Henrik Sternberg

Applying a Lean Approach to Identify Waste in Motor Carrier Operations

Purpose - The purpose of this paper is to develop a waste framework for motor carrier operations by adapting the classical 7 waste framework, and furthermore, to validate it by collecting empirical data from several motor carrier operators. Design/methodology/approach - The chosen approach includes three steps, starting with analyzing qualitative data from a literature review and an interview study. The interviewees were experts from carrier operations, the lean field, carrier technology providers and carrier service buyers. The findings were validated with qualitative and quantitative studies at five motor carrier operators. Findings - The finding of this paper is a waste framework adapted to motor carrier operations that has been based on the classical 7 waste framework. This provides a structured framework of inefficiencies found in motor carrier operations. Originality/value - Previous literature is scarce on both holistic approaches to describing waste in carrier operations and in-depth studies of day-to-day transport operations. It is also a novel approach to use a waste framework for transport operations.

Design of global production and distribution networks: A literature review and research agenda

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to systematically and critically review the extant literature on the design of global production and distribution networks to identify gaps in the literature and identify future research opportunities. The design aspects deal with strategic and structural decisions such as: opening or closing of manufacturing plants or distribution centres, selection of locations for manufacturing or warehousing, and making substantial capacity changes in manufacturing, distribution or transportation. Design/methodology/approach – We examine the peer-reviewed literature on global production and distribution networks written in English. The search strategy is based on selected keywords and databases. We identify 109 articles from 1974 to 2012. Findings – We categorize the literature according to research methodology: case studies, conceptual modelling, surveys, and mathematical modelling. The amount of literature up to 2000 is rather sparse, while there is a positive trend from 2000 and onwards. The content analysis shows that different research methodologies focus on different but complementary aspects. We propose a research agenda for further research on design of global production and distribution networks. Research limitations/implications – We identify research opportunities related to complementary actor perspectives, extended supply chains that explicitly include transportation and suppliers, contingency factors, and new perspectives such as plant roles within production and distribution networks. Original/value – This paper is to our knowledge the first broad review that investigates the design aspects of the interrelationships between production and distribution facilities as well as transportation in global production and distribution networks across multiple research methodologies. (Less)

Who controls the fleet? Initial insights into road freight transport planning and control from an industrial network perspective

Research in logistics and supply chain management typically considers transport activities between shippers (sender), carriers (transport operators) and customers (recipient). However, a closer look into real-world road freight transport systems reveals more complex constellations involving multiple actors with different functions, leading to a fragmentation of transport planning and control activities and accordingly inefficient execution of road freight transport. The purpose of this paper is to pinpoint and explore the gap between supply chain transport theory and empirical reality in road freight transport control. In order to empirically indicate the complexity of control of road freight transport in supply chains, descriptive statistics of fleets in various countries was compiled and two in-depth case studies were conducted. Our finding is that several nested levels of planning and control have to be managed and our results underline the perception that previous approaches of transport planning and control are suitable for simple governance structures but do not cover complex multiple-actor constellations.

Transportation visibility and information sharing: a case study of actors' requirements

Information exchange between suppliers and customers has been extensively researched in recent years, but generally the transport operators have not been addressed. This work describes the information needs coupled with activities in an international transportation setup. To model the information necessary for each activity, an in-depth, exploratory single-case study of the intermodal transportation setup with return carriage was conducted and includes the full chain. Observations and complimentary interviews were carried out throughout the chain. The outcome of this work is an identification of the information needed to support a transportation setup involving 12 participants.

inTelligenT cargo - enabling fuTure'S SuSTainable and accounTable TranSporTaTion SySTem

Today, the transport industry is facing increasing demands on reducing both the environmental impact and cost of freight transports. Another demand, coming from the end consumers, is the demand for ecological accountability, so-called ecological foot-printing, meaning that the emission of every freight movement is distributed to the freight. Previous research shows that transport planning, system integration and control are some of the key factors to achieve more sustainable transport setups. One of the major obstacles preventing these factors is the complexity of international supply chains, with several involved actors. Smart Freight is a holistic concept, integrating transport management and state-of-the-art technologies for freight tracking and vehicle monitoring, in order to enable improved management and accountability of freight transportation. The purpose of this research is to explore how Smart Freight can be used to control, track and reduce the environmental impact of goods transportation. This research is based on two in-depth case studies and a demonstration prototype of one of the studied transport setups. An extensive amount of data was collected between 2006 and 2008 through interviews, video filming, document studies, physical travel with the freight flows, seminars, prototype building, literature and desktop studies. The result of this research highlights the weaknesses in todays control of transport operations and presents a model for how Smart Freight enables a more environmentally friendly and accountable transport system.

The Physical Internet – review, analysis and future research agenda

Purpose The Physical Internet (PI) is an emerging concept that applies the Digital Internet as a design metaphor for the development of sustainable, interoperable and collaborative freight transport. With the aim of aiding researchers and policy makers in their future efforts to develop efficient logistics systems, the purpose of this paper is to present a review of the existing literature on the PI, to critically discuss the concept and to outline a research agenda. Design/methodology/approach The literature review investigates scientific papers, project reports, specifications and other publications related to PI. In total, 46 publications were finally analyzed. The approach used in this paper is technology adoption by firms. The authors examine the PI based on four factors: organizational readiness (technological blueprints), external pressure (promised effects), perceived benefits (business model) and adoption. Findings A growing number of strategies, blueprints and specifications have been developed for PI, yet there are no currently developed models that illustrate how the move from the entrenched logistics business models to the PI could ensue. There is a lack of understanding of the business models needed that can involve critical actors and promote the adoption of the PI concept. Research limitations/implications While using the internet as a metaphor for reimagining physical transports is certainly exciting, this review and analysis suggest that several research questions need to be addressed before further PI blueprint work is carried out. Practical implications The “grand challenge” of sustainability in logistics needs to be addressed and improved, but the authors’ analysis suggests that, to some extent, it is uncertain how the PI will contribute to improving sustainability, and why logistics service providers should engage in PI. Policy makers and practitioners are provided with critical issues to consider in the practical development and adoption of the concept. Originality/value This paper provides an outsider and technology-adoption perspective of PI research, as well as important implications for policy makers and researchers.

Who controls transport emissions and who cares? Investigating the monitoring of environmental sustainability from a logistics service provider’s perspective

The purpose of this paper is to explore the environmental impact of logistics service provider (LSP) activities in the light of customer priorities and the fragmentation of the road haulage industry in Europe. It also explores the extent to which LSPs can actually monitor the environmental impact of logistics activities in the supply chain (SC).,The research is based on a narrative literature review, an interview study, a case survey and three in-depth case studies. A framework on sustainability challenges in SCs, derived from the literature, is used to structure and analyse the findings.,Despite the ambitious environmental schemes communicated by several LSPs, they show little interest in, and exert little control over, the actual emissions generated from their transport operations. It is clear from the results that any real concern from customers for environmental solutions which negatively influence the cost and time requirements of logistics services is not yet a reality.,This paper implies that LSP sustainability cannot be investigated in isolation if a company does not manage its proprietary resources (like owning trucks and employing drivers), but rather engage subcontractors.,Environmental policies among different LSPs appear to be similar as policies, but differ in practice. This variation of practices emphasises the importance of follow-up control by environmentally aware buyers of logistics services.,This paper represents a novel approach as to how LSP environmental policies should be viewed. It highlights the concrete need for action to achieve the environmental targets of 2020 and 2050 for carbon emissions from road transportation.

Exploring Security Effects on Transport Performance

The purpose of this investigation is to learn the effects of security on transport performance. The methodology is based on the analysis of multiple case studies, where data is collected by means of observations, focus groups, unstructured and semi-structured interviews. The findings from the empirical data seem to show that security measures may cause lower operational performance. Therefore, this paper discusses the importance of developing security capabilities to be integrated in existing logistics information systems. Only in this way will transport companies develop the capability to fully realise wins in terms of both security and efficiency.

Identifying root causes of inefficiencies in road haulage: case studies from Sweden, Switzerland and Germany

ABSTRACT Road haulage operations in general, and distribution in particular, are inefficient. Given the societal importance of road haulage and the low efficiency of the sector, road hauliers need to improve their operations and systematically tackle inefficiencies. However, the real causes of these inefficiencies, the ‘root causes’, have not been sufficiently examined in previous studies. This paper expands on prior research by adapting existing models that can be used to identify the root causes of inefficiencies, and to enable systematic improvements in road transport operations. Our research is based on a lean approach and an adapted version of Ishikawa’s model. It is shown as a matrix based on transport processes and the Ishikawa categories to identify the root causes of inefficiencies in road haulage that influence performance. The adapted model was tested in three road haulage case studies. Our findings suggest that most efficiency problems appear in the actual transport execution.

Informating Transport Transparency

This paper reports on an ongoing design-driven action research effort using information systems to promote transparency in the European freight transport industry. The current lack of transparency is linked to a growth of unsustainable business practices. This can be countered by reducing information asymmetry. However, access to reliable information is hampered by the severely fragmented organizational landscape of the transport industry coupled with the ephemeral nature of services and the inherently mobile and easily reconfigured resources of the trade. The research presented here utilizes mobile crowdsourcing techniques as a means to overcome these challenges and to reduce information asymmetry in the focal transport seller-transport buyer relation. The findings point to the positive impact of a crowdsourcing approach, yet highlight the importance of a balanced holistic network approach empowering all participants -- end customers, authorities, NGOs, buyers, intermediaries and sellers -- by reflecting their diverse incentives for information sharing.