Implementation of 3D printing and the effect on decision making in logistics management

2020 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Stefan Hecker
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
3D Printing ◽  
Service Providers ◽  
Logistics Management ◽  
Service Development ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Disruptive Technologies ◽  
Logistics Service ◽  
Service Portfolio ◽  
The Impact

PurposeFrom a synthesis of literature, the purpose of this paper is to present a conceptual service development methodology showing the impact of 3D printing as a disruptive technology to the service portfolio. The methodology is designed to support practitioners and academics in better understanding the impact of disruptive technologies may have to the service portfolio and participate in the technology.Design/methodology/approachA literature review is conducted and based on these findings a conceptual framework has been developed.FindingsThe design of a methodology for the development of 3D printing services is used to evaluate the disruption potential of 3D printing and to implement the technology in the service portfolio of a logistics service provider. The disruption potential of 3D printing influences a logistics manager by make to order decisions. In addition, it could be proven the service portfolio was diversified.Research limitations/implicationsLiterature directly dealing with technology-based service development for decision making in logistics management is rare and thus the methodology is built on insights, compiled from the distinct research areas. Further research should be performed on this nascent topic.Practical implicationsLogistics service providers may use the developed methodology to revise their service portfolio by the consideration of disruptive technologies, in order to reduce strategic misdecisions regarding the range of services.Originality/valueThis paper looks specifically at decision making for implementing disruptive technologies to the service portfolio.

Consumer empowerment in insurance

2018 ◽  
Vol 36 (6) ◽  
pp. 1073-1097 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pascal Buehler ◽  
Peter Maas
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Self Efficacy ◽  
Service Providers ◽  
Time Lag ◽  
Decision Making Process ◽  
Consumer Empowerment ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Perceived Performance ◽  
Performance Risk ◽  
The Impact

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to enhance the understanding of consumer empowerment in the relationship between consumers and service providers. It draws on self-efficacy theory to conceptualize consumer empowerment and explain the impact on perceived performance risk in insurance decision making. Design/methodology/approach This study employs data collected from an online survey involving 487 consumers in Switzerland, who recently decided on an insurance service. A structural equation model quantifies both the psychological effects on consumers’ perception of insurance services and behavioral effects on their decision-making process. Findings Perceived consumer empowerment is conceptualized by perceived self-efficacy and perceived controllability. Both have a significant impact on perceived performance risk, while the former is partially mediated by the preference to delegate the decision to a surrogate. Moreover, customers’ involvement in the purchase process moderates both the direct and indirect effect of perceived self-efficacy on perceived performance risk. Research limitations/implications The results are based on consumers’ perceptions from a single country. Furthermore, consumers’ perceptions were surveyed with a time lag after the decision-making process. To increase rigor, perceptions should be collected during decision making. Practical implications Results show that consumer empowerment can be employed as a risk reduction strategy. Consumers with self-efficacy and controllability beliefs perceive significantly less performance risk; however, practitioners should consider that consumers are also motivated to make decisions independently rather than delegating their decisions. Furthermore, consumer empowerment depends on consumer will. For largely indifferent consumers, empowerment does not affect risk or decision delegation preference. Originality/value The study is among the few empirical works to examine the effects of consumer empowerment on the consumer-service provider relationship on an individual level. Furthermore, applying consumer empowerment in relationship marketing implies a shift in research focus to the question of how consumers construe decision-making situations rather than objectively measuring the state of consumer relationship.

Revisiting the resource-based view on logistics performance in the shipping industry

2017 ◽  
Vol 47 (9) ◽  
pp. 884-905 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chung-Shan Yang ◽  
Taih-Cherng Lirn
Keyword(s):  
Service Providers ◽  
Empirical Support ◽  
Value Added ◽  
Interfirm Relationships ◽  
Resource Based View ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Logistics Service ◽  
Container Logistics ◽  
Key Stakeholders ◽  
The Impact

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to evaluate empirically the impact of intrafirm resources, interfirm relationships, and logistics service capabilities on logistics performance (LP) in the context of container logistics. Design/methodology/approach Factor analysis was employed to identify the key intrafirm resources (i.e. tangible assets and intangible assets), interfirm relationships (i.e. communication (COM) and long-term relationships), logistics service capabilities (i.e. service efficiency, service reliability, service flexibility, and value-added service), and LP dimensions. Data were collected from a survey of container shipping service providers, and were analyzed by a structural equation model to test the research hypotheses. Findings The findings show that interfirm relationships and logistics service capabilities act as mediator variables between intrafirm resources and LP. Research limitations/implications The results of this research support the application of the general theory on firm-level performance and the resource-based view (RBV) as a lens through which LP can be achieved via logistics service capabilities. In addition, the findings lend empirical support to the capability-building view, which asserts the importance of resource investment and relationship maintenance, and the development of distinctive capabilities to enhance performance. Practical implications Container logistics operators should not view their intrafirm resources (including logistics information technology and teamwork organizational culture) or interfirm relationships (including informal COM with key stakeholders and evergreen relationship with key stakeholders) separately; instead, a systems approach should be used. Originality/value This research updates the RBV theory by clearly indicating that the overall performance of shipping firms cannot be decided solely by the firm’s own resources. Interfirm relationships and logistics service capabilities are found to be powerful moderators which help shipping firms allocate their resources effectively and thus improve their LP.

Organizational adoption of 3D printing technology: a semisystematic literature review

2020 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Desiree Valeria Ukobitz
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
3D Printing ◽  
Literature Review ◽  
Strategic Decision ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Managerial Decision ◽  
Organizational Adoption ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Theoretical Concepts ◽  
The Impact

PurposeThree-dimensional (3D) printing (3DP) offers a promising value proposition across multiple manufacturing industries. Despite the variety of production benefits the technology entails, its rate of adoption is still low compared to industry forecasts. In face of this challenge, industry as well as academia requires more information and guidance. This review aims to examine the characteristics of the existing body of research on the organizational adoption of 3DP as well as its underlying theoretical concepts. The most common criteria driving adoption will be derived, such as to facilitate the managerial decision-making process. Pathways for future research will be presented.Design/methodology/approachThis study underlies a bibliometric literature review and additionally applies content analysis to systematically investigate the existing body of research and group decision criteria along the four major pillars of strategic decision-making.FindingsThe contributions of this paper are threefold. First, the bibliometric analysis reveals interesting aspects of the existing body of research. The most prominent characteristics of the contemporary literature are reflected along descriptive indicators, such as industry, method, model, origin, research outlet or adoption drivers, thus granting relevant insights into academia and practice. Second, the most notable adoption models are carefully analyzed on their inherent attributes and their application fit for the context of organizational 3DP adoption. Findings, for instance, revealed the dominance of diffusion of innovation (DOI) across the existing body of research and divulge that this construct is generally applied in combination with user-centered decision frameworks to yield more precise results. Third, an ample range of opportunities for future research are detected and thoroughly explained. Among others, the authors identified a clear lack of information on the impact environmental variables and contingency factors exerted on the organizational adoption of 3DP. Guidance in relation to the sourcing of industry data, usage of adoption frameworks and avenues for future scientific projects is supplied.Originality/valueThis study represents the first semi-systematic literature review on the organizational adoption of 3DP. Thus, it not only offers a valuable evaluation guide for potential adopters but also determines a future research agenda.

Managing operations in customer-intensive services with forward-looking customers

Kybernetes ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 47 (10) ◽  
pp. 1941-1955 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chengzhang Li ◽  
Minghui Jiang ◽  
Xuchuan Yuan
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Service Providers ◽  
Service Operations ◽  
Purchase Decision ◽  
Service Rate ◽  
Optimal Price ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Reservation Utility ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Forward Looking

Purpose This paper aims to investigate the optimal price and service rate decisions in a customer-intensive service, where customers’ perceived service quality decreases in the service speed. Customers are assumed to be forward-looking in purchase decision-making and heterogeneous in their reservation utilities. The purpose of this paper is to study the impact of customers’ forward-looking behavior and the heterogeneity on the operational decisions in a customer-intensive context. Design/methodology/approach The service is delivered through an M/M/1 queue system with unobservable queues. Customers are forward-looking in queue joining decisions, where the purchase decisions are made when the expected utility is greater than the reservation utility. The optimal price and service rate decisions are analyzed with both homogeneous and heterogeneous customers, where homogenous customers have the same reservation utility in purchase decision-making, while heterogeneous customers have different reservation utilities, which are captured by a random variable. Findings The optimal price and service rate decisions with forward-looking customers depend on the customer intensity, potential market size and customers’ reservation utility distribution. The results suggest that customers’ heterogeneity in terms of their reservation utilities affects the optimal decisions, market coverage and the expected revenue. Service providers need to take customers’ heterogeneity and the forward-looking behavior into operational decision-making. Originality/value This paper extends previous studies in customer-intensive service and contribute to the service operations management area by explicitly incorporating customers’ forward-looking behavior and heterogeneity in purchase decision-making. Assuming customers are forward-looking and heterogeneous is more realistic and practical. The results highlight that knowing customers’ behavioral characteristics can better improve decision-making in service operations, which is critical for enhancing customers’ satisfaction and loyalty, thus critical to a firm’s success in the market with intensive competition.

scholarly journals Collaborative relationships between logistics service providers and humanitarian organizations during disaster relief operations

2016 ◽  
Vol 6 (2) ◽  
pp. 118-144 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jennifer Bealt ◽  
Jair Camilo Fernández Barrera ◽  
S. Afshin Mansouri
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Service Providers ◽  
Disaster Relief ◽  
Collaborative Partnerships ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Logistics Service ◽  
Humanitarian Organizations ◽  
Disaster Relief Operations ◽  
Logistics Service Providers ◽  
Relief Operations

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to explore barriers and benefits of establishing relationships between humanitarian organizations (HOs) and logistics service providers (LSPs) in order to improve humanitarian disaster relief operations (DROs). The perceptions of a variety of actors are explored to determine key factors which influence collaboration. Design/methodology/approach – This study comprises of qualitative and quantitative methodological approaches. A comprehensive literature review was undertaken alongside an online survey with a variety of respondents. Descriptive statistics, data visualization and qualitative data analysis were implemented to analyse survey results. A follow-up survey and interviews with LSPs validated the results. Findings – The research presents the opinions of a variety of actors involved in DROs and reveals barriers which affect HO/LSP collaboration. Explanations for these barriers and possible solutions to mitigate them are disclosed. The findings also uncover gaps between research and practice; providing new insights into behaviour in the humanitarian field. Practical implications – The authors provide an in-depth understanding of the barriers and challenges faced in this field and suggest a reevaluation of corporate decision making in order to increase trust between LSPs and HOs. The authors identify future research topics including the impact of donors and military organizations on HO decision making, and analysis of variables which may affect the formation of collaborative partnerships. Originality/value – The authors introduce a unique empirical insight into the perspectives of HOs, LSPs and academics and offers suggestions for mitigating the numerous barriers associated with successful collaborative partnerships between HOs and LSPs.

Do ISO standards favour logistics provider efficiency, competitiveness and sustainability? A Slovenian perspective

2015 ◽  
Vol 26 (2) ◽  
pp. 275-295 ◽  
Author(s):  
Patricija Bajec ◽  
Danijela Tuljak-Suban ◽  
Evelin Krmac
Keyword(s):  
Service Providers ◽  
Quality Standards ◽  
Small Sample ◽  
Iso 14001 ◽  
Logistics Industry ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Logistics Service ◽  
Logistics Service Providers ◽  
The Impact ◽  
The Relationship

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to investigate the prevalence of the application of standards and their positive influence on the efficiency and competitiveness of Slovenian logistics service providers. Moreover, an analysis was also done on the relationship between the adoption of the environmental standard and greater concern for the environment. Design/methodology/approach – A small sample analysis was done using a combination of statistical methods and an abductive approach. A χ2 analysis was utilized to test the hypotheses. Findings – Many benefits were indicated. However, a positive relationship between quality standards and efficiency, as well as competitiveness, was not confirmed. In addition, the implementation of ISO 14001 quality standards was found to have no effect on the higher investment in environmental protection. Research limitations/implications – This study is limited by its local aspect (Slovenia), small sample size and its focus on just quality standards and their external factors. Future studies should be extended to the countries of eastern Europe and should further examine the relationship of internal factors as well as the relationship between the adoption of quality standards and the supply chain. Practical implications – A survey is essential not just for the Slovenian industry but also for the wider logistics industry as well as for government authorities and standards providers. Originality/value – This is one of the first papers written to analyse the effects of quality standards on international logistics service providers and the first paper that has explored the impact of standards on Slovenian logistics service providers.

scholarly journals Should hospitals invest in customised on-demand 3D printing for surgeries?

2020 ◽  
Vol 41 (1) ◽  
pp. 55-62
Author(s):  
Atanu Chaudhuri ◽  
Hussein Naseraldin ◽  
Peder Veng Søberg ◽  
Ehud Kroll ◽  
Michael Librus
Keyword(s):  
Supply Chain ◽  
3D Printing ◽  
Clinical Outcomes ◽  
Service Providers ◽  
Flow Time ◽  
Supply Chain Design ◽  
Content Type ◽  
On Demand ◽  
Surgical Guides ◽  
The Impact

PurposeThe purpose of this research is to (1) analyse the effect of customised on-demand 3DP on surgical flow time, its variability and clinical outcomes (2) provide a framework for hospitals to decide whether to invest in 3DP or to outsource.Design/methodology/approachThe research design included interviews, workshops and field visits. Design science approach was used to analyse the impact of the 3D printing (3DP) interventions on specific outcomes and to develop frameworks for hospitals to invest in 3DP, which were validated through further interviews with stakeholders.FindingsEvidence from this research shows that deploying customised on-demand 3DP can reduce surgical flow time and its variability while improving clinical outcomes. Such outcomes are obtained due to rapid development of the anatomical model and surgical guides along with precise cutting during surgery.Research limitations/implicationsWe outline multiple opportunities for research on supply chain design and performance assessment for surgical 3DP. Further empirical research is needed to validate the results.Practical implicationsThe decision to implement 3DP in hospitals or to engage service providers will require careful analysis of complexity, demand, lead-time criticality and a hospital's own objectives. Hospitals can follow different paths in adopting 3DP for surgeries depending on their context.Originality/valueThe operations and supply chain management community has researched on-demand distributed manufacturing for multiple industries. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first paper on customised on-demand 3DP for surgeries.

The development of new sponsorship deals as new business-to-business services

2015 ◽  
Vol 30 (5) ◽  
pp. 552-561 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pinelopi Athanasopoulou ◽  
Elena Sarli
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Development Process ◽  
Service Providers ◽  
Service Development ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Complex Relationship ◽  
Business Services ◽  
Content Type ◽  
New Business ◽  
Business To Business

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to analyse the process followed by sponsors and sport properties in developing their sponsorship deals as seen from a new service development (NSD) perspective. Sponsorships are expensive and can be a source of sustainable competitive advantage if managed appropriately. Therefore, the authors need to approach sponsorship strategically and formalise sponsorship decision-making. Sponsorships are considered to be complex, relationship-based, business-to-business services, and the development of such services has been analysed in the NSD literature. As past research on the development process of sponsorship deals is limited, the use of an NSD perspective can help in formalising sponsorship decision-making. Design/methodology/approach – Four case studies were conducted involving two professional, premier league football clubs and two sponsoring organisations, one major sponsor for each club. One of the dyads involved a brand new sponsorship deal and the other a renewal. Findings – Results showed that in both dyads, the development process of the new service follows the NSD process of other complex, relationship-based, business-to-business services and involves three main phases, namely, information collection, proposal preparation and presentation or receipt and analysis, and negotiations and contract sign. All four firms use a semi-formal and flexible process, whereas the actors in each stage vary. Also, the new deal requires a more lengthy process than the renewal, following the example of really new and me-too services. Multi-functional teams are not present, and top management involvement is important only in the last stage of the process. Research limitations/implications – This paper helps in analysing the development process of new sponsorship deals, as new business-to-business services. However, it involves only four cases and has limited generalisability. Future research should substantiate results with more cases or quantitative research. Practical implications – Results can help sponsors and sponsees to structure their processes for successful development of new sponsorship deals. Also, as new sponsorship deals seem to be developed the same way with other business-to-business, complex services, potential sponsors that are big service providers can probably enjoy synergies from using the same or a slightly different process than the one they use for developing their main services. Finally, the use of a semi-formal and flexible process in sponsorship development can be helpful in dealing with customised services and rapid NSD that is critical for new service success. Originality/value – It is the first time that the development process of sponsorship deals is approached from an NSD perspective and analysed as a new business-to-business service.

The impact of supply chain relationship quality on performance in the maritime logistics industry in light of firm characteristics

2018 ◽  
Vol 29 (3) ◽  
pp. 1077-1097 ◽  
Author(s):  
Youngran Shin ◽  
Vinh Thai ◽  
Kum Fai Yuen
Keyword(s):  
Supply Chain ◽  
Relationship Quality ◽  
Service Providers ◽  
Firm Characteristics ◽  
Maritime Logistics ◽  
Logistics Industry ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Configuration Theory ◽  
Logistics Service ◽  
The Impact

Purpose Anchoring on configuration theory, the purpose of this paper is to evaluate how supply chain relationship quality (SCRQ) differs across firm characteristics (FC) in the maritime logistics industry. In addition, it utilises transactional cost theory to establish the relationship between SCRQ and supply chain performance (SCP). Design/methodology/approach The data were obtained from a survey with 205 maritime logistics service players (shipping firms, shippers and freight forwarders) in Singapore. MANOVA and t-test analyses are used to examine the difference in SCRQ (i.e. trust and commitment) across FC which includes firm types and ownership types. Thereafter, structural equation modelling is employed to examine the influence of SCRQ on SCP. Findings The results indicate that the effects of trust and commitment on SCRQ vary significantly. It was also found that trust as an aspect of SCRQ has a significant impact on SCP, whereas commitment does not. Research limitations/implications As the field data were obtained from only one industry, future replication of the findings to other industries should consider industry-specific factors, if applicable. Practical implications It is suggested that maritime logistics service players should carefully manage trust and commitment to simultaneously enable SCP. By identifying the various aspects of FC that contribute to SCRQ, maritime logistics service providers could devise appropriate strategies for different customer segments more effectively. Originality/value This study expands current supply chain research by linking two dimensions of SCRQ in relationship marketing with SCP in supply chain management. It is also one of the first empirical attempts to explore the role of FC in the linkage between SCRQ and SCP in the maritime logistics industry.

Supply chain risk management in the COVID-19 pandemic: strategies and empirical lessons for improving global logistics service providers’ performance

2022 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Nils-Ole Hohenstein
Keyword(s):  
Risk Management ◽  
Supply Chain ◽  
Business Performance ◽  
Service Providers ◽  
Supply Chain Risk Management ◽  
Supply Chain Risk ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Logistics Service ◽  
Logistics Service Providers ◽  
The Impact

PurposeThe enormous impact of the COVID-19 pandemic showcases the key role of supply chain risk management (SCRM) in achieving and maintaining business performance, competitiveness and survival in the “new normal”. The purpose of this paper is to explore what impact the COVID-19 pandemic has had and may yet have on supply chains (SCs), which SCRM approaches have proved successful and how logistics service providers (LSPs) have applied the knowledge they have gained to improve their SCRM practices and resilience so as to prepare better for the next major disruption.Design/methodology/approachThis paper combines an extensive literature review with a multiple-case study of 10 internationally operating LSPs and how they have handled the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic so far. To bridge the research-practice gap, this study draws on the dynamic-capabilities view and provide insights that are valuable to both academia and practice.FindingsThis study provides empirical evidence on the severe impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on SCs, which has posed several challenges to LSPs. The study identifies eight factors that are critical to the adaptive capabilities of LSPs and, therefore, to their resilience in extreme conditions. The findings of this study show that these factors determine whether an SCRM system is robust and agile enough to allow an LSP to anticipate potential disruption and to respond fast enough when disruption occurs. Specifically, this study finds that robustness and agility demonstrably strengthen business performance, while learning from experience proves key to reconfiguring an SCRM design in response to acute disruption.Originality/valueThis paper is among the first to provide rich, empirical and practically applicable insights into the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on business in relation to SCRM. These novel insights offer inspiring opportunities for further research.

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