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2023 | Buch

Global Logistics and Supply Chain Strategies for the 2020s

Vital Skills for the Next Generation

herausgegeben von: Rico Merkert, Kai Hoberg

Verlag: Springer International Publishing

Enthalten in: Springer Professional "Wirtschaft+Technik" , Springer Professional "Technik" , Springer Professional "Wirtschaft"

Inhaltsverzeichnis

Über dieses Buch

Logistics and supply chain management is facing disruptive economic, technological and climate change developments that require new strategies. New technologies such as the Internet-of-Things, digital manufacturing or blockchain are emerging quickly and could provide competitive advantage to those companies that leverage the technologies smartly while managers that do not adopt and embrace change could be left behind. Last but perhaps most important for mankind, sustainability aspects such as low-carbon transportation, closed loop supply chains or socially-responsible supply chain setups will become essential to operate successfully in the future. All these aspects will affect logistics and supply chains as a whole as well as different functional areas such as air cargo, maritime logistics or sourcing/procurement.

This book aims to dive into several of these functional topics to highlight the key developments in the next decade predicted by leading global experts in the field. It features contributions and key insights of globally leading scholars and senior industry experts. Their forward-looking perspectives on the anticipated trends are aimed at informing the reader about how logistics and supply chain management will evolve in the next decade and which academic qualities and skills will be required to succeed in the "new normal" environment that will be characterized by volatile and increasingly disrupted business eco-systems. Future scenarios are envisaged to provide both practitioners and students with insights that will help them to adapt and succeed in a fast changing world.

Inhaltsverzeichnis

Frontmatter

The Future of Logistics and Supply Chain Management: Changing Skill Sets and Smart Career Choices

Abstract

Despite its tumultuous, volatile start and subsequent disruptions and rising costs in many supply chains, the 2020 decade has all the ingredients to foster a “golden age” for a career in logistics and supply chain management. On the one hand, many urgent challenges such as managing global supply chain disruptions and security, climate change, or social injustices need to be addressed, while on the other hand many new technologies and tools become available that can support this transformation and provide firms with competitive advantages. As a result, supply chain talents, experts, and graduates are highly sought after. This chapter provides a general overview of the opportunities arising from global supply chain and logistics trends and a synthesis of the chapters in this book highlighting graduate qualities and career insights into the various logistics and supply chain sectors/industries.

Rico Merkert, Kai Hoberg

The Impact on Supply Chain Networks of Shifting Demand and Supply Dynamics

Abstract

The supply chain networks that support a business have usually evolved over time, shaped by various market and supply forces and by the expectations and strategic intent of a series of leaders. Recent shocks and higher awareness of risk and shifts on both the demand and supply side are expected to require global networks to be reassessed. This chapter reviews some of the key changes impacting global chains and considers the implications for future supply chain networks and the people who will manage them.

John Gattorna, Deborah Ellis

AI in Logistics and Supply Chain Management

Abstract

Artificial intelligence (AI) applications are pervading logistics and supply chain management. The widespread availability of data, combined with sustained improvements in computing power, provides new opportunities to improve supply chain decision making. Data may originate from digital logistics applications or the connectivity of assets through Internet of things technologies. AI can also facilitate the automation of well-defined workflows. Yet, while AI may appropriate certain tasks, we believe it will not make the job of the logistics planner obsolete. AI empowers and augments human capabilities. This chapter explores and demystifies the opportunities of AI for logistics and supply chain management.

Robert N. Boute, Maxi Udenio

How to Design Human–Machine Interaction in Next-Generation Supply Chain Planning

Abstract

Decision support systems for supply chain planning have been supporting planners over decades to improve their decision-making in many different ways. As next-generation planning systems are leveraging advanced artificial intelligence (AI) technologies, companies must not only determine what decision support to use, but effectively shape how the supply chain planner (“the human”) and the system (“the machine”) work together. At the same time, AI-supported planning systems will change the job profiles and required skill sets of supply chain planners. This chapter provides guidance on what to consider when designing such interactive systems and elaborates on the effect of digitization on supply chain job profiles.

Kai Hoberg, Christina Imdahl

The Circular Economy and Green Supply Chains

Abstract

Greening of supply chains is critical for circular economy practices to be sustainable. In this chapter, we overview both these concepts. The circular economy—although popular as a policy and industry concern—has not achieved a consensus definition. One clear characteristic is that it is a system and can be evaluated at multiple levels. The supply chain represents one of these levels and greening of supply chains plays an important role in the instantiation of the circular economy. Technological, organizational, and external characteristics are each evaluated at the nexus of these two concepts. A number of managerial skills and capabilities are identified within this nexus.

Joseph Sarkis

Preparing Logistics for the Low-Carbon Economy

Abstract

Carbon emissions from logistical activity will have to drop steeply over the next few decades for companies to meet their ‘net zero’ commitments. This will require major changes to managerial mindsets and skillsets. The chapter outlines the nature and scale of the climate change challenge facing businesses and then examines what this means for logistics. It focuses on three aspects of the logistics decarbonisation process: the measurement of emissions, the setting of carbon reduction targets and the assessment of five categories of carbon-reducing options. The chapter concludes with a discussion of the capabilities that managers will have to acquire or strengthen to prepare logistics for a ‘net zero’ future.

Alan C. McKinnon

The Future of 3PLs

Abstract

It is difficult to predict what will happen tomorrow, let alone predict the future of 3PLs in the coming decade. After all, in early 2020, who could have foreseen the upheaval the COVID-19 pandemic has brought to supply chains across the globe? Faced with so much uncertainty, one may want to take the approach of many futurists who think about time in a different way. Instead of thinking in linear terms and throwing darts several years into the future, they start with identifying more highly probable events in the short term and work outward (Webb, 2019). So, while we do not own a crystal ball, we are convinced that two currently emerging aspects, you could call them trends, will shape the foreseeable future of third-party logistics providers (3PLs). First, pronounced technological advancements pertaining to hardware and software increasingly impact the future of corporate supply chain management. Second, elements and events within supply chains are getting more difficult to predict. Looking at the next five to ten years, 3PLs will need to proactively address these trends because it directly influences the 3PLs success and because it influences the 3PLs’ clients’ success and their associated demand for logistics services. While both trends raise challenges, they also offer ample opportunities for 3PLs by enhancing their current services and developing new offerings. For this, 3PLs need to enhance their leadership and management skills. Moreover, 3PL need to emphasize establishing and managing collaborative relationships.

Carl Marcus Wallenburg, A. Michael Knemeyer

Air Cargo Logistics: The Dawning of a Golden Decade?

Abstract

Air cargo is a by-product of combination carriers and has been the forgotten child in the aviation supply chain until COVID-19 and the subsequent boom in e-commerce. Record high yields and profit margins have not just resulted in air cargo being taken more seriously but have also created an opportunity for the sector to set itself up for the future, including new business models as well as horizontal and vertical supply chain integration. Questions around fleet renewal or reinvestment of the unprecedented cash flows into digitization and transformation of air cargo firms are shaping a future of fascinating career opportunities albeit one where interpersonal skills, data literacy, and agility will matter even more than today. Sustainability concerns, physical and online disruptions to global supply chains, and the drone revolution all add to the changing environment where only one thing is certain, an increase of uncertainty.

Rico Merkert

Maritime Logistics for the Next Decade: Challenges, Opportunities and Required Skills

Abstract

In the light of the ongoing and probably future disruptive events in maritime logistics, having an overview of essential skills for future jobs in the industry becomes critical in achieving a sustainable business entity. This chapter attempts to project the skills that are required in the maritime logistics field over the next decade by holistically examining key global and industry-based challenges and identifying opportunities in a futuristic manner. The chapter suggests future calibres be in place with critical thinking, innovative and technological competencies in order to align with the digitalisation and automation epoch in the maritime logistics industry.

Khaled Hussein, Dong-Wook Song

Future Directions in City Logistics

Abstract

The pandemic and the climate emergency are accelerating the pace of change in city logistics, aided by technological advances, particularly associated with the internet of things and automation. The push to improve the liveability and sustainability of cities is leading to the reallocation of road space away from vehicle carriageways, parking spaces and loading bays to pedestrian precincts, cycle lanes and shared spaces, creating challenges for first and last mile pickups and deliveries. This has been exacerbated by a growth of van traffic seeking kerbside access. There is an accelerating transition to battery electric vehicles for first and last mile logistics as they are zero emission at the point of use, suitable for slow movement and quiet in operation. For the middle mile, there is a role for hydrogen or hybrid hydrogen/battery electric vehicles. The growth of e-commerce is driving the evolution of omnichannel retail, with the integration of conventional and e-commerce channels, the growth of click and collect services, the doubling up of stores as order picking centres and the increasing use of smart lockers. The drive to make cities more sustainable is directing attention to making the urban economy more circular to reduce both the consumption of finite natural resources and the amount of waste heading for landfill, increasing the importance of reverse logistics. Finally, the proliferation of data associated with supply chains is leading to new and larger cyber vulnerabilities, which can be countered by blockchain technology.

Michael G. H. Bell

Recent Advances of Service Supply Chain Management: Roles of Logistics

Abstract

Service supply chain management (SSCM) is critical to global business operations. In particular, achieving channel coordination for service supply chains in a global context is challenging. In this paper, we provide an updated review of the related literature and propose an agenda for further studies. To be specific, we first review the recent operations research (OR)/operations management (OM) literature (from 2016 to 2021) for the papers highly relevant to SSCM. We then explore the role played by logistics for SSCM and what skills logistics managers need to be equipped with. Based on the observed industrial practices and the identified research gaps, we establish a research agenda.

Tsan-Ming Choi

Competence Development, Learning and Change in Supply Chain Management

Abstract

New information technologies change the landscape of competition and the organisations that seek to apply them. Whereas in principle all companies can buy such technologies, it is not a given that they can exploit them in full and, hence, create value for the companies and the supply chains they are part of. To do this, competencies need to be developed through learning and change processes in individual companies as well as in supply chains. This chapter presents a decision grid that can be used for combining these new technologies with supply chain management (SCM) processes, thereby creating strategies for the future. Because the grid does not provide help for competence development as such, this chapter digs into process theory with a special focus on learning, leadership and change processes that can provide the organisation with the required competence development for supply chain management.

Britta Gammelgaard

Startups in the Logistics Sector: Value Propositions and Potential Impact

Abstract

As a driving force of innovation and digitalization, startups have become important players in the logistics sector. Startups might be suppliers, partners, competitors, or acquisition targets in the eyes of established logistics service providers and shippers. Disregarding the role startups will play in the logistics sector, a better understanding of the phenomenon “logistics startups” will lead to better decisions whether and how to collaborate or compete with startups. In order to contribute to the scholarly and practical body of knowledge on logistics startups, we offer an original study on how to categorize logistics startups that emerged on the market and how these startups might affect incumbent players in the logistics sector. Startups can get inspirations where they “fit” into the logistics sector and craft a stronger value proposition.

Stephan M. Wagner, Stefan Kurpjuweit

Warehousing 2030

Abstract

Warehousing operations are crucial in any supply chain, as they decouple demand and supply in time, space, and quantity. Automation has gradually changed the type and nature of operations. The first fully automated warehouse system, a so-called AS/R system, was introduced in the 1960s by Demag. Since then, warehouses have changed substantially. New storage and handling technologies and advanced IT systems have been introduced. The advent of the internet with e-commerce operations had a major impact on these developments. E-commerce operations can be characterized by large numbers of stored products, mostly small orders and large variations in the order volumes. This also has led to new robotic systems with high storage and flexible throughput capacity. Simultaneously, many activities in the warehouses are still manual. Securing a safe, ergonomic, and sustainable work environment is an important challenge. This chapter reviews the new developments in warehouse operations and the challenges they bring and suggests skills needed by managers to cope with these challenges.

René de Koster

Future of Procurement

Insights from a Global Survey

Abstract

The recent COVID-19 pandemic has shown how fragile modern supply chains are in a globalized world and underscored the importance of effective, well-functioning public and private procurement. Procurement is about the orchestration of a firm’s supplier relationships and mandated with the management of external spend. During the past decades, the role of the procurement has shifted from a clerical support role that merely drives cost savings to a truly strategic role that drives growth, innovation, and value creation. Today, most organizations consider the management of their suppliers as a key strategic issue that requires top management attention. But what are the next steps? What does the future hold for corporate procurement? Using the insights from a large global survey among procurement executives, this chapter develops a framework that provides an outlook on the future of procurement.

Christoph Bode, Davide Burkhart, Ruth Schültken, Marcell Vollmer

Agility in Supply Chain Planning and Execution

Abstract

For variability that can be described by a distribution function or estimated using frequency of occurrence, the combination of new digital sources of data and advanced analytics/optimization techniques is the subject of a lot of recent work in academia. However, not much has been written on the design and implementation of decision systems to detect and respond to “special,” uncertain, and non-predictable causes of variation. The recent COVID-19 pandemic is an all too real example of how disruptive this variation can be to the unprepared. Clearly, structurally flexible and short lead time supply chains can help. Beyond this flexibility, we introduce the concept of agile supply chain planning, which deals with early detection and quick and effective decision-making. This chapter describes how agile supply chain planning systems can complement the advances made in dealing with normal variation by successfully dealing with “special” events and lead to significant impact both for drastic, generalized crises or less dramatic occasions. Keywords: agile; decision making; planning; execution; uncertainty, special causes of variation; digital fact based

Santiago Kraiselburd

Risk-Driven Supply Chain Design: Options and Trade-Offs in Complex Environments

Abstract

This chapter discusses the relevance of different supply chain paradigms and depicts their differences and limitations in complex environments. Following a critical reflection on the validity of traditional cost, efficiency or agile dominant supply chain structures, the authors propose a framework that allows decision-makers to assess strategic supply chain design options and their trade-offs in complex environments. The framework constructs from ten dimensions each of which contains two opposed design options. The framework allows decision-makers to assess supply chain design options by defining importance of opposed options in each dimension. The authors exemplify the use of the framework via differentiating two extreme cases and present two mini cases for one commodity supply chain. In this regard, this chapter reflects on possible supply chain design responses to current and future complexity and provides decision-makers with a framework for a strategic assessment of their supply chain design options, considering their fragility in complex environments.

Marcus Thiell, Gordon Wilmsmeier

Supply Chain Transparency Using Blockchain: Benefits, Challenges, and Examples

Abstract

This chapter studies the emergence of blockchain technology as an effective tool for providing transparency in supply chains. We first discuss how supply chain applications of this technology differ from cryptocurrency networks, and identify why this technology is useful in supply chains. We then classify its applications into three types: improvement of process efficiency, supply chain optimization, and creation of new and innovative use cases. These three types of applications are differentiated by their ease of implementation and scope of benefits. For each type of application, we select recent successful examples and use both interviews with the companies and secondary publications to examine the value generation potential.

Yao Cui, Vishal Gaur

PI Meets Blockchain

Abstract

Modern logistics and transport supply chains face the challenge to reach logistics sustainability at a global level by addressing economic, environmental, and social dimensions. In this context, technological innovations like blockchain and related optimization techniques are of particular interest. The goal of this chapter is to explore after an introduction to the “Physical Internet” and insights from the top management of logistics service providers, how a blockchain architecture based on ant colony optimization may support the operations of the “Physical Internet.” Technical aspects of blockchains for PI are addressed as well. A decentralized system for PI-container is described that is using blockchain technology and autonomous decision-making.

Alfred Taudes, Gerald Reiner

Collaboration in Humanitarian Operations in the Context of the COVID-19 Pandemic

Abstract

This chapter provides an overview of collaboration in humanitarian operations, focusing on the logistical aspects. Humanitarian logistics and operations has emerged as a subfield of supply chain and operations management and studies how humanitarian organizations can be more efficient in the delivery of humanitarian aid. We review the key characteristics of this subfield compared to traditional logistics and supply chain management. Collaboration is particularly important in the humanitarian context, in which only the collective performance of humanitarian organizations should count. We therefore discuss key factors of collaboration using the humanitarian SCOR model. Finally, we analyze how far the COVID-19 pandemic has forced humanitarian organizations to collaborate differently in their operations and what can be learned from it for the future of humanitarian operations.

Milad Keshvari Fard, Felix Papier

Logistics Challenges and Opportunities in Africa in the 2020s

Abstract

Africa is potentially one of the biggest growth regions in the global environment, yet issues such as poverty, poor infrastructure, political instability and skills shortages often hamper the ability to achieve this goal. Developments such as the African Continental Free Trade Agreement—the world’s largest free trade zone, large logistics infrastructure improvements, increasing industrialisation and massive technology advancement however imply that Africa may be entering an era of “supercharged mobility”. Critical competencies to achieve this will be a broad range of hard technical skills, particularly in the technology arena, and soft skills that enable high levels of cooperation and growth within the Fourth Industrial Revolution.

Rose Luke, Jackie Walters

Titel: Global Logistics and Supply Chain Strategies for the 2020s
herausgegeben von: Rico Merkert
Kai Hoberg
Verlag: Springer International Publishing
Electronic ISBN: 978-3-030-95764-3
Print ISBN: 978-3-030-95763-6
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-95764-3