Intermodal Supply Chain Research Articles

A systematic literature review of technological developments and challenges for inland waterways freight transport in intermodal supply chain management

PurposeInland shipping has been extensively recognised as a sustainable, efficient and good alternative to rail and road modes of transportation. In recent years, various authorities and academic researchers have advocated shifting from road to other sustainable modes like inland waterway transport (IWT) or rail transport. Academic work on modernisation and technological innovations to enhance the effectiveness and efficiency of waterborne transportation is becoming apparent as a growing body of literature caused by the need to achieve a sustainable transport system. Thus, it became apparent to explore the research trends on IWT.Design/methodology/approachA systematic and structured literature review study was employed in this paper to identify the challenges and concepts in modernising inland waterways for freight transportation. The review analysed 94 articles published in 54 journals from six well-known databases between 2010 and 2022.FindingsThe key findings of this review are that despite various challenges confronting the sector, there have been successful cases of technological advancement in the industry. The main interest among scholars is improving technical and economic performance, digitalisation, and safety and environmental issues. The review revealed that most of the literature is fragmented despite growing interest from practitioners and academic scholars. Academic research to address the strategic objectives, including strengthening competitiveness (shipbuilding, hydrodynamics, incorporating artificial intelligence into the decision-making process, adopting blockchain technology to ensure transparency and security in the transactions, new technologies for fleets adaptation to climate change, more effective handling, maintenance and rehabilitation technologies), matching growth and changing trade patterns (intermodal solutions and new logistics approaches) are major causes of concerns.Originality/valueBy employing the approach of reviewing previously available literature on IWT review papers, this review complements the existing body of literature in the field of IWT by providing in a single paper a consolidation of recent state-of-the-art research on technological developments and challenges for inland waterways freight transport in the intermodal supply chain that can act as a single resource to keep researchers up to date with the most recent advancements in research in the domain of inland waterway freight transport. Additionally, this review identified gaps in the literature that may inspire new research themes in the field of IWT.

Resilience of U.S. Rail Intermodal Freight during the Covid-19 Pandemic

The rapid onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020 marked a challenging time for the US and its freight industry. Manufacturing slowed, consumer purchasing patterns changed, and for many, shopping moved online. The freight industry suffered a sharp decline in shipments, followed by a surprisingly quick rebound. The industry had to adapt quickly to meet fast-changing demand and supply patterns upended by global supply chain disruptions. This paper uses U.S. intermodal activity data, supported by in-depth interviews with leaders of railroads, intermodal carriers, equipment manufacturers, car leasing companies, shippers, and e-commerce players to characterize and assess how the rail industry met the challenge of this demand whiplash and other performance impediments. What emerges is a rich picture of the multi-actor intermodal supply chain, the impacts of COVID-19 on it, the performance of the logistics system in general, and railroads in particular during the pandemic. Industry interviews revealed that a handful of choke points, many of which were outside the rail industry, complicated supply chain responses to COVID-19. The paper shows how the rail industry was an essential component of pandemic resilience, demonstrating a high level of adaptability to meet consumer and business demands. Through the use of depth interviews it reveals the complexity of the intermodal supply chain, and it accurately foretells the subsequent disruptions that continued to plague that supply chain long after the initial impacts of the pandemic.

Role of air freight transport in intermodal supply chains

Air freight transport connects distant markets and global supply chains in a fast and reliable way. High value and perishable goods are transported all over the world, hence, improving air connectivity represents a key element to sustainable economic growth. In intermodal supply chains, air freight transport is one of the vital parts, and better inclusion is justified and encouraged. Air freight transport is analyzed by amount and value transported in European Union and the world, as well as its share in global freight transport. Intermodal technologies in all transport modes are described and analyzed, with special overview of air freight intermodal technologies. Air freight transport has certain comparative advantages over other transport modes, and this paper presents the role and development of air freight transport in today's intermodal supply chains.

Towards Digital Twins of Multimodal Supply Chains

Both modern multi- and intermodal supply chains pose a significant challenge to control and maintain while offering numerous optimization potential. Digital Twins have been proposed to improve supply chains. However, as of today, they are only used for certain parts of the entire supply chain. This paper presents an initial framework for a holistic Digital Supply Chain Twin (DSCT) capable of including an entire multimodal supply chain. Such a DSCT promises to enable several improvements all across the supply chain while also be capable of simulating and evaluate several different scenarios for the supply chain. Therefore, the DSCT will not only be able to optimize multi- and intermodal supply chains but also makes them potentially more robust by identifying possible issues early on. This paper discusses the major requirements that such a DSCT must fulfil to be useful and how several information technologies that matured in recent years or are about the mature are the key enablers to fulfil these requirements. Finally, a suggested high-level architecture for such a DSCT is presented as a first step towards the realization of a DSCT, as presented in this work

Methodology for Determining the Location of River Ports on a Modernized Waterway Based on Non-Cost Criteria: A Case Study of the Odra River Waterway

The paper responds to research problems related to the implementation of large-scale investment projects in waterways in Europe. As part of design and construction works, it is necessary to indicate river ports that play a major role within the European transport network as intermodal nodes. This entails a number of challenges, the cardinal one being the optimal selection of port locations, taking into account the new transport, economic, and geopolitical situation that will be brought about by modernized waterways. The aim of the paper was to present an original methodology for determining port locations for modernized waterways based on non-cost criteria, as an extended multicriteria decision-making method (MCDM) and employing GIS (Geographic Information System)-based tools for spatial analysis. The methodology was designed to be applicable to the varying conditions of a river’s hydroengineering structures (free-flowing river, canalized river, and canals) and adjustable to the requirements posed by intermodal supply chains. The method was applied to study the Odra River Waterway, which allowed the formulation of recommendations regarding the application of the method in the case of different river sections at every stage of the research process.

Intermodal maritime supply chains: assessing factors for resiliency and security

Much of the value exchanged in international trade is transported as containerized freight. While this transport mode has become ubiquitous for manufactured goods, offering a fast and efficient service, it does pose security threats in the post-9/11 era. Even though containerization offers security from pilferage, it provides a means for obscuring contraband as well as opportunities to tamper with goods in shipment. Although the Container Security Initiative (CSI) and the Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (C-PAT) are high profile initiatives seeking to improve the security of global supply chains, vulnerability still remains from the port of origin and on the high seas to the port of discharge. This research is based on interviews from a wide range of supply chain participants that includes regulatory agencies, transportation providers, importers, exporters, and trade intermediaries. These provide the basis for a decomposition of the global maritime supply chain into those elements up to that point when goods are cleared by U.S. Customs. Analysis of the informational and physical flows suggests that the greatest vulnerabilities lie in those transportation segments between the origin of the goods and that point when they await shipment at a foreign port.

An Integrated Production-Distribution Planning Problem under Demand and Production Capacity Uncertainties: New Formulation and Case Study

In this study, we propose to solve a biobjective tactical integrated production-distribution planning problem for a multisite, multiperiod, multiproduct, sea-air intermodal supply chain network under uncertainties. Two random parameters are considered simultaneously: product replenishment orders and production capacity, which are modelled via a finite set of scenarios, using a two-stage stochastic approach. A corresponding mathematical model is developed, coded, and solved using the LINGO 18.0 software optimisation tool. This model aims to simultaneously minimise the total costs of production in both regular and overtime, inventory, distribution, and backordering activities and maximise the customer satisfaction level over the tactical planning horizon. The AUGMECON technique is applied to handle with the multiobjective optimisation. The applicability and the performance of the proposed model are tested through a real-life case study inspired from a medium-sized Tunisian textile and apparel company. Sensitivity analysis on stochastic parameters and managerial insights for the studied supply chain network are argued based on the empirical findings.

GLOBAL CONTAINER SHIPPING OPERATORS’ STRATEGIES AND THEIR IMPACT ON LOGISTICS SUPPLY CHAINS

The world economic and financial crisis that seriously hit the global economy and especially its trade and transport sectors in the years 2008-2009 also affected with significant force the global maritime container transport. This strategic maritime transport subsector is regarded as a driving force of smooth development of the global logistics supply chains and the backbone accelerating globalization processes. However, since 2010 effective demand and potential supply on the global container freight market are in constant state of disequilibrium, caused to a large extend by wrong tonnage investment strategies of container operators. Lack of ability to adapt the supply side to changes occurring on the demand side of the container market has brought numerous serious financial and economic consequences which not only affected the global container shipping operators but also hit other parties involved in the logistics supply chains spread within the global logistics space created in the contemporary global economy. Purpose: The main objective of this paper is to evaluate the dynamics of global maritime container market, especially its demand side which fluctuates vigorously, and assess the short and medium term strategies applied by the powerful shipping operators in terms of their multi-channel impact on the other parties of the global intermodal supply chain and the global logistics system as a whole. Methodology: The traditional method of maritime freight analysis was applied based on container freight and charter indices, such as SCFI or HFI. They reflect the amplitude of freight rate per TEU fluctuations in a certain period of time (e.g. quarter, week, etc.) which is congruent with the effective demand changes confronted with the existing potential supply. Growth of tonnage capacity, determined by the global container shipping operators’ strategies aimed for further development and better utilization of the existing transport potential of container fleet acting on the very competitive global freight market, has been assessed in terms of logistics efficiency and its effects have been estimated within the global value chain. Findings: The obtained results indicate that: 1/ global maritime container transport market is still significantly unbalanced and subject to high dynamics of demand fluctuations, and consequently freight rates , 2/ applied strategies of maritime global container operators in the operational and investment area fail to bring intended results, leading to strong capital horizontal integration in the sector of maritime container transport and vertical integration within the global logistic supply chains, 3/ the situation destabilizes the operations of global supply chains and consequently the global TSL sector, preventing forwarders and shippers from taking rational decisions on a medium and short term basis, 4/ this relatively long-standing situation (from 2010) shakes the foundations of transport and logistics order worldwide, 5/ the beneficiary of this situation on the market of maritime container transport and strategic decisions of global container operators is global economy as well as consumers of goods imported by sea in containers. Originality/value: The approach proposed by the author regarding the analysis of the effectiveness of freight market operations in the context of developed and implemented operational and investment strategies of maritime container operators with an attempt to assess the effects of such decisions within global logistic supply chains has not been the subject of research until now. The obtained initial results which require further detailed analysis, provide significant values, both theoretical (enrich the market theory) and practical (as regards taking rational decisions and effective management of global supply chain).

The Technique of Using RIS Corridor Data for the Logistic Integration of Inland Water Transportation

This paper presents some ideas of how it would be possible to enable the integration of inland waterway transport in the intermodal supply chain. Taking into account that the intermodal transport may be interpreted as a chain of actors who supply a transport service, inland navigation can play a crucial role in increasing supply chain service performance. In order to overcome the obstacles related to the inter-connection of the river freight transport with other ways of transport it is necessary to reorganise the entire European market of the IWT corridors.

Using IoT data and applications to improve port-based intermodal supply chains

The complexity of port terminal operations and intermodal transshipments has pushed the introduction of information and communication technologies (ICT) to assist the multiple stakeholders involved in the multiple decision-making processes. More recently the development of systems based on the Internet of Things (IoT) represents a further step in the automation of data acquisition and processing. We present here an IoT system designed to optimize, manage and monitor container transport operations along an intermodal corridor, combining rail scheduling and inland vessel navigation. The system has a modular design, enabling the interaction with external systems, independently of their nature, through the cloud-based FIWARE platform. We provide a description of the three inter-related subsystems (container tracking, rail management and inland navigation), and a description of the expected supply chain benefits derived from the implementation of the system, both in terms of shippers and of terminal integration in the logistics flow. This system is currently operative at the Port of Seville, the main transshipment node in the Madrid – Seville – Canary Islands intermodal corridor in Spain.

An experimental analysis of Mediterranean supply chains through the use of cost KPIs

Abstract Over the last twenty years, the intensification of trade flows and the rapid growth of demand for goods and services from new emerging countries have led to a deep change in global transport and a dramatic increase in the level of competitiveness among transportation and logistics service providers. To remain competitive, transport and logistics operators are required to carry out operations with maximum efficiency to meet the requirements of a continually growing and diversified demand. Supply Chain Management is one of the areas that have recently attracted much attention in logistics. The proposed study aims to provide simple quantitative tools based on Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) to support the evaluation process of intermodal supply chains. A sample of 44 real-world Mediterranean supply chains has been collected and analyzed. Four quantitative KPIs describing the relationship time-cost and the ratio cost/kilometer have been derived from empirical cost functions and used to characterize the various elements of the analyzed transport chains, and of the chains as a whole, from a cost perspective.

Dynamic Game on Carbon Emission Reduction in Intermodal Supply Chain

With the development of international trade, intermodal operations have become more and more important in goods transportation, in order to show the effect of carbon emission tax on a marine-land intermodal supply chain, this paper use dynamic game theory to get a sub-game Nash equilibrium, and the result of this paper show that the carbon emission tax will lead to sea transport and land transport to reduce the carbon emission of every goods, But the carbon tax is not necessarily guaranteed to reduce the total amount of carbon emissions. meanwhile, one part’s reduction of carbon emission may incentive the other part to reduce carbon emission.

Intermodal supply chains methodology and economic efficiency study of its implementation (using the example of an Iron and Steel Company)

Currently the global market for intermodal transport (containers in particular) is evolving at a significant pace. The Russian market development of intermodal transport occurs with low speed. It should be noted that low competitiveness of container transport prevents the development of intermodal delivery method within Russia. In addition, this factor stops implementing national transit potential of transport corridors passing through the territory of the country. To date the delivery chains formation is perceived as a secondary process, which provides the scope for production sector and delivers the finished product to the consumer. However, it is the intensive development of intermodal technologies that remains an economic security guarantee and a reserve for increasing the product competitiveness opposed to the rate of finished products production. As a result, the method development of intermodal supply chains formation at large industrial enterprises appears very important. The paper deals with a model and algorithm of forming a system of intermodal cargo delivery chains of the metallurgical enterprises. We performed calculation of the potential economic benefits from their introduction.

Intermodal Supply Chain Risk Management

Efficient and secure global supply chains contribute to the Improvement of the competitiveness of the products traded on international markets by reducing their costs and delivery time while increasing the reliability and security. Global supply chains are unthinkable without transport integration, which is usually accomplished through the form of intermodal transport systems. Intermodal transport systems are much more complex than the unimodal ones due to the number of stakeholders, included transportation resources, infrastructure and processes, which in case of poor coordination in the planning, organization and implementation of transport chain logistic activities can lead to increased supply chain vulnerability. Therefore, the main challenge in the functioning of intermodal transport operations in supply chains is to increase their efficiency taking into account the problems of associated risks. The current initiatives on the topic of identification and management of risks in the intermodal supply chains do not provide a complete and clear picture of the potential problems which the intermodal supply chains are exposed to. Hence, the purpose of this paper, which is based on the literature review of the model of the intermodal transport system structure and models of risk management in supply chains in general, is to provide a framework for a holistic Consideration of risks in intermodal supply chains, which can lead to the improvement of their efficiency and competitiveness.

IMPACTS OF A TRACKING AND TRACING SYSTEM FOR CONTAINERS IN A PORT-BASED SUPPLY CHAIN

HighlightsWe describe a new development of a tracking/tracing/management information systemThe system is designed for containers in an intermodal corridorThe paper links the impacts of the system with the supply chain requirementsBenefits for the different stakeholders involved are described and discussed PurposeIntermodal transport chains often appear as “black boxes” to the cargo owners and their clients, who lose track of the container until it arrives at the final end of the chain. The paper discusses why a tracking and tracing system should represent an important added value for them. Design/methodology/approachWe describe here the configuration and features of a novel low-cost system to track and trace containers in an intermodal supply chain, provide information to shippers regarding delays and other unexpected events, and assist terminal operations accordingly. We then analyze the positive impacts of such a system over the entire supply chain, identifying the requirements of the main chain actors regarding the availability of information and how the proposed system contributes to the fulfillment of those requirements. FindingsThe visibility of containers throughout the entire supply chain provides multiple benefits for shippers, terminals and transport providers. Research limitations/implicationsThe operational and economic benefits of the system are clear, but the lack of historical data does not allow for a quantitative estimation of those foreseen benefits. Practical implicationsIntermodal terminals might see this type of information systems as an opportunity to generate added value for their customers, including shippers and carriers. In a scenario with high competition levels between terminals, this added value could represent the competitive advantage necessary to guarantee the growth of a terminal without requiring expensive investments and costs. Originality/valueThe paper describes the benefits provided by the system to the main stakeholders of the intermodal supply chain and provides some conclusions with respect to those benefits and to future developments. Keywords: Containers; tracking and tracing; supply chain; logistics; port

Kink in the intermodal supply chain: interorganizational relations in the port economy

ABSTRACTThe intermodal logistics supply chain is designed to move goods from the point of production to the point of consumption as quickly and as cheaply as possible. The ability to accomplish this objective has allowed for the wholesale geographic relocation and offshoring of basic manufacturing and assembly. As a chain of linked and integrated organizations characterized by sequential interdependence, interorganizational relations play a key role in determining the level of integration and seamlessness. Yet there is one critical interorganizational link in the chain that deviates from this vision. This is the relationship between the shipping container terminal and drayage trucking operations which is better described as a form of intermodal disintegration. The weakness in this link of the supply chain is explained by the divergent industrial structures and labor market conditions, the unique nature of the transaction, and the externalization of costs to subordinate workers.

Estimating order delivery times and fleet capacity in freight rail networks: part II - analytic approximation

Rail transit is a critical component of intermodal supply chain networks. We consider the problem of providing order delivery time quotations in an unscheduled rail network, where customers place orders requiring movement of freight between specified origins and destinations. Each order is fulfilled as soon as the required rolling stock, e.g., locomotive and rake, can be assembled at the origin. Estimating an order's delivery time is a complex task, depending upon the available fleet capacity, deadhead policy and the level of congestion present in the network. In this paper, we develop an analytic approximation to estimate delivery time quotations for freight movements, along with required fleet capacity to meet a desired service level. The quality of the analytic approximation herein is validated using a real numerical example from the Indian Railway system, one of the largest freight carriers in the world.

Measuring supply chain risk: Predicting motor carriers’ ability to withstand disruptive environmental change using conjoint analysis

Supply chain risk measurement is an expanding research stream that considers the ability of networked firms to anticipate and respond to significant environmental risks, including major disruptions and unexpected events. However measuring and quantifying supply chain risk has proved an enormous challenge and this research contributes to this goal by developing a risk assessment scorecard, using conjoint analysis, for motor carrier firms. The resultant motor-carrier scorecard has been scaled from 300 to 900, to resemble the well-known FICO score for assessing consumer creditworthiness. Our scoring model enables motor carriers – and the firms that depend upon them in intermodal supply chains – to assess carriers’ ability to withstand major disruptive events, which are broadly defined as events which might lead to a significant drop in carriers’ income and profitability (e.g., such as that which occurred on September 11, 2001). Carriers with weaker risk scores (<600, on a 300–900 scale) are more likely to experience financial distress (and as a result possibly exit the industry itself); those with scores above 600 are less likely to depart. The model correctly identified 77 percent of motor carriers that ultimately exited the trucking industry following the significant environmental disruption caused by 9/11. Our computational experience indicates that the model accuracy, quantified in terms of Type I and Type II errors, compares favorably to prior results reported in the credit scoring literature.

Integration of inland waterway transport in the intermodal supply chain: a taxonomy of research challenges

This paper identifies research opportunities which will enable the further integration of inland waterway transport in the intermodal supply chain. Intermodal transport may be interpreted as a chain of actors who supply a transport service. Inland navigation can play a crucial role in increasing supply chain service performance. A first group of research challenges lies in the evolving relationship between transport geography and logistics activities. The next set of research challenges has the objective to encourage efficient operations in IWT: development of a system wide model for IWT, integration of operational planning systems and analysis of bundling networks. A third group of research efforts is directed towards shippers and consignees who use the intermodal transport chain to send or receive their goods: further development of models that integrate intermodal transport decisions with supply chain decisions and creation of green supply chains. A fourth cluster of research challenges concerns the problem domain of external cost calculations. Finally detailed time series data on freight transport should be collected to support these future research tracks.

Kink in the Logistics Supply Chain: Interorganizational Relations in the Port Economy

The intermodal logistics supply chain is designed to move goods from the point of production to the point of consumption as quickly and as cheaply as possible. The ability to accomplish this objective has allowed for the wholesale geographic relocation and offshoring of basic manufacturing and assembly. As a chain of linked and integrated organizations characterized by sequential interdependence, interorganizational relations play a key role in determining the level of integration and seamlessness. Yet there is one critical interorganizational link in the chain that deviates from this vision. This is the relationship between the shipping container terminal and drayage trucking operations which is better described as a form of intermodal disintegration. The weakness in this link of the supply-chain is explained by the divergent industrial structures and labor market conditions, the unique nature of the transaction, and the externalization of costs to subordinate workers.