Regional Logistics Hub Research Articles

Analysing intermodal connectivity for the functionality of Namibia’s regional logistics hub

Background: In today’s interconnected global economy, logistics and supply chain management are pivotal in facilitating the movement of goods and services across regions. Supply chains have become increasingly complex, involving multiple stakeholders, diverse transportation modes, and intricate global networks. The efficient management of these supply chains has emerged as a critical determinant of competitiveness and economic growth for businesses and nations.Objectives: The study aims to analyse the level of intermodal connectivity and how it enhances the functionality of a regional logistics hub using Namibia as a case study.Method: The research study adopted a mixed-method design, collecting data through interviews, questionnaires, and documentary analysis to examine intermodal connectivity and its impact on the functionality of the Namibian regional logistics hub.Results: The study’s key findings reveal a fragmented railway system and a significant reliance on road transportation within the Namibian transport system. The level of intermodality is found to be low, indicating limited connectivity and integration between different modes of transport in Namibia.Conclusion: The study highlights the need to address the fragmentation within the railway system, reduce the heavy reliance on road transportation, and improve intermodal connectivity to enhance the functionality and efficiency of the Namibian transport system.Contribution: This research contributes to the existing knowledge of transportation and logistics hubs within the Namibian context. By exploring the role of intermodal connectivity, the study builds upon the theoretical frameworks of transport geography, logistics management, and infrastructure planning.

Marine pilotage in Namibia

As Namibia implements the strategy of expanding its ports to achieve the strategic goal of becoming the regional logistics hub of choice, a clear and urgent need exists to upskill pilots. To that end, this article examines the Namibian law on pilotage in three areas: (i) the master– pilot relationship; (ii) the vicarious liability for pilot error; and (iii) the standards of training and certification of pilots. It does so having regard to case law, best practices of leading maritime nations and international standards. The article ends by recommending the urgent revision of the primary legislation and the regulations that govern the Namibian Ports Authority.

A GIS-LP integrated approach for the logistics hub location problem

This study solves the location problem for establishing a logistics hub that serves as a consolidation center to distribute urban freight in the North Western Region of Iran. A novel multi-method approach is developed to implement a two-stage research framework. GIS-embedded multi-criteria decision tools are applied to identify potential regions; a K-means based heuristic approach is developed to select five potential sites; and PROMETHEE, multi-criteria decision-making tool, is implemented to ascertain the best possible site for establishing logistics hub. “Višekriterijumska Optimizacija i kompromisno Rešenje” (VIKOR) method is applied on multiple region-specific criteria to identify potential regions suitable for the logistics hub. A novel clustering Mixed Integer Quadratic constrained Programming (MIQCP) is then applied for clustering the centriods representing the most suitable sites.A K-means heuristic approach is also implemented as an alternative clustering solution approach to improve computational time for data processing. Several criteria such as cost, profit, health effects, political matters and regulations are then used to identify the best site using PROMETHEE method. The outputs of this study may inform evidence based decision-making help to solve highly complex, multi-scaled, and multi-criteria location problems. Municipal authorities, in conjunction with industry, can apply this framework to identify the best compromised site for establishing a regional logistics hub, which in turn help reduce costs, improve logistic efficiency and enhance regional performance.

A Study on Location of Logistics Hubs of Hub-and-Spoke Network in Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei Region

Through the analysis of the logistics operation scene in Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region, a hub-and-spoke regional logistics network with four modes of transportation was constructed. Considering the network balance factor, the number of network hubs should be determined. Then, with full consideration of various factors including fixed cost, transshipment cost and integrated transportation advantages, the hub-and-spoke logistics network location model is established. We design the corresponding genetic algorithm to solve the location problem of Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei regional logistics network hub. Finally, the feasibility of the model is verified by the actual logistics operation data of Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region, and the optimal layout of regional logistics hub is calculated.According to the analysis of the final logistics hub layout, we can find that 7 selected logistics hub in Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region are distributed evenly. In terms of Beijing, the 3 selected logistics hubs in the city are located in the north, southwest and east west areas, which form a stable triangle covering Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region. In terms of Tianjin, the 2 selected logistics hubs play an important role in connecting Tianjin with the surrounding cities around the region. In terms of Hebei, the 2 selected logistics hubs serve the southern region as well as cross-regional logistics operations.

A model of integrated regional logistics hub in supply chain

ABSTRACTA regional logistics hub is a constellation of multiple logistics facilities in a region of several provinces or states. This research models an integrated regional logistics hub with consideration of time-phased demand in a multi-echelon, multi-period, and capacitated logistics network. The integrated logistics hub considers three phases based on the characteristics of China’s five-year planning policy. By applying mixed integer linear programming, the greedy heuristics approach, the particle swarm optimization algorithm, and the Hungarian method, the location of logistics facilities at different echelons of a supply chain is identified and the needs for facility expansion or closing during different time periods are determined.

Group of Ports Szczecin Świnoujście as a logistic hub in the aspect of efficiency and safety of transport

The article analyzes the possibilities of functioning of the Szczecin - Świnoujście Ports Group as a regional logistics hub. The geographical location of this port team predisposes them to be the leading regional transport hub and logistics center. In Poland, for years, there has been a discussion whether in the shadow of such ports as Hamburg, Antwerp, Rotterdam there is a place for the development of the port complex in Szczecin and Świnoujście. Therefore, an attempt was made to assess the development opportunities and competitiveness of the Szczecin-Świnoujście Seaport through the prism of transport efficiency and safety.

Multinational firms’ location preference for regional distribution centers: focus on the Northeast Asian region

This paper has three main objectives: (a) to identify the major factors that multinational companies (MNCs) consider important when they decide the locations of their regional distribution centers, and (b) to understand how European and North American MNCs assess Korean cities (Seoul/Incheon; Busan/Kwangyang) as potential location for their Northeast Asian distribution centers via-a-vis competing Northeast Asian cities (Tokyo/Yokohama, Osaka/Kobe, Shanghai, Beijing/Tianjin, Taipei), and (c) to identify the gaps for Korean government must fill in order to attract MNCs’ distribution centers to Korea in order to achieve its pronounced goal of building a successful regional logistics hub. These objectives have been accomplished in this paper by employing three complementary methods: a careful review and summary of relevant literatures, a structured questionnaire-based survey of MNCs’ distribution managers, and personal interviews with MNCs senior executives and governments officials.