In search of supplier flexibility performance measurement

PurposeThe purpose of this study is to identify, characterize and assess supplier flexibility measurement practices in the order-to-delivery process.Design/methodology/approachThe study involved a survey; participants were 224 purchasing managers at Swedish manufacturing companies that had more than 20 employees.FindingsScrutiny of the details of measurement practices revealed that most respondents actually do not specifically measure supplier flexibility. Instead they measure other measures like delivery reliability, conduct qualitative follow-ups, or cannot specify how supplier flexibility is measured. It was acknowledged that they measure different supplier flexibility aspects, and the applied measures were characterized, e.g. in terms of which flexibility dimension they represent.Research limitations/implicationsConceptual clarifications and adaptations to measuring supplier flexibility in the order-to-delivery process are provided. The identified measures can be a contribution in further developing literature on flexibility performance measurement.Practical implicationsPurchasing, logistics and supply chain managers in search of supplier flexibility performance measurement can find ways to measure and an extended flexibility vocabulary. This has the potential to improve flexibility in the supply chain.Originality/valueEven though flexibility is claimed as being an important competitive advantage, few empirical studies and operationalized measures exist, particularly in the order-to-delivery process.

The analysis of digitalization impact on personnel functions in logistics

The article discusses the main types of employment in logistics. The functionality of positions in purchasing, warehousing, transport and information logistics, as well as in external economic activities, is analyzed in sufficient detail. The following positions are considered: purchasing agent, railway transport service agent, car driver, dispatcher, vehicle maintenance engineer, transport organization and management engineer, logist, logistician, foreign economic activity Manager, air transportation Manager, purchasing Manager, logistics Manager, customs Manager, warehouse Manager, operational logistician, vehicle auditor, marine transportation specialist, customs broker, transport planner, freighter, freight forwarder, freight forwarding agent, specialist in the field of digital logistics, specialist of the Contract service. Digitalization is capable of influencing the job responsibilities of logistics personnel in the fact that over time the need for human personnel decreases. In this regard, there is a need to be able to identify such functions that can be replaced by information or automated systems. The main aspects of the impact of digitalization on logistics are indicated: transport logistics, purchasing logistics, information logistics, customs logistics.

Purchasing-logistics integration and supplier performance: an information-processing view

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to develop a purchasing-logistics integration (PLI) conceptualization along two dimensions: mutual responsibility and integrative efforts. This conceptualization is then tested as to whether it provides any insights for supplier performance. Design/methodology/approach Information-Processing Theory is used to posit hypotheses linking the dimensions of PLI with various measures of supplier performance. Hypotheses are then tested with a dyadic data set of purchasing and logistics managers, using multiple regression methods. Findings Purchasing managers found mutual responsibility to positively influence supplier delivery speed, whereas logistics managers found it to positively influence supplier price performance. Generally speaking, purchasing managers perceived a stronger linkage between formal integrative efforts (liaison roles and joint reward systems) and supplier performance, whereas logistics managers perceived this linkage to be stronger for informal integrative efforts such as information exchange and collaboration. Research limitations/implications Study results are cross-sectional in nature and consist of three major industry groupings. The dyadic data were analyzed separately to avoid significant data loss. Practical implications Supply chain managers will find the areas where purchasing and logistics managers overlap in their perceptions (as well as where they differ) useful. In addition, an understanding of how PLI influences supplier performance should help improve organizational effectiveness. Originality/value PLI is a highly important, yet understudied, internal connection. This study provides a useful framework in helping academics and practitioners better understand this crucial internal connection, and how it relates to the performance extracted from suppliers.

An Optimized Mathematical Model for Items Supplies Planning of a Logistic System

Items supplies planning of a logistic system is one of the major issue in operations research. In this article the aim is to determine how much of each item per month from each supplier logistics system requirements must be provided. To do this, a novel multi objective mixed integer programming mathematical model is offered for the first time. Since in logistics system, delivery on time is very important, the first objective is minimization of time in delivery on time costs (including lack and maintenance costs) and the cost of purchasing logistics system. The second objective function is minimization of the transportation supplier costs. Solving the mathematical model shows how to use the Multiple Objective Decision Making (MODM) can provide the ensuring policy and transportation logistics needed items. This model is solved with CPLEX and computational results show the effectiveness of the proposed model.

Quality Management Principles in the University-Industry Partnership

Purpose of the workIn the context of an intensified and successful cooperation between Continental Automotive Systems SRL and Lucian Blaga University of Sibiu, Romania, the most recent initiative is to undertake a research investigation meant to examine the collaboration between higher education and business and identify new means to increase the efficiency of their partnership taking into account the present challenges addressing both academia and industry, as well as facilitating the transition from the former to the latter in the context of the labour market demands.MethodologyThe study will provide an analysis of the public-private partnership based on a recent case study endorsed by a thorough theoretical framework. In this respect, an anonymous questionnaire was addressed to two target groups: employees and team/department leaders at Continental Automotive Systems SRL Sibiu.Important findingsThe results of the case study will provide relevant feedback about the ability of new employees to integrate on the labour market and make full use of the abilities and competencies developed and trained throughout their academic education. Since the present study is a follow up of previous research projects, the case study will now focus on “non-technical talents”, therefore the target group of the questionnaire is represented by employees and team leaders from the following departments: translation services, human resources, purchasing, logistics, finance and controlling.Conclusions that identify implications for future practice and/or policy and key “Take Home Messages”The present paper highlights the relevance of each component of the knowledge triangle – education, research, innovation – as a means to prevent and overcome crisis evinced as: unemployment in addition to graduates’ inability to integrate or adapt to the requirements of business community, labour market mobility and financial instability, economic competitiveness.