Logistics Research Research Articles

Defining the Maturity Levels for Implementing Industrial Logistics Practices in Construction

Logistics practices are processes that require alignment and coordination among project actors to support successful construction operations. While recent research has underlined the effects of single material logistics practices on project performance, practitioners need more knowledge on development paths toward successful overall logistics solutions. Based on a review of current practices obtained from the literature, this research proposes the maturity levels of planning, organizing, operating, use of technology, and information flow regarding the logistics practices in construction. Moreover, the study devises a recommended order for implementing logistics practices and investigates how companies can advance their logistics maturity from one level to the next. The proposed model has been validated via case examples from the industry. The paper contributes to construction logistics research by describing how companies can navigate development efforts to gradually improve their logistics practices. Future research could conduct more case studies within different project contexts.

Preface: Data-driven operations research in transportation and logistics

Preface: Data-driven operations research in transportation and logistics

Demand Forecast on the Orchard Cold Chain Logistics in Hunan Province Based on Cognitive Neuroscience

How to scientifically and effectively predict the cold chain logistics demand and provide basis for decision making has always been the focus of forestry and orchard logistics research. From the learning environment of neurons, cognitive neuroscience provides a new perspective for forecasting the demand for cold chain logistics. This paper uses the cognitive neuroscience theory to construct a BP neural network model containing two hidden layers to predict the cold chain logistics demand of the forestry and orchard industry in Hunan province in 2017-2021. Suggestions are then given from the aspects of cold chain logistics construction, transportation infrastructure construction, government policy, enterprise and industry according to the prediction results, thus, providing a theoretical basis for the planning of the cold chain logistics system of Hunan province in a certain period of time, as well as references for the development of cold chain logistics in other parts of the country.

Cost-effective technology choice in a decarbonized and diversified long-haul truck transportation sector: A U.S. case study

Achieving net-zero emissions by 2050 will require accelerated efforts that include decarbonizing long-haul truck transportation. In this difficult-to-decarbonize, low-margin industry, economic transparency on technology options is vital for decision makers seeking to eliminate emissions. Battery electric (BET) and hydrogen fuel cell electric trucks (FCET) can represent emission-free alternatives to diesel-powered trucks (DT). Previous studies focus on cost competitiveness in weight-constrained transportation even though logistics research shows that significant shares of transportation are constrained by volume, and analyze cost only for selected technologies, hence impeding a differentiated market segmentation of future emission-free trucks. In this study, the perspective of a rational investor is taken and it is shown that, under current conditions in the U.S., BETs outperform FCETs in various long-haul use cases despite charging times and cargo deficits, and will further increase their technological competitiveness to DTs. While future energy and fueling prices are decisive for BET competitiveness, the analysis reveals that autonomous driving may change the picture in favor of FCETs.

Review on Sensing Technology Adoption in the Construction Industry.

Sensing technologies demonstrate promising potential in providing the construction industry with a safe, productive, and high-quality process. The majority of sensing technologies in the construction research area have been focused on construction automation research in prefabrication, on-site operation, and logistics. However, most of these technologies are either not implemented in real construction projects or are at the very early stages in practice. The corresponding applications are far behind, even in extensively researched aspects such as Radio Frequency Identification, ultra-wideband technology, and Fiber Optic Sensing technology. This review systematically investigates the current status of sensing technologies in construction from 187 articles and explores the reasons responsible for their slow adoption from 69 articles. First, this paper identifies common sensing technologies and investigates their implementation extent. Second, contributions and limitations of sensing technologies are elaborated to understand the current status. Third, key factors influencing the adoption of sensing technologies are extracted from construction stakeholders’ experience. Demand towards sensing technologies, benefits and suitability of them, and barriers to their adoption are reviewed. Lastly, the governance framework is determined as the research tendency facilitating sensing technologies adoption. This paper provides a theoretical basis for the governance framework development. It will promote the sensing technologies adoption and improve construction performance including safety, productivity, and quality.

Model of environmental management science based on circular economy theory

Abstract The resources of a country are limited, and people must consider the important issue of how to make use of these limited material resources to create major economic value for humans. The theory of the circular economy has been proposed, which relies on scientific model research to create economic development that is more in line with people’s concept of environmental management. The circular economy is characterised by resource conservation, recycling, coordination, low development, high utilization and low emissions. All material and energy use is reasonable, and sustainable land use minimises the influence of economic activities on the natural environment. Based on the theory of the circular economy, this paper studies the model of environmental management science. This paper analyses the mining development mode, the mechanism of the circular economy, and green logistics research based on circular economy theory and then applies statistical analyses to the two models. It summarises the development mode and the mechanism of the mining circular economy based on the current mineral resource development and utilization situation and the environmental problems in China. An innovative mode mechanism for mining circular economy development is proposed that can provide a value evaluation standard for social development. Through the above research, it is found that the use of circular economy theory can not only help make effective use of resources but also provide a new way to improve the gross national product.

TOWARDS BLOCKCHAIN-BASED INTELLIGENT LOGISTICS INDUSTRY FOR NAVIGATION SYSTEMS

This paper aims to compare the Global Positioning System and and the Geo spatial Blockchain. Geoblockchain for decentralizes system and its potential applications in logistics research are presented. The goal of the Proof of Location protocol is to provide the framework and infrastructure to develop a decentralized, privacy preserving, highly accurate,censorship resistant alternative to the Global Positioning System (GPS). In this paper, a comparison is presented between geographic points measured from regions using GPS and projected onto the map to find the longitude and latitude coordinates of some Egyptian seaports and the points measured by the FOAM (GEO spatial Blockchain) application and projected onto the map to find the longitude and latitude coordinates The offer is for the same Egyptian sea port. The comparison of the difference between the Global Positioning System (GPS) and the Geo spatial Blockchain was done through statistical analysis, which represents an essential tool for analyzing and interpreting data through descriptive statistics and statistical testing described in the following subsections using the SPSS program. The result of the comparison that the longitude values of both GPS and Blockchain are much closed. Also the latitude with both GPS and Blockchain is much closed. This means that there is no significance difference between the Latitude and measures with GPS and Blockchain.

Blockchain Technologies in Logistics and Supply Chain Management: A Bibliometric Review

The emergence of blockchain technology has sparked significant attention from the supply chain management (SCM) and logistics communities. In this paper, we present the results from a thorough bibliometric review that analytically and objectively identifies the intellectual structure of this field, the seminal papers, and the most influential scholars. We employ a knowledge domain visualization technique to generate insights that go beyond other review studies on blockchain research within logistics and SCM. The analysis starts with selecting a total of 628 papers from Scopus and the Web of Science that were published during 2016–2020. The bibliometric analysis output demonstrates that the number of blockchain papers has rapidly increased since 2017. The most productive researchers are from the USA, China, and India. The top academic institutions contributing to the literature are also identified. Based on network analyses, we found that the literature concentrates mainly on the conceptualization of blockchain; its potentials for supply chain sustainability; its adoption triggers and barriers; and its role in supporting supply chain agility, trust, protection of intellectual property, and food/perishable supply chains. Besides systematically mapping the literature, we identify several research gaps and propose numerous actionable research directions for the future. This study enriches the extant blockchain literature, provides a timely snapshot of the current state of research, and examines the knowledge structure of blockchain research in logistics and SCM with the help of evidence-based scientometric methods.

Expanding supply chain management and logistics research: A year in review

Expanding supply chain management and logistics research: A year in review

Personnel needs assessment in times of crisis: a focus on management of disasters

Purpose This study aims to explain the importance of human resources and attempts to identify the competencies required by the personnel involved in disaster management operations. Design/methodology/approach The research uses a qualitative methodology to explore the competencies required by the relief workers using a content analysis approach to analyze the disaster literature and the job advertisements. The data for the content analysis was developed with the help of 23 independent coders, and exploratory inferences were drawn. Findings A detailed review of the literature highlighted the importance of competent personnel in disaster relief organizations. The analysis listed 34 mutually exclusive competencies and their relative importance, which were further divided into four competency clusters. The study also creates a competency dictionary that defines the competencies with the expected behaviors. Practical implications Deploying the right resources in the acute time frame during a disaster event can make a difference, and with lives at stake, such deployment acquires prime importance. In addition to contributing to humanitarian logistics literature, the competency model developed will also help forecast the future requirements and help the organization choose “the right person for the right job.” Originality/value The inferences drawn in the study are based on disaster management areas, unlike earlier research which also considered business logistics research.

IoT research in supply chain management and logistics: A bibliometric analysis using vosviewer software

The present article discovers the role of Internet of Things (IoT) in the field of supply chain management (SCM) and Logistics through an extensive literature review. The study offers numerous insights into significant facets of IoT in SCM and Logistics through Bibliometric analysis. A brief account of key IoT technology enablers and their role in numerous SCM operations and executions has been presented. Categorisation of the existent literature, founded on number of bibliometric parameters like year, region, author, institution, and source was made. The studies are further clustered on the basis of keyword co-occurrence. Five clusters represent the application and implementation issues of IoT in SCM and Logistics. The IoT research work in the arena of SCM and logistics is focused on radio-frequency identification technology, blockchain, wireless sensor networks, industry 4.0 technologies, IoT interface between the user and devices and Industrial applications such as the food, retail, healthcare sector etc. The comprehensive review covering the time frame of 2000 to 2021 may prove advantageous to the practitioners to stay up to date with the applications of IoT in varied industries. The study also finds the prospective areas in IoT research in SCM and logistics to endorse IoT implementation.

A bi-objective optimisation of post-disaster relief distribution and short-term network restoration using hybrid NSGA-II algorithm

Humanitarian logistics research has recently received tremendous interest from researchers and practitioners due to its importance in assisting relief operations. While there is an increasing trend for mathematical models related to preparedness and response phases for disaster operations management, recovery-phase models are not as emphasised as other phases due to scarce data and model complication from NP-hard nature of the models. One particular approach that can provide a sufficiently good solution for the NP-hard problems is the metaheuristic approach. In this research, we explore the bi-criteria integrated response and recovery model for making strategic post-disaster decisions in the relief distribution and short-term network restoration. Next, with a focus on considering conflicting objectives between fairness and cost of this problem, we propose a hybrid approach with its evolutionary component based on the non-dominated sorting genetic algorithm-II (NSGA-II) called HNSGA-II. The proposed HNSGA-II is compared against the exact method using the approximate Pareto-front analysis. The proposed algorithm is verified using a case study from a risk assessment tool called Hazus to illustrate how to cope with the aftermath of an earthquake. Finally, results are evaluated using a Hypervolume-based technique and computation time to illustrate the efficiency of the proposed algorithm.

The power of nudging: how adaptations in reverse logistics systems can improve end-consumer recycling behavior

PurposeResearch shows a recycling behavior gap where end consumers are positive towards recycling but do not act in accordance with their intentions. Such a gap creates challenges for reverse logistics systems. The purpose of this paper is to investigate how adaptations in reverse logistics systems towards end consumers-turned-suppliers can improve recycling behavior.Design/methodology/approachA framework with three propositions is developed and evaluated empirically using a two-group dependent post-test quasi-experimental design. The empirical setting is recycling of household waste. Three interventions are evaluated as: (1) the social norms nudge, (2) the distance nudge and (3) the availability nudge.FindingsThe results show that nudging improved recycling action behavior for the experimental group. Control group behavior remained constant.Research limitations/implicationsThis paper suggests that the end-consumer’s role as suppliers needs to be included more actively into reverse logistics systems for products to enter the preferred loops of recycling in the circular economy.Originality/valueA new field of climate psychology is used to explain challenges in reverse logistics systems and nudging is demonstrated as a tool with which to deal with them. The study also shows how quasi-experiments can be applied in logistics research.

Textual Data Science for Logistics and Supply Chain Management

Background: Researchers in logistics and supply chain management apply a multitude of methods. So far, however, the potential of textual data science has not been fully exploited to automatically analyze large chunks of textual data and to extract relevant insights. Methods: In this paper, we use data from 19 qualitative interviews with supply chain experts and illustrate how the following methods can be applied: (1) word clouds, (2) sentiment analysis, (3) topic models, (4) correspondence analysis, and (5) multidimensional scaling. Results: Word clouds show the most frequent words in a body of text. Sentiment analysis can be used to calculate polarity scores based on the sentiments that the respondents had in their interviews. Topic models cluster the texts based on dominating topics. Correspondence analysis shows the associations between the words being used and the respective managers. Multidimensional scaling allows researchers to visualize the similarities between the interviews and yields clusters of managers, which can also be used to highlight differences between companies. Conclusions: Textual data science can be applied to mine qualitative data and to extract novel knowledge. This can yield interesting insights that can supplement existing research approaches in logistics and supply chain research.

The Factors Influencing Value Creation of Halal Logistics Conceptual Framework Development

Abstract Halal logistics has an important role in global Muslim consumer’s way of life. Muslim countries follow Shariah law strictly. Thus, Halal logistics activities must segregate facilities for halal and nonhalal products. In addition, the world Muslim population has risen steadily. It influences production and export volumes from Thailand to the global trade of halal products increasing. Logistics service providers (LSPs) have been seeking an opportunity for creating a business competitive advantage into new situations. They can create and deliver better benefits to customers than their competitors and simultaneously earn higher profits than the average of other LSPs. A variety and flexibility of logistics activities come together to make services more desirable to the target market. Although many studies have been carried out on the influence of value creation, a part of halal logistics research in Thailand is rare. For the reasons mentioned, the objective of this paper to describe the influencing value creation in halal logistics activities from a literature review to be a conceptual framework development. Establishing the issues concerning value creation of halal logistics causality are best explained by the following resource sharing, innovation solutions, and risk management.

Mapping research in logistics and supply chain management during COVID-19 pandemic

ABSTRACT Supply chains constantly face new problems that go way beyond the traditional issues of supply and demand uncertainty, particularly due to the impact of worldwide disruptive events. This paper aims at mapping academic literature examining so far issues related to the impact on supply chains of the COVID-19 outbreak based on a thorough literature review of peer-reviewed papers published in 2020. Following criteria established by the systematic approach, we build a framework based on the most recent papers of the discipline to address major disruptions that challenge SCM operations. We consider features from individual organisations, characteristics of the whole supply chain, performance metrics for long-term sustainability, and attributes from external disruptions. We derive a list of topics that deserve further investigation such as collaboration, technology adoption and knowledge creation together with their diffusion, strategies to shape and promote awareness along supply chain stakeholders.

Systematic literature review on business process re-engineering approaches in logistics

PurposeBPR is “the central reconsideration and thorough restructuring of business procedures to enhance the critical and contemporary aspects of performance like the expense, quality, service, and speed”. Also, as it's a key factor for guaranteeing businesses' achievement, however, the profound discussion about the BPR is very rare as far as we know. We need more studies regarding the subject due to the absence of BPR works in the logistics industry. Hence, this study investigates the Systematic Literature Review (SLR) of BPR for logistics companies, leading the managers and writers active in BPR, and making them aware of the present, past and future trends in this discipline.Design/methodology/approachAs BPR is a necessary foundation for ensuring enterprise systems' success, this study will systematically investigate the BPR in logistics. The proposed BPR in logistics research classification framework is based on a comprehensive literature review, which concentrates on peer-reviewed journal papers published until 2019. A total of 22 academic sources have been retrieved and analyzed in terms of research purpose and nature, the employed method, theoretical approach and analysis level.FindingsThe findings of this paper showed that BPR companies outperform the non-BPR ones regarding information computing, technology uses, organizational architecture, coordination and all key logistics procedures. The results can motivate non-BPR logistics organizations to reassess the feasibility of these plans.Research limitations/implicationsThis paper provides an overview of BPR to young academics. Also, it identifies some distinct research gaps that could be worth studying. However, this paper may be restricted by choice of dimensions and the selection of relevant articles. In turn, researchers need to become more innovative in terms of their research techniques when examining BPR implementation.Practical implicationsThis paper guides researchers and practitioners to insight into published research work and their findings. The findings are valuable to logistics firms in an emerging market, as logistics resources may affect logistics service costs and quality. Also, it discusses indications for future research in BPR. It emphasizes the need to bridge the lacuna between BPR theory and evidence-based practice. Furthermore, it provides a better understanding of BPR implementation, which can be applied toward overcoming operational difficulties during the implementation process.Originality/valueThis paper fulfills an identified need for a comprehensive classification framework of BPR in logistics studies. We can consider it as the first-evaluated methodically gathered workaround BPR in logistics. It essentially provides both academics and practitioners with a conceptual map of existing BPR in logistics research and points out future research opportunities.

New perspectives on supply chain resilience

New perspectives on supply chain resilience

International Business Logistics Journal “IBL”

Logistics research and applications are more important today than ever before. Logistics has achieved greater prominence within the business with increased awareness of its operational, strategic, and financial impact on business success. Logistics functions such as warehousing, inventory management, transportation modeling, and other logistics facilities have brought large towns and cities closer together.

A Review of the Research on Emergency Logistics for Tropical Cyclone Disasters in Guangxi

Objective - The purpose of this paper is to find out the key research direction and disaster relief optimization method of governments and organizations at all levels in Guangxi to deal with tropical cyclone disasters. Methodology/Technique - In terms of research methods, most of the research results focus on the qualitative research of emergency logistics, and the results of quantitative research are relatively few, but there are many kinds of quantitative calculation methods. In terms of focus, the optimization methods of emergency supplies dispatching are studied more, but the forecast results of emergency supplies requirements are less. Finding - Through literature survey method and in-depth interview method, the research status of emergency logistics is reviewed and analyzed in four aspects: tropical cyclone disaster, basic theory and method of emergency logistics, emergency supplies requirements prediction and emergency supplies dispatching. Through literature combing, there are three main aspects of the discovery. In terms of disaster types, most of the existing research results pay more attention to earthquake, flood and other natural disasters emergency logistics treatment, the results of emergency logistics treatment for tropical cyclone disasters are less, and the results of emergency logistics treatment for tropical cyclone disasters in Guangxi are fewer. Novelty - By comparing and determining the future research direction of this study, we focus on the formation law of tropical cyclone disaster chain in Guangxi, the optimization treatment methods and practical applications of emergency supplies requirements prediction and emergency supplies dispatching. The research results provide theoretical and methodological guidance for governments and organizations at all levels in Guangxi to carry out tropical cyclone disaster relief, and also point out the research direction and focus for further research in the future. Type of Paper - Empirical. Keywords: Emergency Logistics; Tropical Cyclone Disasters; Emergency Supplies Requirements; Emergency Supplies Dispatching; Guangxi JEL Classification: N7, Q54. URI: http://gatrenterprise.com/GATRJournals/GJBSSR/vol9.2_3.html DOI: https://doi.org/10.35609/gjbssr.2021.9.2(3) Pages 128 – 142