scholarly journals Supply chain disruptions: Insights from South African third-party logistics service providers and clients

Author(s):  
Jaco Nel ◽  
Evert De Goede ◽  
Wesley Niemann

Background: Despite risk management efforts, supply chains have become increasingly vulnerable to disruptions. Disruptions should be successfully managed if organisations are to thrive in today’s ever-changing world.Purpose: This study explored supply chain disruptions of third-party logistics service providers (3PLs) and their clients based in South Africa by investigating the disruptions these organisations face, and how they go about managing them.Method: A generic qualitative research approach was used to gather data by conducting semi-structured interviews with 22 participants, which comprised 11 3PLs and 11 client organisations operating in South Africa.Findings: This study classified disruptions as intra-, inter- and extra-organisational. South African 3PLs and their clients face the majority of their disruptions either intra- or inter-organisationally. The focus of 3PLs and clients has shifted from risk management to disruption management. The findings show that 3PLs and their clients based in South Africa prefer disruption learning over traditional risk management as a method to better manage future disruptions.Conclusion: This study contributes to existing literature by providing insight into the specific supply chain disruptions that 3PLs and their clients based in South Africa face, according to the disruption location in the supply chain and how 3PLs and clients manage supply chain disruptions.

Author(s):  
Pier Paolo Carrus ◽  
Roberta Pinna

Logistics Service Providers (3PL) have become important players in supply chain management. In a highly competitive context characterized by “time compression”, a successful strategy depends increasingly on the performance of Logistics Service Providers as they play a key integrative role linking different supply chain elements more effectively. However, the role of the information technology capability of these 3PL has not drawn much attention. The research question is: can IT be viewed as a fundamental supply chain management coordination mechanism? If so, does IT capability of third party logistics providers to improve performance in the supply chain and become a bigger factor in a strategic buyer-3PL relationship? By drawing on earlier research on the supply chain management coordination mechanism, the IT capability of third party logistics providers, a case study is conducted.


Author(s):  
Thierry Sauvage

Our work discusses the results of a survey among French logistics service providers. In a highly competitive context characterized by “time compression”, technological effort becomes a key variable and a means of differentiation between third‐party logistics providers. The success of logistics outsourcing relationships is entrenched in the third‐party's technological ability to improve the supply chain reactivity.


2003 ◽  
Vol 14 (2) ◽  
pp. 93-107 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yemisi A. Bolumole

The shift from traditional and functional third‐party logistics to comprehensive supply‐chain relationships has significant implications for the role of third‐party logistics service providers (3pls). Extending previous research in which four factors were found to influence 3pls' supply chain function, this paper contains an assessment of the varying role(s) 3pls can play in the supply chain. The factors include: the strategic orientation of the outsourcing organization; its perception of 3pls' roles within the logistics strategy; the nature of the resultant client‐3pl relationship; and, the extent to which logistics is outsourced. The supply chain impact of these factors are evaluated based on the findings from case study research. Each different 3pl role (conceptual and empirical) is examined and implications for practical implementation are provided.


2020 ◽  
Vol 24 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mandla Mvubu ◽  
Micheline Naude

The purpose of this study was to determine the supply chain risk management (SCRM) strategies that South African third-party logistics (3PL) service providers use to mitigate risks, the extent to which they adopt these strategies and the benefits derived thereof. An exploratory and descriptive method technique was adopted. The empirical study comprised of email surveys administered to 398 supply chain managers employed by South African 3PLs. The findings reveal that respondents place greater importance on risk identification than on the other SCRM strategies. Risk assessment attained the lowest rating, implying that 3PL providers placed the least importance on this risk assessment strategy. Risk response and risk monitoring, reporting and control are all adopted to a significantly lesser extent. The findings also revealed that 3PL providers derive significant benefits from all SCRM strategies. A limitation of this study is that not all 3PL providers affiliated with SAAFF participated. In addition, because only members of senior management were included in the study, the opinions of operational and tactical staff were not obtained. The study contributes to the current body of knowledge on SCRM by exploring how 3PL providers in a developing country, such as South Africa, assess supply chain risks, the strategies they have in place to respond to these risks, and the mechanisms in place to monitor and control SCM risks.


2011 ◽  
Vol 3 (4) ◽  
pp. 21-36 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pier Paolo Carrus ◽  
Roberta Pinna

Logistics Service Providers (3PL) have become important players in supply chain management. In a highly competitive context characterized by “time compression”, a successful strategy depends increasingly on the performance of Logistics Service Providers as they play a key integrative role linking different supply chain elements more effectively. However, the role of the information technology capability of these 3PL has not drawn much attention. The research question is: can IT be viewed as a fundamental supply chain management coordination mechanism? If so, does IT capability of third party logistics providers to improve performance in the supply chain and become a bigger factor in a strategic buyer-3PL relationship? By drawing on earlier research on the supply chain management coordination mechanism, the IT capability of third party logistics providers, a case study is conducted.


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