunities for well-functioning construction logistics. One of the challenges in the construction industry is the number of stakeholders who need access to the information. The systems currently in use often lack the ability to share information with each other. This lack of information sharing has led to a fragmented supply chain, which negatively impacts projects performance.   Previous studies have highlighted the need for digital tools to coordinate the construction logistics in projects. Other studies have identified problems with implementing new procedures and digital tools in the construction sector. Therefore, there is a need to investigate how companies can successfully implement digital tools to facilitate information sharing and transport coordination.   The aim of the study has been to define transport coordination systems. Furthermore, analyze and investigate the strategies that can be applied for effective implementation in the construction sector. The purpose is to identify the underlying obstacles that limit companies from using these systems and provide recommendations for strategies to overcome these limitations.   The study was conducted as a multiple case study on large construction projects in Sweden and Norway. Seven projects were included in the case study, all of which utilized a transport coordination system during production. The extent of use of the system varied in each project depending on the logistics solution. The data collection was done through semi-structured interviews with at least one representative from each project participating. In addition to the respondents from the construction projects, interviews were also conducted with two competing software developers.   An analysis of the impact of the logistics solution in different projects was conducted, which focused on the impact the transport coordination system had. It has been crucial to distinguish the impact of the digital system from the general logistics solution. Respondents have clearly indicated that different strategies have had varied acceptance in production.   The study has identified three key factors underlying strategies for implementing digital tools:  <li data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="4" data-list-defn-props="{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}" aria-setsize="-1" data-aria-posinset="4" data-aria-level="1">Requirement specification – The project’s requirements must be clearly stated at an early stage. If the client sets requirements for the main contractor, the implementation becomes smoother as subcontractors and suppliers must adapt to win the contracts.   <li data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="4" data-list-defn-props="{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}" aria-setsize="-1" data-aria-posinset="5" data-aria-level="1">Integration – Since there are many stakeholders involved in projects, there is a need to be able to integrate the system with existing ones.   <li data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="4" data-list-defn-props="{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}" aria-setsize="-1" data-aria-posinset="6" data-aria-level="1">Incentives – To promote usage, a bonus system can be beneficial, favoring actors who use the system correctly. As more actors have a positive experience with the system, it can facilitate broader implementation.   Previous studies have described how developers have not previously focused on construction logistics. The study confirmed that to some extent this is still the case, as logistics solutions are primarily designed for larger projects. Respondents have indicated that smaller projects within the same company do not have the same resources or focus on construction logistics. Hopefully larger projects can serve as pilot projects and form the basis for broader implementation.

全球性的產業面對國際化的競爭，企業為求生存發展，對於資源的需求必須尋求國內外最佳發展與佈局。隨著運輸系統及通信技術的進步，全球供應鏈的興盛已是必然的趨勢。這些跨國企業專注於自己的核心事業，對於非主軸業務皆採以外包方式委外執行。其中以國際物流運作因涵蓋業務範圍廣且複雜非一般產業所能承擔，採外包方式是一種正確的決策。 物流產業居於專業分工及委外需求日盛的市場中，因此物流產業的市場不斷的擴大，而且對物流需求的服務項目變得多樣且複雜，尤其是國際物流及全球供應鏈。但相對的物流業者間的競爭更形激烈，誰能提供更完整、更準確、更快速及更低廉的服務，誰就能主宰市場。 本研究首先就物流定義、國際物流、第三方物流及第四方物流等活動深入探討，以我國國際物流業者的體質來看，惟有物流業界的水平整合或垂直整合，加上資訊科技化，才能滿足趨勢需求，才能有競爭力。整合的組織方式及解決方案為何，由誰來整合最有機會與條件，本論文將以第四方物流為目標，分析國內物流業者可以採行的整合方式，在業務整合之同時探討資訊整合之可能性及整合方式。並且提出一個以SOA為核心之電子化企業協同合作架構，運用服務導向的開放式及模組化優點來架構第四方物流系統。 倉儲/物流中心及海空運承攬業者是有能力發展成第四方物流業者，因此這兩者在價值鏈中是很好的雁行領導者。透過此領導者本身之條件，再以策略聯盟的方式擴充至其他上下游物流業者，串聯成完整的價值鏈，可快速構成第四方物流組織。 第四方物流組織以策略聯盟的方式構成，目標是串聯成完整的價值鏈，但策略聯盟組織是鬆散的組織，要使價值鏈發揮效益須要藉助協同商務，尤其是資訊的協同作業。要發展協同商務，就需要有共通的標準與可用的技術。。SOA分析架構是一種新的觀念，目前沒有明確的方法可參考，經本研究驗證，使用Zachman framework的原則，使得在SOA\Web service實作較為簡單可行。 / Facing international competition, global enterprises are developing the international optimal resource allocation. Global supply chain is necessary due to the progress in transportation and communication technique. These enterprises focus in core business and outsource others. Global logistics is first priority in outsourcing, because its coverage is wide and it is very complex. The global logistics market grows bigger and bigger, because the global market are progressing towards specialization and outsourcing. The global logistics and supply chain need varied and integrated services. In the violent competitive environment, the one who can provide complete, precise, quick, and integrated service will dominate the market. This research will first discuss the definition and characteristics of global logistics, then discuss 3PL and 4PL activities and core competence. Since the service and business scope of logistics industry is very wide; and given the constitution of Taiwanese global logistics service providers, the only solution to improve the competitiveness of Taiwan local logistics industry is to integrate the logistics industry both vertically and horizontally with the support of the information technology. This paper will discuss the integration solution and the best candidate to integrate the logistics industry, followed by the discussion to build collaboration commerce system by SOA. Warehouse/logistics centers and freight forwarders are best candidates to develop 4PL. These two businesses are best leaders in logistics value chain. Base on these leaders’ capacity to extend to upstream and downstream partners by strategic alliances, they can build full logistics value chain easily and quickly. But the organization structure of strategic alliance is loose. If they want to run the 4PL organization efficiently, they must use collaboration commerce, especially, by information technique. The research confers to develop collaboration commerce using SOA. SOA is a new concept. Right now, there is no full methodology to refer. From the results of the research, we prove that using Zachman framework principle can make SOA or Web service implementation simple and feasible.