Artificial Intelligence in Supply Chain Management

This chapter develops a method proposal regarding digitisation of variables in road, maritime, and airline transport, and makes parameters machinable, output-producing algorithms methods. Results regarding which artificial intelligence is proper to be used in storage, distribution, stock, and order tracking, supply chain architecture, and third- and fourth-party logistical practices are sought. For this, artificial neural nets, software techniques, artificial intelligent philosophy, and the reflections on the business world are analysed.

Operational Process in Lpg and Lng Gas Ships in Maritime Transportation Logistics

Liquefied petroleum gas is used as an energy source in many areas of the world. It is among the most important fuels used worldwide. Transport of this type of petroleum products between ports is carried out on a large scale. These cargoes are transported in ship types called LPG tankers. Transported LPG gas formation must be carried in liquid form. Particularly in these liquid formations, the transportation of the LPG vessels is divided into different types and it is carried under the name of Fully Refrigerated, which authors call full cooling. LPG is a highly sensitive, flammable, and explosive property, but it is also necessary to know special precautions regarding its transportation. Load operations are difficult processes for LPG tankers. The most complex of these processes is the change of load called grade change. The chapter guides LPG vessels' workers and students in the education process.

Management and Organization in Transportation and Logistics

In today's business environment, in which organizations try to outpace their rivals, the power of management and organization come into prominence. Management, as an art and science, constitutes great importance in terms of creating sustainability in the organizations, and sustainability acts as an important agent for being successful in the competition. Especially supply chain management is evaluated to be among the most crucial organizational activities, which needs to be heavily focused on, in order to create customer satisfaction in the process of product and/or service delivery. Furthermore, as it is known, supply chain management is the key element of transportation and logistics. This chapter scrutinizes the importance of management and organization in transportation and logistics. With this purpose, a literature review presents the study both in a historical and contemporary point of view.

The Effect of Reverse Logistics Activities on Brand Equity and Customer Satisfaction

In the last few decades, the rapid development of customer awareness of environmental issues has encouraged many enterprises to adopt reverse logistics activities, which resulted in growing importance among enterprises of enhancing customer satisfaction and improving brand equity. This chapter examines the effect of reverse logistics activities in Turkish firms which are required to act responsibly towards the environment, and explains the relationship between reverse logistics processes and customer satisfaction and brand equity. The findings of this study contribute to understanding that an increasing number of them have integrated reverse logistics practices into their operations to develop a sustainable competitive advantage. The findings also indicate that reverse logistics plays an active role in Turkish enterprises improving brand equity and customer satisfaction while preserving the environment in the local and the global communities.

A Secure Bet in the Maritime Supply Chain

Extended research has been conducted related to how ports are capable to offer differentiated services for their customers, as well as how these decide to do business with one port rather than another. However, the literature about ports' attractiveness is not conclusive. This chapter identifies main drivers with respect to their relevance for managerial practices and proposes an agenda that tackles the obstacles that ports may find when aiming at enhancing their attractiveness. The chapter reviews the relevant literature, reports, and media to provide a comprehensive and up-to-date picture. It further opens the discussion related to exogenous, endogenous, and subjective factor of port attractiveness and how they influence stakeholders' decisions. The study concludes with proposals for further research.

The Impacts of Liner Shipping Connectivity and Economic Growth on International Trade Case of European Countries and Turkey

Sea transportation and maritime transport networks have commonly been used with the development of international trade. Maritime transportation is more widely used for the transportation of high-volume cargoes in international trade particularly, since sea transportation is cheaper and safer than road and railway transportation. This chapter investigates the relationship among exports, liner shipping connectivity index, and economic growth in European countries and Turkey. Analysis found that liner shipping connectivity index and economic growth have a positive effect on the exports in European countries and Turkey. It is revealed that 1% increase in liner shipping connectivity index provides the increment 0.21% in the exports. In addition, 1% increment in gross domestic product ensures the increase 1.05% in the exports.

An Assessment for Classification of Distribution Network Design

Distribution consists of moving and storing a product from the supplier to customer during the supply chain process. Distribution process is crucial decision of a company due to its effects on supply chain cost and customer satisfaction. In the competitive environment of the business, all companies aim to minimize delivery costs and maximize customer satisfaction by applying optimum distribution network design. The design of effective distribution network requires critical decisions as the location and the capacity of distribution centers together with logistic activities, which consist of transportation and inventory process. The purpose of this research is to define a deep literature review regarding definition of distribution network, distribution channels, selection of distribution, and the factors affecting distribution network design. After reviewing a comprehensive literature on distribution network design, this chapter includes suggestions.

Introduction to International Transportation and Logistics

Logistics is the management of the flow of goods, information, and resources between the point of origin and the point of consumption. It is a business concept that evolved during the 1950s due to the increasing complexity of supplying businesses with materials and transporting products in an increasingly globalized supply chain. The complexity led to a call for experts in the process called logisticians. Work in logistics involves the integration of information, transportation, inventory, warehousing, material handling, packaging, human resources, and sometimes security. The goal is to manage the life cycle of a project from birth to completion. The main functions of a qualified logistician include inventory management, purchasing, transportation, warehousing, consultation, and organizing and planning of these activities. Logisticians combine a professional knowledge of each of these functions to coordinate resources in an organization.

In the Green Logistics Vision

In this chapter the studies made on an international level in line with the zero waste goal with recycling logistics in green logistics vision are examined. Businesses acting sensitive to the changing environmental conditions, adopting the zero waste with recycling logistics in green logistics vision in line with their development goals are within the contemporary production targets. In a global view, the goal is both creating a livable world and reducing the life cycle costs. In this regard, the chapter researches the status of the recycling logistics to create awareness on the role and importance of the logistics services and operators in the waste industry. Also, to scan the available literature with the reported applications in the less-developed countries in line with the zero waste goal with green logistics vision and to emphasize the importance of these applications.

Resource-Based Logistics (RBL) and Competitive Advantage

Logistics service is more complex and knowledge-based in the fourth industrial revolution era. Given this significance, this chapter emphasizes the logistics industry and its specific dynamic capabilities, and measures generating the Industry 4.0 by extending the resource-based logistics (RBL) of Noorliza (2011). The chapter has three parts: Logistics in the fourth industrial revolution, RBL theory, and its impacts and Logistics 4.0 models in the fast-moving environment. This explains how logisticians or logistics firms obtain competitive advantages in the fourth industrial revolution era.