Melvyn Peters

Third party logistics in Europe - five years later

Discusses the results of a survey among shippers in several European countries involved in outsourcing their transport, warehousing and other logistics activities. The survey, which is a joint initiative of the universities of Cranfield, Eindhoven, Linkoping and Rotterdam (Erasmus) and of ManDat GmbH, is a sequel to a similar survey carried out five years ago and has led to a renewed insight into the characteristics of logistics partnerships, the key success factors for making partnerships work, the concerns that shippers have about outsourcing and the benefits they expect to receive from it. The survey has led to two major observations: first, that the scope and level of sophistication of the partnerships has increased over the last five years, be it very gradually, and second, that the perception of outsourcing by shippers has not changed over the last five years.

WHAT IS THE RIGHT SUPPLY CHAIN FOR YOUR PRODUCTS

In order to have a successful supply chain, in terms of total supply chain costs and service performance to the customer, companies need to match the type of products they are selling with the type of distribution channels delivering their products. To test this hypothesis a product supply characterization (PSC) model was developed and validated on the European operations of a US

The Third-Party Logistics Industry in Europe: Provider Perspectives on the Industry's Current Status and Future Prospects

15 billion case study company. The application of the PSC model to the case study company reveals significant value in matching specific product clusters with appropriate supply chain designs and that any mismatch represents supply chain under performance.

The use of third-party logistics services by European industry

ABSTRACT This study reports the findings of a survey of the Chief Executive Officers (CEOs) of 16 large third-party logistics companies in Europe. It provides data concerning the evolution, status and future prospects of the industry. The CEO responses give insight into such matters as company size, service offerings, geographical coverage, marketing strategies and revenues. The CEOs are fairly conservative with respect to the growth prospects of their companies and the industry. According to the CEOs, the most important dynamics operating in the marketplace are growing customer interest in outsourcing a broader array of logistics services, downward pressure on prices and increased customer desire for one-stop shopping. They believe the most important problems faced by the industry are systems development costs, and matching promises with performance. They also believe that continued internationalisation provides the industrys greatest opportunity.

Logistics Performance in Europe: The Challenge of 1992

Logistics managers in Europes leading manufacturing and commercial organisations were surveyed regarding their use of third-party logistics (TPL) services. Their responses provide insights into the depth and scope of logistics outsourcing in Europe. Areas specifically addressed in the European survey include; services being used, related implementation problems, the benefits that have emerged and the impact of third-party services on costs, customer satisfaction and employees. The results indicate that logistics outsourcing, at least for basic services, has become well established in Europe. Emphasis on logistics cost reduction, service improvement and flexibility of response are at the centre of most logistics outsourcing decisions. On the downside there is a mixed response on employee morale associated with outsourcing.

L’externalisation des services logistiques dans le secteur industriel au Royaume-Uni et en Europe continentale

The market for logistics services in Europe is undergoing unprecedented change. Not only is it being affected by world‐ scale developments, such as the globalization of manufacturing industry and the genesis of internationalisation in retailing, but there are major impacts within Europe itself. Numbered amongst these are; the effects of 1992 and the Single European Market on logistics users (e.g. manufacturers and retailers); deregulation of international road haulage within the European Community (EC) deregulation of domestic road haulage within many EC countries: increased specialisation of service for road freight companies; and the adoption of logistics concepts to give a unified view of the flow of goods from input sources to the delivery of final products to customers. To speak of a coming revolution in European logistics would not be overstating the case.

An Assessment of Air cargo Service Costs and Capacity for Electronic Manufacturers in Scotland

Les responsables logistique des plus importantes entreprises industrielles d’Europe ont ete interroges dans le cadre d’une etude sur le recours a des services logistiques externes. Leurs reponses permettent de mieux cerner l’ampleur et l’etendue du phenomene d’externalisation logistique en Europe. L’etude europeenne a examine certaines questions en particulier, a savoir les services utilises, les problemes de mise en oeuvre, les effets positifs constates et l’impact de l’externalisation logistique sur les couts, la satisfaction des clients et la situation du personnel. Selon les resultats, l’externalisation logistique, du moins en ce qui concerne les services de base, est devenue une pratique courante en Europe. Le souci de reduire les couts logistiques, d’ameliorer les services et de flexibiliser la reponse aux attentes du client constitue la principale motivation de la plupart des decisions d’externalisation logistique. Au revers de la medaille, les reponses revelent que l’externalisation a un impact pl...

Safely trailing behind: road safety and drawbar combinations

The quality of international transport services available in peripheral regions of the UK could be a source of competitive disadvantage, particularly for manufacturers of high value products with extensive international sourcing and distribution networks. This paper aims to determine if electronics manufacturers based in Scotland are disadvantaged in their access and use of air cargo services and assesses how they minimize the effects of peripheral location. The models developed indicate that electronics manufacturers in Scotland are at a disadvantage in access to services but not in the cost of services. Operating practices within companies can, however, negate or minimize the service disadvantage, and the importance of the disadvantage varies between companies.

The effectiveness of information systems in supporting the extended supply chain

Changes in U.K. vehicle legislation have and will continue to increase the use of drawbar combinations (truck + trailer) in that country. There are, however, serious misgivings about the overall effect such a change in the vehicle population profile will have on road traffic safety. In the light of this, four areas are investigated in this paper: the dynamic behaviour of drawbar combinations; coupling requirements and mechanisms; comparative accident statistics; driver training. Although legislative aspects are somewhat U.K. specific, recommendations to improve drawbar handling and coupling safety are more universal. Much of the evidence presented has been gathered from European sources.