Abstract Since 3rd party logistics business has been an emerging opportunities for many new service providers entering into such an ever-changing technology and fragmented market, it has resulted into a price-sensitive and high competition industry. In order to sharpen the competitive power in this severe environment, this research is engaged in meeting the following purposes: 1. well position the 3rd party logistics services in the logistics business industry 2. articulate the business model to compete in 3rd party logistics services market. 3. propose a competitive strategy for a 3rd logistics services provider to outrace the peers This report has done in-depth interviews with industrial experts, referred to numerous research materials, addressed fields data from the company in this case study including KPI (Key Performance Indicators) and incorporated my personal professional experiences for more than 20 years to sort out the decisions factors in priority used for companies to select and evaluate 3PL services providers. A questionnaire has been developed to interview the senior managers in the customer sides accordingly. SWOT analysis and Weihrich strategic matrix are adopted to prompt the business strategy and direction for 3PL service providers in running their business in the future. The research results has turn out the #1 item for business customers to consider is in the area of ¡§delivery services¡¨; The SWOT analysis has also unveiled the needs of developing the business focusing in internal training, alliance with other partners, innovative service model and customer intimacy in different market segment. It implies that ¡§differentiation¡¨ is the appropriate competitive strategy for the 3PL service company in this case to run the business in the future to walk away from the situation of price competition. This research report could also serve as a framework for the other logitics and 3rd parties services companies to plan out their competitive strategies. For new comers to join the same market, it will be also helpful in positioning their services and making business decisions in a holistic view.

In an effort to reduce waste in construction projects, hence promoting value creation, the focus on the construction logistics becomes increasingly important, especially with increasing complexity of the project. This is in order to coordinate and effectively plan the routines and deliveries that occur regularly at the construction site. In an effort of becoming more efficient regarding this matter and to reduce the amount of waste, procurement of a third party logistics company that conducts all necessary logistical activities has become more and more recognized. The purpose of the master thesis is to analyze the procurement of a third party logistics company (3PL) and how it has been handled during a project life cycle and how to optimize this type of solution as a partnership and as a benchmarking method. Finally client perception and satisfaction of the executed work is analyzed, all of which are summarized in the research questions stated below: • How has the collaboration with the procured third party logistics company (3PL) been conducted during the project life cycle? • How is it possible to develop and optimize the collaboration with a 3PL in order to achieve better results in the future as a partnership and a benchmarking method? • What is the client perception and satisfaction of the executed work by the third party logistics company? The theoretical chapter will serve as a foundation of the thesis where the relevant concepts are described complemented with a comparative case study of two projects with relevance to the stated questions. The case study consists of documents and interviews with key participants. The result will show a holistic profitability with additional suggestions to further develop this type of collaboration as a benchmarking method, what is the next reasonable step of further optimization regarding 3PL procurement and what generalizations can be made.

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.

Nas últimas décadas a atividade logística vem recebendo status estratégico como sendo uma variável importante para a obtenção de vantagem competitiva por parte das empresas. Dessa forma, as organizações vêm investindo significativamente no desenvolvimento de sistemas logísticos ágeis e na coordenação eficiente das cadeias de abastecimento nas quais estão inseridas. No entanto, para não perderem competitividade e realmente agregar valor ao seu negócio, muitas dessas empresas estão se focando cada vez mais em seu core business e, consequentemente, transferindo para terceiros algumas ou todas as suas atividades logísticas como forma de reduzir custos e aumentar a eficiência de sua operação. Assim, este trabalho trata do problema de tomada de decisão de terceirização das atividades logísticas e de como viabilizar a seleção de um provedor de serviços logísticos (PSLs). Para isto, foi elaborada e proposta uma sistemática de apoio à análise e seleção de um PSL que agrega conceitos gerais de gestão de projetos e de análise multicriterial para embasar a escolha pelo PSL mais adequado. Nesse particular, foi utilizado o método AHP – Analytic Hierarchy Process - que permite tratar aspectos qualitativos e quantitativos, tendo sido aplicado a problemas que envolvem a tomada de decisão em segmentos distintos. Como forma de validação da sistemática proposta, ela foi aplicada parcialmente em uma empresa fabricante de motores diesel com forte viés na logística de abastecimento e que estava em processo de terceirização de parte de suas atividades logísticas. Como principais resultados, encontrou-se que a sistemática foi aderente ao ambiente empresarial encontrado, auxiliando a análise e compreensão das oportunidades e riscos relativos à terceirização das atividades logísticas e dos atributos importantes a serem considerados no processo de seleção e escolha do PSL que mais esteja adequado à realidade da empresa contratante; e mostrando adicionalmente que o preço não é o fator mais importante no momento da decisão. / In recent decades the logistics activity has received strategic status as an important factor for gaining competitive advantages for businesses. Thus companies have been investing significantly in the development of agile logistics systems and efficient coordination of the supply chains, in which they operate. However, to avoid losing competitiveness and really add value to their business, many of these companies are increasingly focusing on their core business and thus transferring to others some or all of their logistics activities as a way to reduce costs and increase efficiency of their operation. This work addresses the problem of decision-making on outsourcing of logistics activities and how to facilitate the selection of a Third-Party Logistics (3PL). For this, it was developed and proposed a system to support the analysis and selection of a 3PL that combines general concepts of project management and multicriteria analysis to base the choice of the 3PL that better fits the current needs. In particular, we used the AHP - Analytic Hierarchy Process - which could handle qualitative and quantitative aspects, since it has been applied to many decision-making problems in different segments. As a way of validating the proposed methodology, it was partially applied to a manufacturer of diesel engines with a strong bias in its supply chain logistics, which was in process of outsourcing part of their logistics activities. As the most important results, it was found that this methodology adhered to the business environment, supporting the analysis and understanding of the opportunities and risks for the outsourcing of logistics activities, as well as important attributes to be considered in the selection process and choice of a 3PL that is more appropriate to the reality of the contracting company. In addition, it showed that the price is not the most important factor for this decision.

Nas últimas décadas a atividade logística vem recebendo status estratégico como sendo uma variável importante para a obtenção de vantagem competitiva por parte das empresas. Dessa forma, as organizações vêm investindo significativamente no desenvolvimento de sistemas logísticos ágeis e na coordenação eficiente das cadeias de abastecimento nas quais estão inseridas. No entanto, para não perderem competitividade e realmente agregar valor ao seu negócio, muitas dessas empresas estão se focando cada vez mais em seu core business e, consequentemente, transferindo para terceiros algumas ou todas as suas atividades logísticas como forma de reduzir custos e aumentar a eficiência de sua operação. Assim, este trabalho trata do problema de tomada de decisão de terceirização das atividades logísticas e de como viabilizar a seleção de um provedor de serviços logísticos (PSLs). Para isto, foi elaborada e proposta uma sistemática de apoio à análise e seleção de um PSL que agrega conceitos gerais de gestão de projetos e de análise multicriterial para embasar a escolha pelo PSL mais adequado. Nesse particular, foi utilizado o método AHP – Analytic Hierarchy Process - que permite tratar aspectos qualitativos e quantitativos, tendo sido aplicado a problemas que envolvem a tomada de decisão em segmentos distintos. Como forma de validação da sistemática proposta, ela foi aplicada parcialmente em uma empresa fabricante de motores diesel com forte viés na logística de abastecimento e que estava em processo de terceirização de parte de suas atividades logísticas. Como principais resultados, encontrou-se que a sistemática foi aderente ao ambiente empresarial encontrado, auxiliando a análise e compreensão das oportunidades e riscos relativos à terceirização das atividades logísticas e dos atributos importantes a serem considerados no processo de seleção e escolha do PSL que mais esteja adequado à realidade da empresa contratante; e mostrando adicionalmente que o preço não é o fator mais importante no momento da decisão. / In recent decades the logistics activity has received strategic status as an important factor for gaining competitive advantages for businesses. Thus companies have been investing significantly in the development of agile logistics systems and efficient coordination of the supply chains, in which they operate. However, to avoid losing competitiveness and really add value to their business, many of these companies are increasingly focusing on their core business and thus transferring to others some or all of their logistics activities as a way to reduce costs and increase efficiency of their operation. This work addresses the problem of decision-making on outsourcing of logistics activities and how to facilitate the selection of a Third-Party Logistics (3PL). For this, it was developed and proposed a system to support the analysis and selection of a 3PL that combines general concepts of project management and multicriteria analysis to base the choice of the 3PL that better fits the current needs. In particular, we used the AHP - Analytic Hierarchy Process - which could handle qualitative and quantitative aspects, since it has been applied to many decision-making problems in different segments. As a way of validating the proposed methodology, it was partially applied to a manufacturer of diesel engines with a strong bias in its supply chain logistics, which was in process of outsourcing part of their logistics activities. As the most important results, it was found that this methodology adhered to the business environment, supporting the analysis and understanding of the opportunities and risks for the outsourcing of logistics activities, as well as important attributes to be considered in the selection process and choice of a 3PL that is more appropriate to the reality of the contracting company. In addition, it showed that the price is not the most important factor for this decision.

Nas últimas décadas a atividade logística vem recebendo status estratégico como sendo uma variável importante para a obtenção de vantagem competitiva por parte das empresas. Dessa forma, as organizações vêm investindo significativamente no desenvolvimento de sistemas logísticos ágeis e na coordenação eficiente das cadeias de abastecimento nas quais estão inseridas. No entanto, para não perderem competitividade e realmente agregar valor ao seu negócio, muitas dessas empresas estão se focando cada vez mais em seu core business e, consequentemente, transferindo para terceiros algumas ou todas as suas atividades logísticas como forma de reduzir custos e aumentar a eficiência de sua operação. Assim, este trabalho trata do problema de tomada de decisão de terceirização das atividades logísticas e de como viabilizar a seleção de um provedor de serviços logísticos (PSLs). Para isto, foi elaborada e proposta uma sistemática de apoio à análise e seleção de um PSL que agrega conceitos gerais de gestão de projetos e de análise multicriterial para embasar a escolha pelo PSL mais adequado. Nesse particular, foi utilizado o método AHP – Analytic Hierarchy Process - que permite tratar aspectos qualitativos e quantitativos, tendo sido aplicado a problemas que envolvem a tomada de decisão em segmentos distintos. Como forma de validação da sistemática proposta, ela foi aplicada parcialmente em uma empresa fabricante de motores diesel com forte viés na logística de abastecimento e que estava em processo de terceirização de parte de suas atividades logísticas. Como principais resultados, encontrou-se que a sistemática foi aderente ao ambiente empresarial encontrado, auxiliando a análise e compreensão das oportunidades e riscos relativos à terceirização das atividades logísticas e dos atributos importantes a serem considerados no processo de seleção e escolha do PSL que mais esteja adequado à realidade da empresa contratante; e mostrando adicionalmente que o preço não é o fator mais importante no momento da decisão. / In recent decades the logistics activity has received strategic status as an important factor for gaining competitive advantages for businesses. Thus companies have been investing significantly in the development of agile logistics systems and efficient coordination of the supply chains, in which they operate. However, to avoid losing competitiveness and really add value to their business, many of these companies are increasingly focusing on their core business and thus transferring to others some or all of their logistics activities as a way to reduce costs and increase efficiency of their operation. This work addresses the problem of decision-making on outsourcing of logistics activities and how to facilitate the selection of a Third-Party Logistics (3PL). For this, it was developed and proposed a system to support the analysis and selection of a 3PL that combines general concepts of project management and multicriteria analysis to base the choice of the 3PL that better fits the current needs. In particular, we used the AHP - Analytic Hierarchy Process - which could handle qualitative and quantitative aspects, since it has been applied to many decision-making problems in different segments. As a way of validating the proposed methodology, it was partially applied to a manufacturer of diesel engines with a strong bias in its supply chain logistics, which was in process of outsourcing part of their logistics activities. As the most important results, it was found that this methodology adhered to the business environment, supporting the analysis and understanding of the opportunities and risks for the outsourcing of logistics activities, as well as important attributes to be considered in the selection process and choice of a 3PL that is more appropriate to the reality of the contracting company. In addition, it showed that the price is not the most important factor for this decision.

Pallets play a very important role in whole distribution systems through the supply chain. Such a fact alone shows the importance of pallets in today’s fast growing global logistics. Due to the increasing number of regulations and policies regarding natural resource conservations and also sustainable development, the issue of pallet utilization, reuse and recycling matters became the core concern in most of the researches performed in this field.As a consequence, the presented report discusses the current problems, requirements and debates around pallets utilization in distribution systems in depth along with the other affecting factors such as Cost, Environment, Materials, Sustainability, Information Technology and so forth. To achieve such goals, the first step is recognizing the mass Industrial production factors and global market requirements for the current and future of pallet utilization in order to achieve the desired efficiency and effectiveness in practice with focus on standardized pallets utilization in specific regions like European Union.The second step is the considering of various pallet types compatibility in different environments with respect to unit load assignments both at present and future. The third step is to challenge the obtained data and observed results and also, to verify them according to the foreseen future requirements, tendencies and demands of pallets and unit loads assignments through the international logistics providers. The last step which is as well the most important part of this thesis report is, to put the information together in order to clarify and specify the encountered difficulties regarding usage of pallets with concentration on cost, environment and ergonomic issues.

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.

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.

While varies of supply chains are working on moving products towardsthe end consumers, there is also an increasing amount of productsbeing sent back. This has meant an increasing importance of the returnmanagement process. As many businesses have realized that the returnprocess has little connection with their core value, the idea ofoutsourcing return management crossed the mind of many companies.Third-party logistics (3PL) provider have also sensed the opportunityand begun to explore the possibility of providing such services forcompanies in need.