Logistics Hub Research Articles

Assessing Innovative Capabilities in the Namibian Road Freight Transport Industry

Road freight transport plays a crucial role in fostering global economic growth. Namibia’s increased transit traffic highlights its focus on becoming Africa’s logistical hub. To stay competitive, Namibian road freight firms must be more innovative now than ever before. There are few studies on innovation in the Namibia road freight transport industry. This study investigated the innovative capabilities of Namibian road freight transport operators. To measure firms’ innovativeness, the study used the non-linear constructs of innovation. The target population comprised Windhoek’s road freight transport firms affiliated with Namibia Logistics Association, with 22 firms forming the representative sample. Both qualitative and quantitative data were gathered through interviews and questionnaires in a mixed-method approach. The study revealed that Namibia’s road freight transport operators possess the capacity to deliver innovative logistics and transport services. In addition, the study highlighted the need to improve rewards systems and attitudes towards risk in the industry. Although the study was confined to Windhoek-based firms, it addressed a notable gap in research on innovativeness within the Namibian road freight transport sector.

Research on the Path of Wuhan Logistics Hub City under the Background of the Construction of Pilot Zone

Research on the Path of Wuhan Logistics Hub City under the Background of the Construction of Pilot Zone

Using Improved Particle Swarm Optimization Algorithm for Location Problem of Drone Logistics Hub

Using Improved Particle Swarm Optimization Algorithm for Location Problem of Drone Logistics Hub

The Importance of the Facility Location Techniques to Assist Companies in Decision-Making for the Installation of Logistics Hub

The Importance of the Facility Location Techniques to Assist Companies in Decision-Making for the Installation of Logistics Hub

Analysis of Carbon Footprint Reduction in Supply chains using Blockchains

Integrating carbon footprint reduction into contemporary supply chain networks necessitates strong cybersecurity and data integrity protocols to safeguard communication infrastructures against threats. This study examines the use of blockchain technology as a cybersecurity and traceability framework in supply chain systems, using simulated data that represents logistical information, shipping quantities, carbon emissions, and blockchain transactions. An investigation indicates varied carbon-emitting mechanisms, with air freight exhibiting the greatest emissions and rail transit the lowest. Transportation nodes in Supply varying emission rates, with urban distribution centres generating more emissions than rural logistics hubs, underscoring disparities in carbon footprints across different areas. Moreover, risks such data breaches, illegal access, and cyberattacks underscore the fragility of centralized supply chain systems. Blockchain transactions exemplify secure and transparent exchanges throughout all of the supply chain, highlighting blockchain’s capacity to provide safe and verifiable monitoring of carbon emissions inside the network. This research Supply the potential of blockchain technology to diminish carbon footprints in supply chains, emphasizing its ability to enhance data security, authenticate carbon emission assertions, and augment traceability. The findings highlight the need for customized cybersecurity frameworks for Supply demonstrate blockchain’s capacity to improve the transparency, security, and sustainability of global supply chain operations.

Two-Phase Approach to International Logistics Hub Location: The Case of Yangtze River Delta

Two-Phase Approach to International Logistics Hub Location: The Case of Yangtze River Delta

Multi-dimensional Evaluation Research on Development Potential of Airports-type National Logistics Hubs

The research object selected in the article is the 11 airport-type national logistics hubs (except Qingdao and Wuhan-Ezhou) that have been selected for the construction list, for which the evaluation system of the development potential of the airport-type national logistics hubs is established, and the weights of the indexes are calculated by using the combination of CRITIC-entropy weighting method, and evaluated and analyzed by using the one-dimensional and pentagonal multi-dimensional evaluation methods respectively, and then analyzed by comparing and contrasting, based on the results of the evaluation. The evaluation results are divided into types by cluster analysis. The results show that: the two factors that have the greatest influence on the development of airport-type hubs are the scale of hub facilities and the economic support capacity of the hub-bearing cities; the types of airport-type national logistics hubs are divided into three types: development advantages, development stability and development potential; the development situation of each type of hub is analyzed and development suggestions are given. Thus, it plans the networked and cooperative operation system of the airport-type national logistics hub from the perspective of top-level design for the relevant national departments, and provides reference for the planning and construction of the subsequent hubs.

Making Malaysia A Logistic HUB: A Vision of PKT Logistics Group Sdn Bhd

Dato' Seri Michael Tio (DMT), the CEO of PKT Logistics, is returning to his residence after a busy day at his office in Shah Alam, Selangor, Malaysia. He will have dinner with his family and, after dinner, must consider next week’s crucial strategic group meeting. As a visionary entrepreneur, DMT is not just focused on the present success of PKT Logistics but is deeply invested in the company's core values and long-term ambitions. His leadership has already navigated PKT through numerous challenges, significantly contributing to its strong reputation and leadership position in the logistics and supply chain industry.
 
 DMT’s aspiration is not limited to maintaining PKT's current success; he envisions elevating Malaysia as a central hub in the ASEAN region. This goal reflects his commitment to advancing his company and boosting the nation's standing in the global logistics arena. Under his guidance, PKT has demonstrated remarkable growth, and its value system has been a cornerstone in differentiating it from competitors.
 
 As DMT prepares for the strategic meeting, he contemplates the future trajectory of PKT. He plans to propose a forward-thinking strategy to steer the company towards significant achievements in the next five to ten years, targeting 2025 to 2030. His vision includes expanding PKT's reach, embracing innovative technologies, and further integrating sustainable practices while nurturing the company's human capital.
 
 DMT understands that the logistics industry is rapidly evolving, driven by technological advancements and changing global trade dynamics. He recognizes the importance of adapting to these changes and staying ahead of the curve. Thus, his strategy for the meeting will focus on exploring new market opportunities, investing in cutting-edge logistics technology, and fostering a culture of continuous learning and innovation within PKT.
 

Location and Capacity Planning of Freight Villages: The Case of Türkiye

Freight villages are logistics hubs where distribution and storage related activities meet. Determining their locations and capacities is a strategically important yet a difficult problem due to its complex structure. This paper provides a mixed integer linear programming model for identifying the locations, number, and capacities of freight villages. Objective is to set up a distribution network and minimize its total cost. The proposed model is computationally efficient as the optimal solution can be found within minutes. The model is applied using real life data in Turkey. The application includes major container ports as supply points and all cities as demand points, which are also alternative locations for freight villages. Optimal solution provides a plan and a budget to build the required capacity and number of logistics villages dispersed geographically. Sensitivity analysis is also conducted to investigate the system-wide costs and derive insights when there is a limit on the number of freight villages.

Logistical fixes and China’s spatial division of logistics integration - in search of economic rebalancing?

ABSTRACTThis article analytically foregrounds the role of logistics, infrastructure, and the transformation of capitalist circulation as an integral component of Chinese capitalism’s changing developmental paradigm. Based on a historical-comparative study of two developmental paradigms, the Open Door Policy (1978–2013) and New Normal (2014–2021), we argue that two layered logistical fixes have shaped Chinese capitalism, while driving unequal regional development between the coastal and inland regions. During the Open Door Policy, the initial logistical fix was centered around the coastal region as an export platform and logistical hub. Consequently, networked spaces of capital accumulation were formed based on the transfer of raw materials and intermediary inputs from the inland to the coastal region, followed by their processing into marketable commodities valorized in global export markets. Following China’s transition to the New Normal, the emergence of a new spatial division of labor between the coastal and inland regions necessitated a new logistical fix. This new logistical fix is notably centered around the inland region as a logistical hub, from which capital circulation and infrastructural linkages with neighboring Asian and coastal regions are being built.

MAIN DIRECTIONS OF SEA FREIGHT DEVELOPMENT IN UKRAINE: FORMATION OF NEW LOGISTICS HUBS

The article addresses the pressing issue of sea freight development in Ukraine, taking into account trends in the logistics industry and the geopolitical situation, including the occupation of the Kherson region by the Russian aggressors. The article aims to identify opportunities and prospects for utilising the Kherson ports to facilitate cargo transportation after the full de-occupation of the region and to study the impact of geopolitical and logistical factors on the development of this industry. Analysis of the state of the Kherson region port infrastructure before the occupation allowed us to identify potential tasks for port modernisation by studying the infrastructure, capacities, and possibilities of the ports. An evaluation of the impact of the geopolitical situation enabled the coordination of the developed logistical routes and prospective logistic hubs in Europe and Turkey. For this purpose, we conducted an analysis of information regarding the occupation of the Kherson region and its influence on logistical flows. Logistical scenarios are in development for post-occupation of the region. The task is to create feasible logistical scenarios for cargo transportation through the Kherson ports, including proposals for the southern and Dnipro–Danube directions. As a result of the research, we formulated recommendations for using the Kherson ports as a key logistical hub for cargo transportation in Ukraine and the region after the de-occupation. The article underscores the importance of developing port infrastructure in the face of geopolitical challenges and provides practical recommendations for optimising cargo transportation through the Kherson ports. Future research may include an analysis of the development of logistical connections between the Kherson ports and other regions of Ukraine, as well as an examination of the impact of geopolitical factors on the efficiency of cargo transportation in the region. In conclusion, this article addresses the critical issue of sea freight development in Ukraine, considering the evolving trends in the logistics industry and the complex geopolitical landscape, particularly in light of the occupation of the Kherson region by the Russian aggressors. The primary objective of this research is to explore opportunities and prospects for leveraging Kherson’s ports to enhance cargo transportation following the eventual de-occupation of the region. Additionally, it aims to investigate the influence of geopolitical and logistical factors on the growth of the maritime industry. Keywords: sea freight, logistics hub, maritime transport, ports.

The Importance of the New Silk Road in the Hungarian Automotive Supply Chain

The connection between Europe and Asia has always been important for the flow of materials and intellectual goods. Hungary is in an important position in Central Europe to connect different key ports and logistics hubs. Therefore, this article aims to analyse the opportunities and impacts of the New Silk Road initiative on the supply chain and transportation network in Hungary. This result showed that the existence of the New Silk Road gives huge opportunities for different supply-chain-related activities and initiatives, especially for the Hungarian automotive industry. Specifically, the New Silk Road has the potential to enable the advantages and positive impact of rail transport activities in Hungarian automotive supply chains by providing a long-term competitive solution as an alternative to maritime transport while mitigating several related risks and increasing the domestic supply chain’s resilience. Consequentially, the New Silk Road initiative may affect the supply chains and transportation route networks of several European and Asian nations, including Hungary.

Constructing the Frontier: Russian-Chinese Trade as a Factor in the Modernization of the Far East at the Turn of the 19th and 20th Centuries

The article delves into the development of the transport and logistical infrastructure on the Far Eastern frontier of the Russian Empire during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Throughout the period under study, challenges that emerged in the trade relations between Russia and China led to the creation of a new freight transport system for Russian-Chinese trading. This system proposed the integration of rail and maritime communication, with a sea port acting as the central logistical hub. This vision materialized with the construction of Russian railways in Manchuria, the leasing of Port Russian Dalian on the Liaodong Peninsula, and the initiation of maritime shipping by the China Eastern Railway Company. The article aims to systematically investigate the foundational concepts and the actualization of each segment of this new infrastructure. The research uncovered that the railways, sea port, and maritime shipping orchestrated by the Russian Empire in the Far East were viewed as cohesive elements of a unified trade and transport corridor. This corridor’s primary goal was to forge an effective linkage with the Pacific region. The data assessed in the study indicates that the Chinese ports and market stood as the foremost objectives for Russia’s geoeconomic pursuits in the Far East. In conclusion, the study underscores the importance of these novel infrastructural developments in the frontier modernization of the Far Eastern boundary shared by Russia and China.

Airfreight forwarder’s shipment planning: Shipment consolidation and containerization

This study focuses on an airfreight forwarder's shipment planning problem, while considering shipment consolidation and containerization in the international supply chain. Items belonging to different shipments from supplier's manufacturing warehouses are consolidated and loaded into Unit Loading Devices (ULDs) at outbound logistics hubs and to inbound logistics hubs by air transportation, where items are unloaded from the ULDs and distributed to the corresponding retailers by parcel delivery. A three-dimensional multiple bin size bin packing problem is considered, where items are consolidated and orthogonally loaded into ULDs of heterogeneous irregular shapes, where each item has a required latest allowable delivery time. A mixed integer programming model is formulated for the problem, which aims to determine the optimal route planning and feasible packing scheme for the transported items. This study develops a biased random-key genetic algorithm combining a three-dimensional bin packing heuristic to solve the problem. A two-phase greedy heuristic with a chaotic system is designed for the generation of initial population. Additionally, a catastrophe operator and a self-adaptive neighborhood search are put forward to further improve the performance of the algorithm. A numerical experiment is given to demonstrate the feasibility of formulation and effectiveness of algorithm by comparing with ILOG CPLEX, and managerial insights are provided.

Evaluation of decision support system for disaster management using multi-criteria decision techniques: a case study of Alappuzha, Kerala

ABSTRACT The monsoon pattern has shifted across Kerala. This, combined with significant deforestation and hill denuding, has resulted in catastrophic floods and landslides, particularly during the Southwest monsoon. Urgent relief services were to be delivered in a timely and accurate manner in order to sustain the lives of the impacted people. Even though resources were sent to several relief camps, they were either in excess or shortage on multiple instances. The conditions that prevailed during the monsoon time, as well as concerns and challenges during disaster relief efforts, must first be investigated for the effective operation of these supply chain activities. This research aims to develop a disaster logistics hub location selection decision support system, based on the Fuzzy Analytic Hierarchy Process (FAHP) and Best Worst Method (BWM), to meet the needs of disaster victims and rescue teams in the event of flooding, and to implement the proposed systems in Kuttanad, Kerala. Initially, the criteria are determined and structured in the hierarchy, and the weightage for the criteria is done via a questionnaire technique. Expert opinion on nine points scale was gathered from a set of experts working under different levels of positions during disaster management. The weights obtained by the FAHP and BWM methods were statistically analysed and compared for the reliability of the two techniques. The suggested model and application results may throw light on future work, particularly in the realm of disaster logistics management.

ESTABLISHMENT OF TRANSPORT LOGISTICS HUB

The transport and logistics hub section of the Uzbek Foresight Technology Programme and the study compiled in accordance with the relevant legal document of the government summarizes the main purpose, tasks, and results of the research conducted on the future analysis of transport.It describes the characteristics and methodology of the Uzbek Foresight Technology Programme, based on scenario building, professional workshops, and a large-scale Delphi survey, and evaluates in detail the specific research methods and results of the Transport and Logistics hub panel. The research outputs so far are panel guidelines, panel images, and Delphi statements on transport and logistics. Further tasks include creating a scenario based on the panel images, holding professional meetings to discuss future development paths, and writing a panel report summarizing the results and making recommendations for transport policy.

Connectivity-based spatial patterns and factors influencing international container multimodal hubs in China under the Belt and Road initiative

The location and layout of container multimodal hubs have received much research attention under the Belt and Road Initiative. To explore the spatial distribution pattern of international container multimodal hubs (ICMHs) and its influencing factors in China, this paper measures the domestic connectivity, international land connectivity, international rail-sea multimodal connectivity and comprehensive connectivity of ICMHs. Spatial analysis methods are used to explore the spatial patterns of ICMH connectivity, and then spatial regression models are applied to detect those key factors that influence its distribution. Results reveal that ICMH connectivity has significant spatial differences and obvious distribution trends across China and that such connectivity gradually decreases from east to west. The significant spatial agglomeration characteristic of connectivity is also highlighted. Specifically, a high connectivity is concentrated in the east and close to exit ports (land exit-ports and seaports), whereas a low connectivity is distributed in the expansive western areas. Results of the spatial regression also show that each factor has significant spatial heterogeneity with respect to connectivity distribution, especially freight turnover volume and investment in transportation. This study provides support for the layout of logistics hubs in multimodal networks and enriches the application of the connectivity method.

Challenges to Thailand’s Negotiating Strategy in the Thai–China High-Speed Railway Project

The Thai-China High-Speed Railway (HSR) project that connects Thailand, Laos and China is part of the Thai domestic strategy and China’s Belt and Road Initiative. Thailand aims to become a regional logistic hub, while China plans to expand her connectivity with Southeast Asia. Approved in 2010, the project started construction in December 2017. Aside from the domestic political conflict, the HSR project was delayed by Thailand’s attempt to negotiate with China.

High Rate of Turnover Intention: Study of Logistics Industrial Workers

The research aims to uncover the root cause of the high rate in terms of logistic employee turn-over at the top ten logistics establishments under the management of Kawasan Berikat Nusantara located at the busiest logistics hub in the northern part of Indonesia. Ninety-eight respondents who were all decision makers representing ten major logistics establishments gave the primary data through structured questionnaires. Regression analysis was used to analyze the collected data as well as the description of hypothesis results. The conclusion showed that although the high tension of heavy industry in particular the logistics sector caused high job stress; it was not affecting the turn over intention of the employee. On the other side, employee job satisfaction gave more impact on employee turn-over. This circumstance gave a clear and objective description that job stress was really only the perception of the employee where they have their own flexibility and got full understanding related to the individual stress aspect. It concluded that logistics sector employees could tolerate job stress much better than their job satisfaction.

Transport Task Models with Variable Supplier Availabilities

Background: With regard to the definition of an optimal transport plan for some material flow in the logistics system in literature and practice, the classical transport task model is developed. The minimization of total transport costs is usually considered for optimality. Some modifications to the classical transport task have also been developed. Methods: The article uses the methods of linear optimization. Based on these methods, two modified transport task models have been constructed, which consider the possibility of planning in advance the quantities available from the suppliers of the transported cargo. These models are applicable in SCM for pharmaceuticals with a national logistics hub. Furthermore, a solver in MS Excel is used to determine the optimal solution of optimization models. Results: Two new (modified, extended) models of the transport task have been constructed, in which a preliminary planning of the available quantities of the transported cargo at the suppliers is made. These quantities shall be planned in such a way as to ensure a minimum total transport cost. Conclusions: By applying the proposed new transport task models, lower total transport costs for carrying out imported pharmaceuticals can be ensured compared to an application of the classical transport task model.