In this thesis 5 Swedish companies that use logistics service providers (LSPs: carriers, intermediaries and third party logistics providers) are interviewed to establish how Swedish LSPs fare in terms on coordination. More specifically, the research is focused on answering 3 questions: (1) what are users’ perceptions about their LSPs’ coordination, (2) what coordination behaviors are the LSPs most and least successful in, and (3) what factors are affecting LSPs’ coordination.

Purpose: Corporations today see a greater responsibility towards society regarding the environmental impact of their actions, using available transportation options that are more eco-friendly can reduce this impact significantly. Martinsen and Björklund (2012) identifies a set of gaps between supply and demand of green logistics services. This paper aims to address what it is that affects the demand for these alternative solutions and what could be done to increase the usage of them, thereby decreasing this gap. Design/methodology/approach: A quantitative study with six Logistics Service Providers (LSP) and 24 companies that purchase transportation services, all operating in Sweden. Data is collected through semi-structured telephone interviews with people responsible for the purchasing of transports as well as key account managers within the service providing companies. Findings: Just as the LSP’s interviewed in this paper thought, the main focus of the transport buying companies are the costs. Therefore paying extra only to benefit the environment and not the economy of the company is not something a lot of companies are prepared to do at this time. However there are solutions such as intermodality which are highly demanded, these are often both cost effective and more environmentally friendly, the problem as many companies see it, is that the rail network needs to expand to be able to cover bigger areas and increase the capacity. Research limitations/implications: The research paper focuses on companies operating on the Swedish market, for that reason findings cannot be generalized to other countries and sectors. Practical implications: Findings can be used by LSP’s and political decision making parties to get a better understanding of the demand for this type of services and what is perceived as important by the customers. Originality/value: There is a lack of earlier studies that mainly focus on the demand of more environmentally friendly transport services. Therefore a study of this kind is important to create an understanding and thereby improve the overall situation on the market in terms of environmental sustainability.

The number of Fourth-Party Logistics providers (4PLs) is growing. Researchers have expressed the importance of measuring the performance of a business, but still there are only a few customised performance measurement frameworks developed for logistic service providers. This Master Thesis addresses this issue by performing a multiple case study at two 4PLs that are operating in separate industries, one in reverse logistics and the other in the construction industry. Previous research agrees that performance measurement frameworks have to be comprehensive and at the same time provide the right information in an understandable way. The Balanced Scorecard and the EFQM Business Excellence Model address this issue with different approaches and have been used in further developments of new frameworks. The empirical study found that none of the studied businesses had a well-developed framework for their performance measurement and therefore the alignment between their measurements and their business strategy was affected. Performance measurement frameworks, which have a wide application, do not have a flaw that make them unsuitable to use for a 4PL. Managers in the researched businesses therefore see a need for frameworks that are easily implemented and are customised to their specific situation. Moreover, the study found that no alignment had been developed yet between the customer and the 4PL. The businesses strive to align their KPIs among the partners they are cooperating with, down the supply chain, but are not interested in communicating them to their customers. Offering their customers full transparency might affect the businesses’ processes. Research connected to performance measurement specified to 4PLs and Logistic Service Providers (LSPs) in general is needed since the currently available research leaves space for uncertainties and further discussion.

No description available.

Globalization, economic volatility and uncertainty have impacted global business markets. This has also had an effect on the logistics and supply chain sector. The third party logistics (3PL) industry is constantly changing due to global industry consolidation, technology integration, industry specialization, and industry alliance networks. The most significant changes have been in areas such as 3PL industry size and make-up, services offered, geographical reach, and the information technology (IT) support provided. Companies can survive in a highly competitive environment by creating competitive advantage. Literature presents three different strategies for creating competitive advantage. These are cost leadership, differentiation and focus. Furthermore, innovations and collaboration between companies can also be strategies for creating competitive advantage. The purpose of this paper is to analyse from the retailers’ perspective, how 3PL providers could meet the customers’ needs better and create competitive advantage in the 3PL market. Furthermore, the purpose of the research is to find out which are, according to the customers’ needs, the best directions that 3PL providers should follow. This research contains both inductive and deductive research approach elements. The empirical data is collected through a survey and interviews. In total 45 retailers took part in the survey. Moreover, five of the survey respondents were selected for additional interviews. The collected data have been analysed by using theories and previous studies in the literature. The main findings from analysing the empirical data and the existing theory are that in order for 3PL providers to create competitive advantage, they should focus on the three elements: selection criteria, incentives and barriers. These influence their relationship with the retailers. 3PL providers should also try to enhance the service quality and satisfaction level in the fields of transportation, warehousing and reverse logistics activities. Most importantly, 3PL providers should provide logistics services and solutions that are in the same level with the retailers’ objectives. Furthermore, 3PL providers can also improve their efficiency and become more competitive by having deeper co-operation with other logistics providers.

Background:                 The development of recent means of transportation, information has increased opportunities for global business and it is very common that the companies involved in global business often need to outsource logistic function, as they cannot perform global logistics on their own. The need of service effectiveness for companies and operations efficiency from logistics service providers involves the minimization of the uncertainties associated with logistics outsourcing, therefore risks reduction measures must be implemented using logistics outsourcing. Research questions:     ­-    How do the Pakistani manufacturing and exporting companies currently outsource their logistics function in their downstream supply chain? -           What benefits they seek with respect to 3PL and 4PL? -           What factors they consider for outsourcing logistics? Purpose:                       To investigate the current logistics outsourcing situation of the Pakistani Manufacturing and Exporting Companies. What logistics functions they outsource, and the focus of the study is downstream supply chain. To study application of logistics outsourcing concepts i.e. 3PL and 4PL, services provided by these providers, and what benefits companies seek. What factors are important for them for logistics outsourcing and what fectors they consider for logistics outsourcing, what factors among these are important for them, who make the decision for logistics outsourcing? Method:                        The empirical data and the conclusions made from it are based on quantitative facts and figures collected through an e-survey. Results are drawn from responses of manufacturing companies that all outsource logistics. This thesis is written from a positivistic perspective with a deductive approach. Conclusions:                 The current logistics outsourcing situation in Pakistan is found to be uneven companies majorly concerned in textile manufacturing and are not in knowledge of the newer logistics outsourcing 4PL. Downstream supply chain is followed by cross-docking shipments. Cost factor is not that much important for companies but the timely delivery is more important.

Problem discussion: When different companies join into triadic relationships it is important that the relationships are managed properly. Findings have indicated that components for a successful relationship are high level of trust and commitment, risk/reward sharing, joint planning. To improve a triadic relationship, the actors have to measure the overall performance. In the triadic relationship that we have investigated there is obvious problems with information sharing and measure the same variables regarding delivery performance. Research Question: How can delivery performance be measured in order to adapt it to a triadic relationship? Objective: Our objective is to describe delivery performance as well as explain and adapt it to a triadic relationship. Conclusions: Delivery performance Almost every customer in our questionnaire thinks it is important to measure delivery performance. We claim it is of great importance for a triad to create a common method to measure delivery performance, where every actor knows when, where and how to measure. The criterion for effective KPIs are to measure the overall supply chain performance rather than the performance of an individual chain member. That is why we claim the best way of getting better information about how the 3PL provider perform should be integrated in the measurement of the overall delivery performance of the triad. The most efficient way to measure the 3PL providers’ performance is the 3PL provider uses a scanning system and reports the measurements to SCA. The actors within the triad must also measure the delivery performance in financial and non financial terms. It is important for the triad to have the same perceptions regarding split deliveries, delivery window, dependability and flexibility. If the actors use the same method to measure delivery performance, the measurements will be reliable and useful for all actors within the triad. Triadic Relationship We claim that information sharing is very important. The studied triadic relationships show that if a supplier should measure what is important they have to know what is important for their customers. Another important aspect for the supplier is to have information about how the customers perceive the delivery performance. To be able to have a good service quality all service gaps should be analysed and closed. To be able to close the service gaps regarding delivery performance in a triadic relationship, information sharing is the key. There have to be collaboration between the different actors of the triad. Important tools to use if this should be possible are connected computer systems and shared information between all actors.

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<p>Elektroniska affärer mellan företag har skapat en ny generation av logistik, e-logistiken. I e-logistiken är kraven på informations- och kunskapstillgänglighet större än på fysiska resurser. E-logistik bygger på att ha tillgång till rätt information på rätt plats i rätt tid. Det är därför viktigt att ha en så klar bild som möjligt av informationsutbyten i logistikprocesserna. Detta arbete syftar på att belysa vilka informationsflödena är i dagens e-logistik, samt vilka aspekter är viktiga att beakta med avseende på elektroniska informationsflöden i e-logistiken?</p><p>En tänkbar uppdelning av informationsflödena i e-logistik är före, under och efter transport. Det är huvudsakligen fraktdokumentation som fortfarande sker manuellt, annars är flödena fullt elektroniska. Det är viktigt att definiera ansvar för loggning och lagring av de elektroniska informationsflödena.</p><p>Huvudvinsterna med elektroniskt informationsutbyte är tidsbesparingar, ökad översyn, bättre informationskvalitet, effektivare arbetsprocesser, bättre relationer och mindre kapitalbindning. Problemen är behovet för dubbla system, brist på standarder för fraktdokumentation och ostrukturerade arbetsprocesser.</p><p>Elektroniskt informationsutbyte kommer att anses vara en självklarhet och kritisk överlevnadsfaktor i framtiden. Företagen öppnar sina informationssystem för sina partners i större grad. Tredjepartslogistik fortsätter utvecklas och eventuellt kommer logistikföretagen att ta hand om alla logistikfrågor. Detta kommer att påverka informationsflödena på olika sätt och nya informationstjänster skapas.</p>

<p>Detta examensarbete har utförts på Pan Nordic Logistics (PNL) i Bromma, Stockholm. PNL är ett konceptföretag som erbjuder sina kunder att skicka paket från, till och inom Norden och dessa transporter köper företaget av leverantörer. Ordet koncept- kommer ifrån engelskans concept, alltså begrepp, idé. I PNL:s fall innebär detta att företaget inte har någon egen fysisk distribution utan distributionen sker efter avtal med dess parter. Företaget ser idag ett problem i att det inte har full kontroll på hur leverantörerna sköter sina transportuppdrag gentemot PNL. Problemet är främst att PNL inte har kontroll på när leverantörernas lastbilar avgår och ankommer vid terminalerna i PNL:s standardflöde. Idag ska terminalpersonalen ange om lastbilarna har ankommit och avgått i tid i terminalrapporter, men eftersom personalen inte har full kontroll på alla lastbilar brister säkerheten. </p><p>Uppgiften består i att ta fram ett antal förslag på system för fordonskontroll, beskriva dessa och diskutera systemens för- och nackdelar. För att lättare kunna ta fram lämpliga förslag har en nulägesanalys utförts på hur företaget fungerar och hur dess spårningssystem ser ut idag. En kravspecifikation på systemet har tagits fram. Lösningsförslag har analyserats enligt Gunnar Stefanssons klassifikation (1999) kompletterad med ett antal attribut som jag har tagit fram. </p><p>De system som jag anser vara bäst lämpade att fungera som kontrollsystem i detta syfte är i rangordning följande förslag: </p><p>1. IR-teknik </p><p>2. Läsare på mobiltelefon </p><p>3. Nordic VLSI </p><p>4. Smarta kort </p><p>IR-tekniken fungerar så att en mobiltelefon med IR-port riktas mot en enhet, placerad på en terminal, som via IR genererar ett SMS-meddelande från mobiltelefonen till en server där informationen lagras. Jag anser att IR-tekniken är det bästa förslaget för PNL:s syfte, främst för att tekniken är lättanvänd, säker och förhållandevis billig. Läsare på mobiltelefon innebär att en liten streckkodsläsare kan sättas fast på en mobiltelefon, få ström från denna och då läsa en streckkod som anger vilken transport det rör sig om etc. Streckkodsläsare av denna typ är än så länge bara på prototypstadiet. Nordic VLSI innebär att då en knapptryckning sker får en radiosändare och en radiomottagare kontakt då de är i närheten av varandra. Informationen skickas vidare med en s k microcontroller med särskilda protokoll för ändamålet. Smarta kort består av ett plastkort med en transponder på som bär på ett unikt nummer. Det smarta kortet hålls upp fram framför en läsare och registreras då. Tekniken är säkrare än t ex kortteknik med magnetremsa. För samtliga förslag finns risken att chauffören glömmer att registrera ankomst och avgång. För att vara elt säker på att en registrering sker ska systemet vara automatiskt. Exempel på sådana system är RFID-system. Problemet med automatiska system är dock att de är relativt dyra.</p>