The construction industry’s world is very complex, competitive and challenging. That means that everyone who is involved needs to be constantly updated and follow the latest technological trends and ideas to be able to work on a viable project by minimizing the problems.  Nevertheless, there are always different complications that arise mainly because there is not much attention given to logistics and logistics solutions. The purpose of this thesis is to identify the major problems in the Swedish construction industry as well as their corresponding logistics solutions applied by different companies. Moreover, this research will try to investigate how the use of the fairly new concept of Construction Consolidation Centers can improve the situation primarily with the material transportation. The current thesis was conducted by investigating the relevant literature and arranging interviews with a few of the many consultant companies working in the construction industry. The outcomes from both investigations are analyzed and compared showing that there are important differences between the theory (literature review) and the reality (interviews) as some of the main problems in real projects do not appear in the current literature. It is also clearly exposed that Construction Consolidation Centers are a game changer to this kind of projects and such a solution is suggested from both sides, while there is high necessity from the companies to emphasize on the logistics and invest more on their logistics solutions.

[pt] A terceirização das atividades logísticas é uma prática crescente no contexto atual e constitui uma estratégia de gestão para gerar vantagens competitivas. Apesar do aumento do interesse acadêmico sobre prestadores de serviços logísticos (PSL), são poucos os estudos que dedicam especial ênfase a sintetizar o estado da arte sobre PSL, sendo que as revisões de literatura na área existem apenas em língua inglesa. Assim, como objetivo desta dissertação é apresentada uma revisão sistemática da literatura em português sobre prestadores de serviços logísticos, comparando os resultados obtidos com revisões sistemáticas da literatura sobre PSLs disponíveis em língua inglesa. As publicações de interesse foram localizadas nas bases eletrônicas de dados Emeraldinsight, ScienceDirect, Scielo (Scientific Electronic Library Online), Google Acadêmico, e periódicos da CAPES. Utilizou-se o modelo (framework) de Marasco (2007) e o modelo de Maloni e Carter (2006) para organizar as informações da literatura sobre PSL. O modelo de Marasco (2007) inclui o contexto, a estrutura, o processo e os resultados do relacionamento Cliente- PSL. O modelo de Maloni e Carter (2006), também utilizado para guiar a revisão, forneceu as bases para estabelecer as variáveis de análise das informações, sendo elas: 1) definições sobre PSL, 2) motivadores para se terceirizar a logística, 3) inibidores, 4) processo de terceirização de serviços logísticos, 5) critérios de seleção e/ou avaliação de PSLs, 6) indicadores de desempenho, 7) atividades terceirizadas e 8) pesquisas futuras. Os resultados indicam que os modelos permitem identificar e organizar de forma eficiente os principais assuntos sobre PSLs, bem como as limitações das investigações existentes, oferecendo possibilidades de pesquisas futuras. Ao comparar os resultados obtidos com revisões sistemáticas da literatura sobre PSL em língua inglesa, são identificados vários aspectos em comum, mas também assuntos que diferem, e que são característicos dos PSLs do Brasil. Isso evidencia o fato de que a análise da terceirização da logística pode variar de acordo com a região e são necessários estudos que continuem ampliando o escopo geográfico da pesquisa sobre PSLs. / [en] The outsourcing of logistics activities is a growing practice in the current context, and it’s a management strategy to promote competitive advantages. Despite the increased academic interest in logistics service providers (LSP), there are few studies in literature that devote special emphasis to synthesize the state of the art on LSP, and the few literature reviews in the area exist only in English. Thus, the objective of this dissertation is to present a systematic review of the literature in Portuguese on logistics service providers, and to compare the results obtained to the systematic reviews available in English. The publications of interest were located by querying the electronics databases Emeraldinsight, ScienceDirect, Scielo (Scientific Electronic Library Online), Google Scholar, and periodicals by CAPES. The frameworks of Marasco (2007) and Maloni and Carter (2006) were used to organize the information of the literature on LSP. The framework of Marasco (2007) includes the context, structure, process and outcomes of the LSP-client relationship. The framework of Maloni and Carter (2006), also used to guide the review provided the basis to establish the variables of analysis of information, namely: 1) definitions of LSP, 2) motivations to outsource logistics, 3) inhibitors, 4) the process of outsourcing of logistics services, 5) selection criteria and / or evaluation of LSPs, 6) performance indicators, 7) outsourcing activities and 8) future research. The results indicate that the models allow to identify and to organize efficiently LSPs on the main issues, as well as the limitations of existing research, offering possibilities for future research. By comparing the results obtained with systematic reviews of the LSPs literature in English, several common aspects are identified, but also different issues characteristic of LSPs in Brazil. This confirms the fact that the logistics outsourcing analysis can vary by region and further studies are needed to continue expanding the geographical scope of the investigation of LSPs.

[pt] A prática de terceirização das atividades logísticas pelas empresas é bastante comum no cenário atual de mercado, onde as empresas buscam, cada vez mais, novas estratégias de auxílio no gerenciamento de seus negócios, bem como redução de custos, agilidade na solução de seus problemas, aumento do nível de serviço prestado a seus clientes e melhorias no desempenho. Através desta estratégia de terceirização, entram em cena os chamados Prestadores de Serviços Logísticos (PSL). Sendo assim, este estudo tem como objetivo avaliar o nível de utilização de conceitos básicos e de iniciativas e práticas relacionadas ao tema Gerenciamento da Cadeia de Suprimentos (SCM), pelos Prestadores de Serviços Logísticos atuantes no estado do Pará. Para isso, desenvolveu-se uma pesquisa survey de cunho quantitativo junto aos PSL, utilizando como instrumento de coleta de dados um questionário dotado de uma escala Likert de quatro pontos, onde, através de suas respostas, os entrevistados foram responsáveis por expressar qual o nível de uso dos conceitos básicos e das iniciativas e práticas, abordadas neste estudo, nos seus processos logísticos. Visto que a pesquisa se enquadra como quantitativa, para o tratamento e avaliação dos dados, foi utilizado um software estatístico e realizada uma análise estatística descritiva. Com os resultados, concluiu-se que, no que se refere ao uso tanto de conceitos básicos quanto de iniciativas e práticas de SCM, os PSL considerados na amostra estudada não possuem um nível de utilização muito bem definido, dada a grande variação observada entre as respostas. / [en] The practice of outsourcing logistics activities by companies is quite common in the current market, where companies seek increasingly new support strategies to manage their business, as well as cost savings, agility in solving their problems, increasing level service and improving performance. Through this outsourcing strategy, Logistics Services Providers (LSP) come into play. Thus, the objective of this study is evaluate the usage level of basic concepts and initiatives and practices related to the theme Supply Chain Management (SCM) by the logistics services providers operating in the state of Pará. For this, a survey research of quantitative nature was developed with these LSP, using a four-point scale Likert questionnaire, where the respondents were responsible for expressing what is the usage level of the basic concepts and of the initiatives and practices, exposed on this study, on their logistics processes. As the research is quantitative, a statistic software were used and a descriptive statistical analysis were made to evaluate the collected data. From the results, it was concluded that the LSP considered in the study sample don’t have a well- defined usage level, due to the large variations observed among the answers.

Purpose – The purpose of this study is to investigate how companies in third-party logistics operate within customized warehouse solutions to identify which factors affect the work processes.  Method – To fulfil the purpose of the study, a literature study was conducted to create a theoretical framework to obtain an understanding of the subject TPL. Furthermore, to fulfil the purpose, a case study was conducted at a TPL company. The case study consisted of interviews and observations in which generated the empirical data for the analysis. The outcome of the data was interpreted and analysed by triangulation in order to detect patterns from different perspectives.  Findings – It can be stated that the work conducted in TPL-companies with customized warehousing solutions varies, due to the fact that different customers, with different products are handled in different ways. Furthermore, it emerged that there are at least 11 factors, both external and internal, that are estimated to have a direct impact on the work process in TPL- companies with customized warehousing solutions.  Implications – The results of the study have contributed to increasing the understanding of how TPL-companies work with customized warehousing solutions and also contributed to identify a number of factors that affect the work processes. With the result obtained, the study has contributed to supplementing the lack of research concerning TPL from a TPL perspective.  By visualizing the work process in TPL companies with customized warehouse solutions and highlighting factors that affect the work process in customized warehouses, this study can contribute to support the internal work in TPL companies. Furthermore, the improvement measures presented for seven of the factors can be used as a tool for TPL companies.  Limitations – The limitations of the study are that only one TPL company was included in the case study and three of the case company’s employees participated in the empirical collection. If multiple TPL companies and respondents with different areas of responsibility, one could assume that more factors than the 11 found in this study, could have been identified. Thus, the generalizability is limited for the study.

Bakgrund – Essity, en framstående aktör inom hygien- och hälsobranschen, står inför utmaningar gällande logistikflödet för konsumentprodukter från produktionsanläggningen i Lilla Edet till kunder i Danmark. Den nuvarande logistikprocessen involverar intern transport med egna lastbilar till externa lager. I detta sammanhang är det av yttersta vikt att säkerställa snabba och kostnadseffektiva leveranser, samtidigt som kundtillfredsställelse upprätthålls. Syfte – Projektet syftar till att analysera och optimera Essitys nuvarande logistikflöde för konsumentprodukter. Fokus ligger på att identifiera potentiella förbättringar för att säkerställa smidiga och effektiva leveranser till den danska marknaden. En central del av studien innefattar även övervägandet av att integrera en tredjepartslogistikpartner (3PL) för att ytterligare förbättra logistikstrukturen. Metod – En omfattande metodik har använts, där både kvalitativa och kvantitativa aspekter har analyserats. Genom intervjuer och observationer har data samlats in för att skapa en holistisk förståelse för nuvarande logistikflöde och eventuella alternativa lösningar. Resultat och diskussion – Den omfattande analysen av Essitys nuvarande logistikflöde avslöjar viktiga insikter. Den befintliga metoden, med intern transport till externa lager, visar sig vara ekonomiskt gynnsam, särskilt när kontrakterade kostnader för externa lager och andra projektrelaterade utgifter för år 2023 beaktas. Det är värt att notera att de ekonomiska data för en alternativ lösning från en potentiell 3PL-leverantör gäller för år 2025. För att förstå möjliga förändringar i kostnader över tid har hänsyn tagits till den potentiella ökningen av kostnaderna för den befintliga metoden. Diskussionen inkluderar också miljöaspekter, där olika lösningar övervägs för att identifiera den mest hållbara och lönsamma strategin för Essitys logistik. Lösning 2, som involverar byggandet av ett nytt lager (green warehouse) och användning av elfordon och HVO-drivna lastbilar, presenterar sig som en hållbar inriktning som kan minska CO2-utsläppen och bidra till Essitys övergripande mål att minska miljöpåverkan. Rekommendationer för Essity – Baserat på resultaten av analysen rekommenderas Essity att genomföra en benchmarking för att undersöka erbjudanden från andra potentiella 3PL- leverantörer. Förhandlingar med det nuvarande externa lagret för att förbättra prisstrukturen bör övervägas, särskilt med tanke på de betydande totala kostnaderna för båda lösningarna. Slutligen bör Essity överväga att göra en strategisk investering i att bygga ett utökat manuellt lager nära det befintliga, vilket kan möjliggöra ökad flexibilitet och kostnadseffektivitet över tiden. / Background – Essity, a prominent player in the hygiene and health industry, faces challenges regarding the logistics flow for consumer products from its production facility in Lilla Edet to customers in Denmark. The current logistics process involves internal transportation with company-owned trucks to external warehouses. In this context, ensuring swift and cost- effective deliveries while maintaining customer satisfaction is of utmost importance. Purpose – The project aims to analyze and optimize Essity's current logistics flow for consumer products. The focus is on identifying potential improvements to ensure smooth and efficient deliveries to the Danish market. A central part of the investigation also involves considering the integration of a third-party logistics partner (3PL) to further enhance the logistics structure. Method – A comprehensive methodology has been employed, analyzing both qualitative and quantitative aspects. Through interviews and observations, data has been collected to gain a holistic understanding of the current logistics flow and potential alternative solutions. Results and Discussion – The extensive analysis of Essity's current logistics flow reveals crucial insights. The existing method, involving internal transport to external warehouses, proves to be economically advantageous, especially when considering contracted costs for external warehouses and other project-related expenses for the year 2023. It is worth noting that the economic data for an alternative solution from a potential 3PL provider applies to the year 2025. To understand possible changes in costs over time, considerations have been made for the potential increase in costs for the existing method. The discussion also includes environmental aspects, where different solutions are considered to identify the most sustainable and profitable strategy for Essity's logistics. Solution 2, involving the construction of a new warehouse (green warehouse) and the use of electric vehicles and HVO-driven trucks, presents itself as a sustainable approach that can reduce CO2 emissions and contribute to Essity's overall goal of reducing environmental impact. Recommendations for Essity – Based on the results of the analysis, Essity is recommended to conduct a more in-depth benchmarking to explore offerings from other potential 3PL providers. Negotiations with the current external warehouse to improve the price structure should be considered, especially considering the significant total costs for both solutions. Finally, Essity should contemplate making a strategic investment in building an expanded manual warehouse near the existing one, enabling increased flexibility and cost-effectiveness over time.

Under de senaste fem åren har e-handlare börjat att outsourca sina lager och sin logistik till tredjepartslogistiker. E-handlarna vill kunna skräddarsy en lager och logistiklösning som uppfyller verksamhetens krav tillsammans med bolag som är experter på lager och logistik. Uppgiften är däremot komplicerad på grund av att e-handlare inte alltid vet vilken lösning som är bäst för deras verksamhet och har svårt att specificera vad som är deras behov. Dessutom har e-handlare ofta svårt att lära sig om tredjepartslogistikers roll i verksamheten och dra maximal nytta av samarbetet när tredjepartslogistiker väl har tagit över. E-handlares önskan om skräddarsydda lösningar ställer dock stora krav på tredjepartslogistiker på grund av att de måste anpassa sina verksamheter till många unika kunder, vilket kräver mycket kunskap och resurser. Uppgiften kompliceras ytterligare på grund av att tredjepartslogistiker, som är vana vid industrikunder, är osäkra på vad e-handelsföretag egentligen värdesätter och hur de skall arbeta värdeskapande från den initiala kontakten tills dess att någon part väljer att avsluta samarbetet. I dagsläget ställs det således stora krav på tredjepartslogistiker som arbetar mot e-handlare och författarna har därför valt att undersöka processen. Mer specifikt handlar examensarbetets syfte om att besvara med vilka aktiviteter som tredjepartslogistiker kan öka e-handelsföretagens upplevda värde, i försäljningsprocessens olika faser.   För att besvara syftet används först och främst teori kring värde, värdeskapande och försäljningsprocesser, vilket ligger till grund för en analysmodell och examensarbetets huvudstudie. Genom att konstruera en workshop där e-handlare får placera ut kort som representerar fördelar i en försäljningsprocess med fem faser, får författarna underlag för att kunna sluta sig till vilka fördelar e-handlare anser vara värdeskapande i de olika faserna. Varje fas analyseras sedan var för sig för att matcha fördelarna till aktiviteter hämtade från teorin om försäljningsprocesser. Genom att justera aktiviteterna med hänsyn till underlaget från huvudstudien resulterar varje analys i aktiviteter som en tredjepartslogistiker kan utföra för att öka e-handelskundernas upplevda värde. Analyserna har resulterat i ett ramverk av aktiviteter som strukturerar upp hur tredjepartslogistiker bör fokusera sina resurser och strukturera sina aktiviteter i försäljningsprocessens faser. Tillsammans med författarnas rekommendationer ger ramverket en struktur för hur tredjepartslogistiker bör arbeta om de vill öka e-handelskunders upplevda värde. / During the past five year online retailers have started to outsource their warehouse and logistics to third-party logistic providers. Online retailers’ reason for outsourcing are the possibility to develop a tailored solution, with regards to their businesses’ needs, as well as doing it together with a partner whom is an expert on warehouse management and logistics. However, outsourcing is a problematic and major decision for online retailers to make. Especially since they do not necessarily know how to specify their needs and select the best possible solution for their businesses. Additionally, online retailers find it challenging to incorporate third-party logistic providers and use their abilities and expertise optimally. Online retailers’ demand for tailored solutions stresses third-party logistic providers’ operations since they have to adapt their offering to multiple customers, which requires flexibility, resources, and knowledge. In addition, third-party logistic providers are accustomed to traditional industries. Therefore, they lack understanding of online retailers’ preferences and does not know how to create value in the process from an initial contact to an ongoing relationship.   In summary, there are huge demands on third-party logistic providers that have chosen to focus on online retailers. Therefore, the authors of this thesis have decided to investigate the process. More specifically the purpose of this thesis is to investigate by which activities third-party logistic providers can effectively increase online retailers perceived value in the sales process’ phases.   In order to achieve the purpose of this thesis the authors have applied theory of value, value-creation, and sales processes to design a model of analysis and develop the main study. With respect to the model of analysis a workshop was used, where online retailers got to place cards (representing benefits) in a sales process with five phases (representing the relation between online retailers and third-party logistic providers) to give the authors a basis for analysis. The online retailers had to select if they perceived a benefit to be of importance during different phases. Thereafter, each phase was analysed to pair benefits with activities that was found in theory about sales processes. By adjusting each activity with respect to data from the main study, each analysis resulted in activities that can be performed by third-party logistic providers in order to increase online retailers perceived value. Conclusions from the assays were then used to build a framework, structuring how third-party logistic providers should focus its resources and organize its activities in the phases of the sales process. Along with the authors’ recommendations the framework provides a structure for third-party logistics providers to be used in order to increase online retailers perceived value.

Bakgrund: Outsourcing av delar eller hela logistikflödet till tredjepartslogistiker har ökatavsevärt de senaste åren. Detta har satt press på tredjepartslogistikföretagen. Alwex Lager och logistik är ett tredjepartslogistikföretag som utför tjänster åt andra företag i form av materialhantering. Materialhanteringsprocessen i lagret är en av de processerna som innehåller mest icke värdeadderande aktiviteter och som har störst förutsättningar att kunna effektiviseras. För att tredjepartslogistiker ska kunna fortsätta vara attraktiva på marknaden måste de kunna möta en förändrad marknad på både kort och långsikt. Syfte: Syftet med den här studien är att underlätta för andra tredjepartslogistiker som har liknande icke värdeadderande aktiviteter i sin materialhanteringsprocess som Alwex Lager och Logistik AB. Genom de kort och långsiktiga lösningar som författarna har identifierat är syftet att de ska hjälpa dem att eliminera deras icke värdeadderande aktiviteter och minska totala kostnader. Metod: Den här studien är en kvalitativ fallstudie utförd på Alwex Lager och Logistik AB. Den teori som presenteras är främst insamlad från aktuella artiklar. Empirin som presenteras är insamlad genom intervjuer och fokusgrupper med anställda på Alwex. Resultat: Författarna har identifierat att det under aktiviteten orderplock i en materialhanteringsprocess uppstår flest icke värdeadderande aktiviteter och högst kostnader. Detta har bidragit till att fokus har lagts på att finna lösningar som eliminerar ickevärdeadderande aktiviteter och minska totala kostnader inom plock. Fallstudien presenterar två kortsiktiga och två långsiktiga lösningsförslag som eliminerar icke värdeadderandeaktiviteter och minskar totala kostnader kopplade till en materialhanteringsprocess. Lösningarna som har identifierats minskar tidsåtgång för identifierade icke värdeadderandeaktiviteter med 23-75% och totala kostnader med 23-32%. / Background: Outsourcing of parts or the entire logistics flow to a third-party logisticprovider have increased significantly in recent years. This has led to high pressure on the thirdparty logistics companies. Alwex Lager och Logistik is a third-party logistics provider that performs services for other companies in form of material handling. The material handlingprocess in the warehouse is one of the main areas that contain the most non-value-adding activities and therefore have the greatest opportunity for streamlining. In order for a thirdparty logistics provider to continue to be attractive on the market, they must be able to meet a changing market on both short and long terms. Purpose: The purpose of this study is to find short-term and long-term solutions that eliminates non value adding activities and reduces total costs in the material handling process in a third-party logistics provider. Methods: This study is a qualitative case study of the material handling process at the third-party logistics provider Alwex Lager & Logistik AB. The theoretical chapter is based on current literature mainly from articles. The empirical chapters are based on data collected through interviews and focus groups. Findings: The authors have identified that most of the non-value-adding activities and highest costs appears during the picking activity in a material handling process. This has led to the focus of the study being placed on finding solutions that eliminate non-value-adding activities and reduce total costs within picking. This case study presents two short-term and two long-term solutions that eliminate non-value adding activities and reduces total costs associated with a material handling process. The solutions that have been identified to reduce non valueadding time by 23-75% and total costs by 23-32%

Submitted by Silvana Teresinha Dornelles Studzinski (sstudzinski) on 2016-05-06T16:52:30Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Alessandra Vitorino Razzera_.pdf: 1279640 bytes, checksum: e2e6bd52fb501079f94aa2453e161fcd (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2016-05-06T16:52:30Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Alessandra Vitorino Razzera_.pdf: 1279640 bytes, checksum: e2e6bd52fb501079f94aa2453e161fcd (MD5) Previous issue date: 2016-02-29 / Nenhuma / A partir da abertura comercial brasileira ocorrida nos anos 90, a participação das importações de bens obteve um considerável crescimento, em razão do desenvolvimento econômico e da própria globalização. Dentro da área de operações das organizações, a função de importação relaciona distintos agentes logísticos, no contexto da cadeia de suprimentos (supply chain), demandando soluções inovadoras, as quais necessariamente passam pelos prestadores de serviços logísticos terceirizados, ou third party logistics – TPL. Assim, o presente estudo buscou analisar o papel dos prestadores de serviços logísticos terceirizados, no desenvolvimento de soluções logísticas inovadoras em importação, no Brasil. Para tanto, foi realizado um estudo de caso múltiplo, com quatro prestadores de serviços logísticos no Brasil, elegidos por meio do ranking da instituição ILOS de 2014, referente aos prestadores de serviços logísticos que mais se destacaram no mercado brasileiro naquele ano. Por meio da estratégia de estudo de caso múltiplo, foram realizadas entrevistas em profundidade com os prestadores de serviços logísticos e com um cliente destes. Após esta etapa, os dados coletados nas entrevistas foram compilados e triangulados, junto a apresentações e folders de serviços que foram disponibilizados e indicados como inovadores, além dos respectivos websites e informações provenientes da internet. O presente estudo multicascos, destaca o papel dos prestadores de serviços logísticos no desenvolvimento de soluções logísticas inovadoras do tipo tecnológicas. Os resultados encontrados, demonstram que as inovações são empurradas pelos direcionamentos dos clientes na maioria das vezes, porém puxadas, quando há uma abertura para as mudanças alicerçada em confiança, relacionamento, entendimento da cadeia de suprimentos dos importadores e de sua real necessidade, um trabalho interno e externo, minucioso e constante, comunicação, desenvolvimento de pessoas, background em logística, atuação institucional e pró-atividade. / From the Brazilian trade opening occurred in the 90s, the share of import goods achieved a considerable growth, as a result of the economic development and globalization. Within the operations area of the organizations, the import function relates different logistics agents in the context of the supply chain, requiring innovative solutions, which necessarily pass through the outsourced logistics service providers, or, third party logistics - TPL. The present research investigates the role of third party logistics service providers, in the development of innovative logistics solutions for imports in Brazil. Thus, a multiple case study was conducted with four logistics services providers in Brazil, chosen by the ranking of ILOS 2014 institution, related to the logistics service providers that stood out in the Brazilian market that year. Through a multiple case study strategy, depth interviews were conducted with the logistics service providers and a client of these. After this step, the data collected in the interviews was compiled and triangulated, along with presentations and brochures of services provided by the TPL’s and indicated as innovative, beyond the respective websites and information from the internet. This search highlights the role of logistics service providers, in the development of innovative logistics solutions of the technological type. The results show that innovations are driven by customer directions most of the time, but pulled when there is an opening for the change, based in trust, relationship, understanding of the importers supply chain and their real need, an internal and external work, thorough and constant, communication, people development, background in logistics, institutional action and proactivity.

<p>The demand for shorter lead-times and increased delivery reliability puts pressure on companies to provide more efficient logistic services. One strategy to deal with this demand is by outsourcing logistics to a third part. The development of logistics information systems enables increased control over business supply chains. This is why Green Cargo aims to create a Logistics Control Tower (LCT) solution to provide it’s customers with better information with higher availability. One such system is the Green Cargo control tower solution, which aims to improve information quality and availability alike. This is also the origin of this thesis at Green Cargo Division Logistics. The aim of this project was to identify the information needs in the logistic processes connected to Green Cargo Division Logistics, and to present a requirement specification for a LCT. The LCT will be designed to work as an information and decision support system. The main source of information was collected through interviews with customers of Green Cargo, as well as personnel at Green Cargo. </p><p>The research findings suggest that there is potential for improvement within the information flow between Green Cargo and the other parties involved in the logistic process. A need for improved information flows and communication became apparent through the investigation. We therefore suggest that Green Cargo develops a LCT containing functions such as cost follow-up, statistics, stock level information, order information, proof of delivery, track&trace, notification, environment information, and invoice control. Whilst some of these functions are yet to be introduced, others are basic functions already provided for by Green Cargo, but could nonetheless be improved. Most of the suggested functions are generated through the customers needs while invoice control and automated notification is a demand from Green Cargo personnel. A web interface with the possibility to adapt the content to different customers could serve as a solution to these needs. Input to the LCT is collected from different information systems such as vendor management systems and databases at logistic service providers.</p>

<p>In this thesis the Third-Party Logistics (3PL) partnership between the Japanese trading company Gadelius and the European logistics provider Mahé is investigated. This was done as a case study, mainly taking place on location at Gadelius’ headquarter in Tokyo.</p><p>The purpose has been to identify and evaluate the fulfilment of initial objectives, both with respect to agreed on terms and expectations of each party, analyze the reasons behind result and provide recommendations for the future.</p><p>In terms of what is strictly defined and agreed on in the contract the partnership is principally fulfilled, but this setup is not good in terms of how full 3PL-effects could be achieved.</p><p>The not so strictly defined parts of the contract stating that Mahé should work proactively are however not fulfilled to the same degree. This is connected to the lack of a dedicated Mahé representative being integrated into the OtD-team at Gadelius.</p><p>Because of this Gadelius’, to begin with very high, expectations on effects have become unrealistic, which has contributed to bad sentiments against Mahé and their capabilities. This has further been enhanced by Key Performance Indicators that don’t fully match the essential objectives with the partnership.</p><p>To change the situation two possible ways for the future are presented. If Gadelius’ focus is on indirect cost reductions an expanded partnership should be chosen, while a focus on direct cost reductions and a need for an easier change implementation call for a more limited partnership. For both alternatives new ways for measuring performance are suggested.</p>