I takt med ökad konkurrens bland logistikföretag blir effektivisering av genomflödet och miljöpåverkan allt viktigare. För att en effektivisering ska ske krävs ett ständigt arbete för att finna de icke värdeskapande aktiviteterna och eliminera dessa i syfte att utveckla sin arbetsprocess. Därav är det viktigt att kartlägga och finna orsakerna till dessa aktiviteter för att möjliggöra eliminering. Syftet med denna studie är att identifiera icke värdeskapande aktiviteter samt vilka aktiviteter som har en negativ miljöpåverkan. Vidare undersöks även hur ett förbättringsarbete kan ta hjälp av förbättringsverktyg för att finna alternativa lösningar. Fallstudien har genomförts på företaget Holgers Stugmaterial AB där arbetsprocessen från det att en order kommer in till att returtagning är genomförd och kartlagd. Sekundärdata har samlats in genom vetenskapliga rapporter, fack- och kurslitteratur för att ge kunskap om ämnet. Genom intervjuer och observationer har en kartläggning av arbetsprocessen gjorts. Därefter har problem identifierats genom olika förbättringsverktyg för att kunna finna icke värdeskapande aktiviteter samt de aktiviteter som har en negativ miljöpåverkan. Resultatet av studien visar på att med hjälp av förbättringsverktygen Ishikawadiagram, fem varför och PICK-diagram kan ett antal icke värdeskapande aktivitet hittas. Den viktigaste icke värdeskapande aktiviteten som hittats var företagets lagerlayout vilket kan förbättras genom ett strukturerat 5S-arbete. Därefter kom problemet med informationsflödet mellan de ansvariga och personalen angående förbättringsarbeten samt miljöarbeten. Detta kan lösas genom en delaktighet från personal. Vidare var företagets användning av krympplast och deras extra transporter de två aktiviteter som har den största negativa påverkan på miljön. / Faced with increased competition among logistics companies, streamlining of the throughput and environmental impact is becoming increasingly important. In order for efficiency improvement to take place, continuous work is required to find the non-value-creating activities and eliminate them to develop companies’ work process. Thus, it is important to chart the problems, find the reasons for these activities and eliminate them. The purpose of this study is to identify which non-value-creating activities exist and which activities have a negative environmental impact. Furthermore, the study also includes an investigation of how an improvement can take advantage of improvement tools to find alternative solutions. The case study has been carried out at the company Holgers Stugmaterial AB at the point where the work process begins, and an order arrives to the point when the return is carried out and mapped. Secondary data have been collected through scientific reports, subject and course literature to provide knowledge on the subject. Through interviews and observations, a mapping of the work process has been done.Thereafter, problems have been identified through various improvement tools. Those tools were able to find non-value-creating activities and the activities that have a negative environmental impact. The results of the study show that thanks to the use of improvement tools such as Ishikawa diagram, 5 Whys and PICK-diagram, a number of non-value-creating activities can be found. The most important non-value-creating activities found were the company's warehouse layout which can be improved through a structured 5S work. Then comes the problem of the information flow between those responsible and the staff regarding improvement work and environmental work. This can be solved through participation from staff. Furthermore, the company's use of shrinkage load and their extra transports were the two that most affected the environment.

With product returns, reverse logistics management is causing a big environmental impact, especially product returns from online shopping provided by the third-party logistics (3PL) companies. There is a need for understanding in what ways 3PL companies could reduce the environmental impact and at the same time stay competitive. This thesis qualitative method is based on semi-structured interviews with the objective to highlight the management of return transportation. Specifically, the challenges for third-party logistics (3PL) companies to reduce their environmental impact by managing the transportation of product returns and keeping their economic performances. Supporting the study, 3PL companies and end-customers, in Sweden, proposed long-term organized advice (as additional service) to the 3PLs customers for helping them reducing cost and their impact on the environment. The study suggested that 3PL companies are required to emphasize the management of transportation agreements, not only to include adequate economic clauses but also the terms for achieving environmental performances. In the long-term, these agreements will allow 3PL companies to achievetheir environmental performances and remaining competitive. The study recognized that implication for managers might be, for them to keep updated on environmental changes applying that customer’s new demands could require a different way (than today) for managing their logistics organizations. For example, these changes could have great implications for early and consistent managerial actions, impacting the reverse logistics processes, like the transportation of the returned products.

Logistics outsourcing can be used as a strategy for companies that attempt to solve internal issues and/or improve their businesses enhancing their competitiveness. Such strategy is not limited only for large firms, even small companies have possibilities to implement it. This thesis addresses the decision making for outsourcing logistics activities in the context of a small e-commerce company in the fashion industry and also it intends to clarify what small e-commerce companies need to know when contemplating outsourcing opportunities. The purpose of this thesis is to provide guidance for small fashion e-commerce companies about what to consider when faced with a logistics outsourcing decision. The company ACQUO of Sweden (AoS) was referred to as the case study of this thesis. A literature review was conducted investigating previous related research to identify key factors to be considered when contemplating outsourcing and relevant theories to answer the research questions and the purpose of this thesis. The findings indicated that implementing outsourcing is not a simple quick task even for small firms, since it requires previous research, accurate analysis, evaluated decisions and well-planned establishment outsourcing process to achieve a successful outcome. In conclusion, an outsourcing decision should be taken cautiously. It should be based and justified through previous precise evaluations, potential benefits for the company and a suitable reliable TPL-partner. The findings are based on analysis and pattern matching between the literature and empiric data of this study. This study also refers eventual risks that TPL-relationships might imply and how to prevent them. Additionally, this study makes mention of disadvantages that small firms as AoS might have towards the TPL-market being a small e-commerce company that is considering acquiring TPL-services. / <p>Examensarbetet är utfört vid Institutionen för teknik och naturvetenskap (ITN) vid Tekniska fakulteten, Linköpings universitet</p>

The research question explores the viable options a shipper has in using different logistic solutions. An investigation was conducted by first understanding the different provider levels based on their activities and then differentiate the logistic solutions based on attributes that are important for a shipper in their supply chain. These attributes were; organization, information technology (IT), flexibility and transportation quality aspects. Once the investigation was done, it was applied on a case study at a shipper to help answer the research question. The study confirms previous findings and provides additional evidence that suggests that generally the logistic solutions definition match with the literature. The evidence shows that the third-party logistics providers need to be redefined due to the fact that they are capable of performing other logistic solutions activities within their company groups. Additional evidence from the shippers indicates that two of three that were contacted do not only use one type of logistic solution in their organizations or company groups. These findings suggest several possibilities of action for Shipper A to proceed in undertaking further studies of what the implications are of changing their current setup to another. Also the study confirms that Shipper A with the research question in mind has a viable possibility to insource to a second-party logistics provider from their current third-party logistics provider setup in certain flows. Other viable possibility is to outsource the third-party logistics provider’s activities to a fourth-party logistics provider. Based on confirmations the results have shown, all PLs are viable to use in all the flows except the African customers that are not able to use any form of second-party logistics providers.

Forecasting demand is one of the processes which greatly influences the decision making within a company, and it is also one of the greatest sources of uncertainty. Inaccurate forecasts force companies to find ways to compensate for the uncertainty, often by building inventories. On the other hand, accurate forecasts help companies to achieve better customer service and lower inventory levels. Cytiva is a global life science leader who manufactures high-technology laboratory instruments at their site in Umeå. To make sure that their transportation and storage spaces are sufficient, their down-stream suppliers require information about the quantity of the final products beforehand. But as of today, the company has inconsistent outbound inventory volumes. Thus, there is a great demand for increased visibility and predictability at the Umeå site’s outbound logistics. Further, Cytiva in Umeå bases their forecasting on manually calculated estimations which is both inefficient and can create errors due to human factors. These intrinsic information inconsistencies related to the outbound logistics is prone to creating bottlenecks in their overall supply chain. The main goal of this project is to increase the accuracy of these forecasts by developing a model. The outcome will be better estimations and clearer connection between the site in Umeå and the 3PL in Rosersberg. Additionaly, a good model makes the supply chain more efficient by creating better preconditions for managing the transportation and inventory at the receiving 3PL. To make forecasts for Cytiva’s outbound inventory, we chose to focus on two of the most common families of univariate time series models, namely the ARIMA and the Exponential Smoothing family. Based on these two families we have implemented, evaluated and compared six forecasting models. Initially, the modeling was done using daily observations in order to examine whether the models could improve the company’s demand for short forecast horizons. However, except for modeling on daily observations, we also widened the time interval by merging the observations into weeks to extend the modeling perspective even further. The results showed that the use of models can noticeably improve the estimations of the inventory and transportation spaces. We conclude that, among our models, the Holt-Winters using additive seasonality is the most optimal model when the forecasts are made on a daily time frequency, while the SARIMA model performs better on the weekly data.

This thesis proposes a model for selecting between insourcing logistics for local distribution and outsourcing these functions to a third-party logistics (3PL) company. Supply chain optimization, as well as global supply chain management, are topics that are now well-covered; local distribution, despite its integral function in an organization, is much less researched. Models exist for network design and optimization, but the practical application of these network models may call for decisions and considerations that are not covered in these optimization models. A breakeven analysis selection model between using in-house logistic system and 3PL is derived, considering various regional parameters. The model is subsequently tested with sample parameters. Using this system as a basis, the thesis then moves on to analyze the potential of employing in-house logistics where, based on client density, outsourcing to 3PL is initially thought to be more cost-efficient. The proposed model can be used for the evaluation and selection of logistics systems. In addition, the model can be used for decision making regarding inventory decentralization.

On paper and pencil multiple choice tests, the potential for examinees to mark their answers in incorrect locations presents a serious threat to the validity of test score interpretations. When an examinee skips one or more items (i.e., answers out of sequence) but fails to accurately reflect the size of that skip on their answer sheet, that can trigger a string of misaligned responses called shift errors. Shift errors can result in correct answers being marked as incorrect, leading to possible underestimation of an examinee's true ability. Despite movement toward computerized testing in recent years, paper and pencil multiple choice tests are still pervasive in many high stakes assessment settings, including K 12 testing (e.g., MCAS) and college entrance exams (e.g., SAT), leaving a continuing need to address issues that arise within this format. Techniques for detecting aberrant response patterns are well established but do little to recognize reasons for the aberrance, limiting options for addressing the misfitting patterns. While some work has been done to detect and address specific forms of aberrant response behavior, little has been done in the area of shift error detection, leaving great room for improvement in addressing this source of aberrance. The opportunity to accurately detect construct irrelevant errors and either adjust scores to more accurately reflect examinee ability or flag examinees with inaccurate scores for removal from the dataset and retesting would improve the validity of important decisions based on test scores, and could positively impact model fit by allowing for more accurate item parameter and ability estimation. The purpose of this study is to investigate new algorithms for shift error detection that employ IRT models for probabilistic determination as to whether misfitting patterns are likely to be shift errors. The study examines a matrix of detection algorithms, probabilistic models, and person parameter methods, testing combinations of these factors for their selectivity (i.e., true positives vs. false positives), sensitivity (i.e., true shift errors detected vs. undetected), and robustness to parameter bias, all under a carefully manipulated, multifaceted simulation environment. This investigation attempts to provide answers to the following questions, applicable across detection methods, bias reduction procedures, shift conditions, and ability levels, but stated generally as: 1) How sensitively and selectively can an IRT based probabilistic model detect shift error across the full range of probabilities under specific conditions?, 2) How robust is each detection method to the parameter bias introduced by shift error?, 3) How well does the detection method detect shift errors compared to other, more general, indices of person fit?, 4) What is the impact on bias of making proposed corrections to detected shift errors?, and 4) To what extent does shift error, as detected by the method, occur within an empirical data set? Results show that the proposed methods can indeed detect shift errors at reasonably high detection rates with only a minimal number of false positives, that detection improves when detecting longer shift errors, and that examinee ability is a huge determinant factor in the effectiveness of the shift error detection techniques. Though some detection ability is lost to person parameter bias, when detecting all but the shortest shift errors, this loss is minimal. Application to empirical data also proved effective, though some discrepancies in projected total counts suggest that refinements in the technique are required. Use of a person fit statistic to detect examinees with shift errors was shown to be completely ineffective, underscoring the value of shift error specific detection methods.

Globalisation and outsourcing have exacerbated the complexity of supply chains (Christopher, 2016). As a result, new business models have emerged to reduce the complexity of the supply chain by utilising supply chain management solutions. These business models serve as links in the supply chain that facilitate the integration of the functions of the primary organisation with those of other organisations. When disruptions occur in the supply chain, several parties are impacted. In this situation, supply chain and risk management methodologies can assist in assessing internal and external aspects during disruptive events. To understand the perspective of logistics service providers, this thesis examines Schenker Dedicated Services and Samskip's perceptions of disruptive events, the effects of these events, and how resilience plans are developed. In this context, a logistics service provider is an underlying link that helps its clients by applying supply chain management strategies such as coordinating, integrating, establishing connections, and cooperating.  We assembled a panel of supply chain practitioners with different roles at third-party and fourth-party logistics companies to investigate these factors. This panel had a role in our qualitative investigation and expressed their perspectives. It was discovered that their views of interruptions in the supply chain are comparable but slightly different. These discrepancies may be attributable to the company's business style, logistical networks, and geographic location. / Globalisering och outsourcing har gjort leveranskedjorna svårare (Christopher, 2016). Följaktligen har det växt fram nya affärsmodeller för att minimera komplexiteten i försörjningskedjan genom försörjningskedjehanterings verktyg. Dessa affärsmodeller fungerar som länkar i försörjningskedjan som i sin tur hjälper till att integrera den primära organisationens funktioner i andra organisationer. När störningar uppstår i försörjningskedjan påverkas många inblandade parter. I detta fall kan tillvägagångssätten för försörjningskedje - och riskhantering hjälpa till att mäta de interna och externa faktorerna under störningar. Schenker Dedicated Services och Samskips utformar den underliggande länken i försörjningskedjan. Detta leder till ett fokus på hanteringen av försörjningskedjan genom att samordna, integrera, upprätta länkar och samarbeta. Genom att undersöka Schenker Dedicated Services och Samskips uppfattning om störande händelser, dess effekter och hur motståndsplaner utformas fastställs logistiktjänsteleverantörernas perspektiv.  För att undersöka dessa faktorer valde vi en grupp av personer som är insatta med roller inom Schenker Dedicated Services som är ett fjärdepartslogistik företag och Samskip som är ett företag med inslag av tredjepartslogistik och fjärdepartslogistiks verksamhet. Gruppen var med i vår kvalitativa studie och delade sina uppfattningar kring ämnet. Det visade sig att de har liknande uppfattningar om störningar i leveranskedjan men med små skillnader. Dessa skillnader kan ha kopplingar till arten av företagets affärsmodell, deras logistiska nätverk såväl som deras geografiska område.

Background: Many processes play a critical role in making non-manufacturing operations work as optimal as possible. One of these processes that is an important part of these activities is the goods flow process. If this process does not function effectively, this can affect the entire business, which in turn will lead to huge costs and lead times. It is therefore important that the flow of goods in the terminal works well because customers nowadays require that goods that they place an order have to be delivered as soon as possible. Purpose: The aim of the study is to find solutions for streamlining flow of incoming and outgoing goods, which will reduce unnecessary transport distances between goods reception and delivery ports, as well as finding a solution for lack of surface. Methodology: All necessary information has been collected by using qualitative and quantitative data and with the help of various types of interviews: semi-structured and unstructured, as well as participating in observations to initiate process mapping and find new terminal design. Subsequently, cost savings were achieved by comparing the new and old terminal design, after that calculations were performed to see how much surface use was made more efficient with movement of LKM stock. Conclusion: By analyzing incoming goods flow and changing port usage in the terminal, in other words by increasing the number of ports for a department and by distributing goods flow between ports in an optimal manner, goods flow efficiency can be achieved. Non-manufacturing operations work can improve its productivity by optimizing floor space usage and eliminating waste and defects which effect goods handling. / Bakgrund: Många processer spelar kritisk roll för att icke-tillverkande verksamheter ska fungera så optimalt som möjligt. En av dessa processer som utgör en viktig del i sådana verksamheter är godsflödeprocessen. Om denna process inte fungerar på ett effektivt sätt kan det påverka hela verksamheten som i sin tur kommer att leda till stora kostnader och ledtider. Det är därför viktigt att godsflödet i terminalen fungerar väl eftersom kunder nuförtiden ställer höga krav på att gods som de lägger en beställning på skall levereras så snabbt så möjligt. Syfte: Studiens syfte är att hitta lösningar för att effektivisera flödet av in- och utgående gods som i sin tur kommer att minska onödiga truckkörningar mellan godsmottagning och utleverans portar, samt att optimera golvyta användning i terminalen. Metod: All nödvändig information har samlats in genom att använda kvalitativa och kvantitativa data och med hjälp av olika typer intervjuer: semi-strukturerade och ostrukturerade, samt genom deltagande observationer för att initiera processkartläggning och designa ny terminallayout. Därefter räknades kostnadsbesparingen fram som uppnåddes genom att jämföra den nya och gamla terminaldesignen, efter detta utfördes beräkningar för att se hur mycket användning av golvyta effektiviserades med LKM lager förflyttning. Slutsats: Genom att analysera inkommande godsflöde och ändra portanvändning i terminalen, det vill säga utöka antal portar för en avdelning samt genom att fördela godsflöde mellan portar på ett optimalt sätt kan godsflödeeffektivisering åstadkommas. Icke-tillverkande verksamhet kan förbättra sin produktivitet genom att optimera golvyta användning och eliminering av slöserier och brister i godshanteringen.

Purpose – The purpose of this study is To investigate performance targets within a 3PLcompany and the effect they have on financial and social sustainability. To fulfil the purpose of the study two research questions has been conducted: How does a 3PL-company use performance targets to increase the company’s financial value? How are the employees affected by the present performance targets? Method – To fulfil the purpose of the study a case study has been conducted at a 3PL-company were performance targets to measure individual performance is used. Two methods to collect empirical data were used. These two were interviews and observations. In addition to these two methods, a literature study were conducted. Findings – The study resulted in that the performance targets affected both the companies economic and social sustainability. The performance targets are used to negotiate a sustainable contract with the clients and to contribute with growth to the company and this affects the employees both positive and negative. Implications – The study has contributed to highlight the knowledge gaps that were identified which are that performance targets on an individual level is rather unexplored and also that RBV has not been used in warehouse environment before. The study also contributes to how performance targets affect the employees in a 3PL-company. Limitations – The study that were conducted was a single case study and are therefore not as generalizable as a multiple case study. The interviewees had previous experience from warehouse organizations and therefore did not notice any affects from the performance targets. The study would have been strengthened by having interviewees who does not have previous experience from warehouse organizations who could have a different view on performance targets. / Syfte – Syftet med denna studie är Att undersöka prestationsmål inom ett 3PL-företag och dess påverkan på ekonomisk och social hållbarhet. För att uppfylla studiens syfte har två frågeställningar formulerat: Hur används prestationsmål inom ett 3PL-företag för att öka företagets ekonomiska värde? Hur påverkas de anställda av de nuvarande prestationsmålen? Metod – För att uppfylla studiens syfte har en fallstudie genomförts på ett tredjepartslogistikföretag där de använder prestationsmål för att mäta individers prestation. Två stycken datainsamlingstekniker användes för att samla in empiri till studien, intervjuer och observation. Utöver dessa två datainsamlingstekniker har en litteraturstudie genomförts. Resultat – Studien resulterade i att prestationsmål har en påverkan både på ett företags ekonomiska och sociala hållbarhet. Prestationsmålen används av tredjepartslogistikföretag för att kunna förhandla ett hållbart kontrakt med sina kunder och tillföra tillväxt till företaget och detta påverkar ett företagets anställda både positivt och negativt. Implikationer – Studien har bidragit till att belysa de kunskapsgap som identifierats vilka är att prestationsmål på individnivå är ett relativt outforskat område och att RBV inte har använts inom lagerverksamhet tidigare. och hur prestationsmål påverkar de anställda inom ett 3PLföretag. Begränsningar – Studien som genomfördes var en enfallstudie vilket innebär att studien inte är lika generaliserbar som en flerfallstudie. Intervjuernas respondenter hade erfarenhet inom lagerverksamhet och märkte därför ingen större påverkan av prestationsmålen. Studien hade stärkts av att ha respondenter som inte har erfarenhet inom lagerverksamhet då de kan ha en annan syn på prestationsmål.