Hella Abidi

Humanitarian supply chain performance management: a systematic literature review

Purpose – This paper aims to identify the state of the art of performance measurement and management in humanitarian supply chains; to categorize performance measurement indicators in the five supply chain phases of Gunasekaran and Kobu (2007) and evaluate them based on the evaluation criteria of Caplice and Sheffi (1995); and to define gaps and challenges in this field and give insights for future research in this domain. Design/methodology/approach – A literature review has been conducted using a structured method based on Denyer and Tranfield (2009) and Rousseau et al. (2008). The state of the art on humanitarian supply chain performance management with a focus on measurement frameworks and indicators and their applications in practice is classified in three categories. The first category is the definition and measurement of success in humanitarian supply chains. The second category is managing performance, which focuses on describing and analyzing the actual practice of managing performance. The third...

Specific competencies in humanitarian logistics education

Purpose – The purpose of the research paper is to provide the humanitarian logistics community with an overall picture about competencies and skills in humanitarian logistics and if there is a lack of professionalization of the logistics function in humanitarian context from an international perspective. Further this research elaborates practical approaches how the skills and competencies can be enhanced and developed for international education programs. Design/methodology/approach – An empirical survey as approach was used. Hereby a descriptive analysis provides in a comprehensive way education, skills and competencies in humanitarian logistics. The respondents are from different countries and continents as well as from different humanitarian sector, e.g. humanitarian organizations (HOs), logistics service providers, military services and researchers. Findings – In general, the findings of the research paper present valuable insights of mandatory contents of education in humanitarian logistics as well a...

The value of fourth-party logistics services in the humanitarian supply chain

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to identify the value of fourth-party logistics (4PL) services in a humanitarian supply chain. Furthermore, it shows a framework for a fourth-party humanitarian logistics concept. Design/methodology/approach – The research paper presents a framework of fourth-party humanitarian logistics based on the four core components described by Christopher (2005) which was evaluated with a nonlinear approach called analytical hierarchy process (AHP). The AHP method explores qualitative and quantitative decision-making criteria in case of solving multi-attribute and complex problems. In total, seven experts from academia and practice have contributed to this research, resulting in a better understanding of the decisive needs of humanitarian supply chain actors for implementing and integrating a 4PL concept. Findings – The research shows an increased value for humanitarian supply chain actors of establishing a 4PL concept. The results present a positive influence of 4PL in comple...

Humanitarian supply chains and performance measurement schemes in practice

Purpose - – The purpose of this paper is to provide a system for the performance evaluation of humanitarian supply chains. The system will help humanitarian organizations (HOs) to make better decisions, improve their performance, and provide accountability, as well as helping them measure their operational performance during disaster response and reconstruction projects. Design/methodology/approach - – A holistic and implementable performance measurement system was developed to measure the operational performance of HOs during disaster response and reconstruction projects. The system is divided into five categories with several key performance indicators (KPIs) being identified for each; identifiers are qualitative and quantitative, as well as financial and non-financial. Findings - – Empirical testing of the system demonstrated the low use of existing performance indicators in humanitarian supply chains and the possible added value for HOs to improve their operational efficiency. Social implications - – The performance measurement system could help HOs improve their operations and resource allocation. Originality/value - – The paper is one of the first research contributions in which a sample of developed KPIs is empirically tested in various HOs. Prior to this paper, a limited number of articles examined the performance of HOs, and no defined system of KPIs existed. By analyzing real results in the field of the humanitarian projects and applying the proposed performance measurement system, it will be possible to define a set of best approaches to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of humanitarian supply chains.

Logistics Dynamics and Demographic Change

Change and dynamics in logistics are interestingly driven at the same time by external as well as internal forces. This contribution outlines a big data literature review methodology to overview recognizable external changes and analyzes the interaction of one major trend—demographic change—further in order to allow for change management and adaption concepts for successful logistics. Therefore, this may be a first blueprint of how to analyze and react to specific trends in a holistic manner embedded into a context and environment of trends and changes. This may allow logistics dynamics concepts also to be possibly more sustainable in terms of applicable for a longer period of time—and not to be overcome by other trends.

Sustainable Humanitarian Logistics Optimization—A Hub Concept for Germany Based on the Shapley Value

This research paper aims to demonstrate an innovative cooperation logistics concept for different humanitarian logistics phases, namely preparedness, response and recovery in particular for the response phase. Starting of the present lack of cooperation among actors in humanitarian relief chains worldwide the authors argue to build a cooperation logistics concept for German humanitarian organizations by using the Shapley value and showing the allocation of savings among possible partners of a centralized humanitarian distribution hub. The achieved savings and reduction of the logistics costs should be used for investment in relief goods and therefore in saving more lives as well as serving more beneficiaries in disaster cases. Furthermore, the cooperation between different humanitarian organizations would ensure the transit time of the required delivery time of 24/48 h and significantly would reduce transport and logistics costs because of bundling synergies.

Modelling Impact of Key Success Factors in Humanitarian Logistics

Recently the authors have explored strategic, tactical and operative key success factors for the humanitarian supply chain. Moreover, they have developed and tested a holistic and applicable performance measurement system for the humanitarian supply chain. Based on these results the impact of key success factors on performance is investigated: An impact model of key success factors on key performance indicators is developed and formulated. The evaluation of the model will be based on sequential qualitative system analysis for a first testing and analytical insights. Findings reveal that performance measurement in humanitarian logistics and humanitarian supply chains is still an open area of research, especially compared to the commercial logistics and supply chain sector. Moreover, it highlights how to identify and measure success in humanitarian supply chains. The results help humanitarian logistics and humanitarian supply chain actors to conduct further research in this area and to develop key performance indicators and measurement frameworks that suit the humanitarian logistics sector.

Applicability of Performance Measurement Systems to Humanitarian Supply Chains

Recently performance measurement in humanitarian supply chains has become a key driver to ensure efficiency and effectiveness of operations and overall sustainability. The purpose of this paper is to evaluate current performance measurement systems from the commercial sector for their applicability to the specificities of the humanitarian supply chain sector. In doing so, we adapt the evaluation criteria for an ‘appropriate’ performance measurement system from Caplice and Sheffi (1995) to the humanitarian supply chain context and apply them to well-known performance measurement framework from the commercial sector (Balanced Score Card, SCOR Model and Performance Prism). Findings indicate that the analyzed performance measurement frameworks have some potential to enable effective and efficient performance measurement of supply chains in the humanitarian aid sector in light of the established criteria.

Demografie und Urbanisierung in der Logistikwirtschaft

Der Beitrag diskutiert die Frage, welche Entwicklungen und Innovationen insbesondere im Schnittfeld von demografischer Entwicklung, Urbanisierung und Logistiksystemen erwartet werden konnen. Dazu werden neben den Beschreibungen der drei Bereiche insbesondere demografieabhangige Forschungsthemen der Logistik wie die Elektromobilitat oder die „neue“ City-Logistik vorgestellt und auf ihr Innovationspotenzial hin analysiert. Daraus werden Gestaltungsthesen abgeleitet: Nachhaltigkeit und Elektromobilitat hangen ins-besondere in urbanen Raumen von „added service“-Angeboten fur altere Menschen ab; interaktive „social transport networks“ auf Web 2.0-Basis werden die Stadte erobern; der stadtische Einzelhandel wird sich rund um Online-Auslieferungen neu organisieren; der urbane Raum wird weiterhin Impulsgeber fur Transport und Innovationssysteme sein.

Logistikeffizienz in der Handelspraxis - Einsatz der Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) in der Baumarktlogistik

Der Baumarkteinzelhandel ist mit einem Jahresumsatz von 38,2 Mrd. Euro eine bedeutende Branche in Deutschland und ein wichtiger Betreiber flachendenkender Beschaffungs-und Logistiksysteme. Durch globale und regionale Veranderungen wird weiterhin ein hoher Kosten- und Wettbewerbsdruck erwartet, welchem auch durch eine gesteigerte Effizienz in den Logistikprozessen begegnet werden muss. Der Beitrag stellt die nicht-parametrische Effizienzanalyse der Data Envelopment Analysis fur reale Betriebsdaten zu Logistikkosten, Lieferzeiten und Servicegraden aus diesem Branchensegment vor und zeigt deren Einfluss im Hinblick auf konkrete handlungsleitende Aussagen auf. Gleichzeitig werden Logistikkonzepte wie Beschaffungsbundelung, Cross Docking und Outsourcing in ihrem inharenten Potenzial fur Effizienzverbesserungen quantitativ bestatigt. Damit verweist dieses Beispiel einer praktischen Implementierung der Data Envelopment Analysis darauf, dass diese Methodik aus dem bisher eher wissenschaftlichen Umfeld auch fur den operativen Einsatz betrieblicher Benchmarkinganalysen bei logistikaffinen Unternehmen geeignet ist.