Since the beginning of the 20th century, the principal commercial maritime routes have changed very little. With global warming, the Northern Sea Route (NSR) has opened up as a possible avenue of trade in containerized products between Asia and Europe. This paper verifies the technical and economic feasibility of regular container transport along the NSR. By adopting a model schedule between Sh…
Only a few theories exist on the development of a container port system in relation to forelands, hinterlands and the technological environment. Moreover, very few were ever applied to the European container port system. This study examines recent dynamics - in particular, concentration and deconcentration tendencies and load centre development - in the European continental container port syste…
There are large differences in both speed and costs between the traffic modes road and air. Rail has not yet successfully offered services “faster than road but cheaper than air”, although there are technical, logistical and economical opportunities for competing with air for intra-continental shipments and co-operate for intercontinental ones. The article categorises segments of the Europe…
Europe today represents one of the world's fastest developing market‐places for both goods and services. Rapid changes in the business, political and regulatory environments are placing considerable stress on companies in Europe, whether national or international in their orientation. For many companies, these events are coincidental with the process of evolving into global businesses, which …
The completion of the Single European Market in 1992 has major implications for logistics throughout the 1990s and beyond. However, as logistics has come under the spotlight, many managers and academics have come to realize that their understanding of the field is limited. In particular, both the differences in practice between countries and the future directions for innovation in logistics rem…
This paper investigates the efficiency of container terminals within the context of global supply chain management. The efficiency and scale properties of 104 of Europe’s container terminals with annual throughput of over 10,000 TEUs1 in 2003, distributed across 29 European countries, are derived using data envelopment analysis. The main findings are that significant inefficiency pervades mos…
Examines the current situation for logistics in Bulgaria. Reviews the prospects for applying logistics concepts with respect to the economic environment for privatization and investment. Presents the findings. Concludes with some cautions concerning the issue of transferring logistics knowledge in Bulgaria.
The purpose of this paper is to assess the performance of an online benchmarking tool developed for logistics service users and providers to provide alternative service option in Europe.
The management of electronic retail channels is not limited to virtual companies only. Also store-based (stationary) retailers are expected to set up electronic distribution channels. This paper discusses the occurrence of such channels from a European perspective. The authors introduce a Web-scan framework to analyze the nature of Web offerings and the logistical elements of e-tailing. The app…
Many supply chain reconfiguration programs are launched each year. Despite a wealth of knowledge existing in the general management domain, there has been little work within the supply chain management domain on change. That which does exist deals with change to a technical – as opposed to non-technical – system. This leaves out many of the social and behavioral aspects of change. This pape…
This article assesses how the European Union (EU) views the role of port authorities. It addresses the impact of EU law and EU policy on port governance models and, in particular, analyses whether the European Commission’s 2007 ports policy communication provides adequate instruments to meet contemporary governance challenges. For that purpose, an overview is first given of some of the main g…
Although ports have a direct and substantial impact on the social and physical environments in which they operate, studies on corporate sustainability focussing on ports are scant. This study investigates the under-researched topic of sustainability communication practices in the European seaport sector. Its purpose is to analyse to what extent, if any, are there differences in these practices.…
The awarding of port services to private operators has become one of the most important tools for port authorities to retain some control on the organization and structure of the supply side of the terminal market. This paper discusses the awarding of terminals in European ports. The first part provides information on current practices of port authorities around Europe on tendering and contract…
The purpose of this paper is to report a comparative investigation of port performance between Western Europe and Eastern Asia and develop a strategy to improve their port performance accordingly. Design/methodology/approach – A comprehensive literature review is conducted in order to identify factors for port performance evaluation. A large-scale questionnaire survey is employed in two port …
Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to discuss the evolution of local port community systems (PCS) towards a vast network of interlinked locations in Europe. Design/methodology/approach – The paper is conceptual. It builds on the findings of platform theory and the analogy between the market for cargo information and the payment system industry to discuss the potential outcomes and shape…
It is widely felt that in order to strengthen the competitiveness of European ports it is needed to ensure fair competition among ports and the sector is anew facing new and old challenges related to its long-term development.These challenges, and arguably the inability of the port sector and the European Union (EU) Member States to meaningfully react to them on their own, are at the basis …
From the policy and management perspective, this study aims to investigate the port manegement tools that port/public authorities have at their disposal and then to analyse to what extent the tools are used to enforce or encourage green port development at functional activities of port operations and development. We conduct an exploratory and comparative review based on two axes: on the one han…
This paper focuses on measuring the efficiency of container terminals in Europe using the data envelopment analysis (DEA) approach. Container terminals in Europe play an important role in the region’s economic development and, as the result of their geographic concentration, face fierce competition compared with the rest of the world. Despite this, studies of the efficiency of container termi…
The purpose of this paper is to consider theory development related to returns management within supply chain strategy. The marketing/logistics relationship relative to the returns management process is investigated.
Discusses the relationship between logistics, packaging and the environment. Attempts to clarify industry confusion by identifying the current status of the proposed EC Directive on Packaging and Packaging Waste, which focuses on the recovery of packaging materials. This directive has major implications for logistics. Presents a survey conducted with UK marketing executives involved with the pr…
Presents a comparison of the findings of three studies conducted in North America/ Europe and Australia which investigated the adoption of quality management practices in the logistics function. Focuses on the extent to which quality practices are adopted, how quality in logistics is defined and administered, impediments to implementation, measurement of quality improvements, measuring customer…
The purpose of this article is to investigate how national-level characteristics such as country wealth, a floating exchange rate and European Union (EU) membership influence firm-level perceptions of competition and firm-level innovation. Greater understanding of these relationships can promote more effective policymaking as well as add to the existing academic conversation regarding national …
Examines the involvement of UK logistics, service providers (LSPs) within Continental Europe markets and considers the strategies they have used for European operations together with their favoured expansion routes which have been following piggyback opportunities, acquiring local firms, joint venture arrangements and encouraging organic growth. Considers eight case studies of leading UK‐ba…
The paper aims to begin with a brief review of early banking and finance methods, early logistics routes through Europe, and message delivery modes in medieval China, the paper then proposes to move on to a comparative study of modern logistics modes in the European Union and in India – in particular the ports of Le Havre (France) and Mangalore (Karnataka).
Discusses the importance of an effective supply chain to companies trading in Europe. Looks at the recent technological developments which are leading to more sophisticated multi‐modal distribution techniques. Suggests that technology is the most important issue which businesses must address if they are to compete as world‐class companies. Proposes that multi‐modal distribution is becomin…
The majority of studies on supply chain management (SCM) emphasize the importance of cooperative relationships for improving the integration of business processes into a supply chain. It seems accepted that SCM will be a source of competitive advantage if, and only if, firms that participate in it formalize a strategic partnership between each other beforehand. This article questions whether …
This article looks at the relative economic efficiency of seaports in the North Adriatic, and the effects of expansions of the European Union (EU) on this. Taking the main container ports in the region between 2004 and 2012, variations in efficiency are found over time dependent on whether constant or variable returns to scale are assumed. The consistently high number of ports on the efficiency…
Europe is in the midst of major changes that have a significant impact on the business environment. As a result, logistics is undergoing radical redesign in most major European corporations. Relying on case studies, discussions with logistics professionals and contemporary literature, the authors present several propositions which capture the major trends in European logistics. The authors an…
The purpose of the research is to shed light on the evolution of distribution structures and its consequent implications for supply chain management (SCM) in the context of the emerging markets of Central and Eastern Europe (CEE).
Road transport information systems (RTIS) and their underlying digitized road networks, have recently undergone a major enhancement with the extension from national to international databases. Today operators can choose among a wide range of strategic, tactical and operational RTIS allowing for the effective planning of international distribution. Discusses some modelling considerations behin…
Summarizes the changes experienced in the field of logistics in Hungary, although most of the issues raised appear similarly in other transition economies in Central and eastern Europe (CEE), typically in the Czech Republic and Poland. Discusses the immediate logistics consequences and company‐level responses. Consideration of the essence and nature of these changes is a necessity for those…
For individual transport customers in Europe, the trend is towards smaller shipment sizes and higher frequencies. At the same time, a considerable reshaping of the transport industry through mergers, acquisitions and alliances, particularly in road freight and freight forwarding industries has taken place. These changes, together with construction of new road and rail arteries, large multimod…
Discusses why cultural awareness becomes increasingly important in the context of global sourcing, process management and relation-oriented logistics. Presents the results of a qualitative study based on 50 in-depth interviews with Volvo Car Corporation’s European suppliers. The study illustrates some of the national cultural differences between Volvo’s European suppliers. The findings, bas…
Radio frequency identification (RFID) is increasingly being presented as a technology with the potential to improve supply chain performance, but empirical evidence from early adopters is sparse. This paper aims to rectify this scarcity and contribute to a more informed discussion in and between academic and practitioner communities.
Increasing competitive parity in the areas of cost and quality has forced global manufacturers to seek other sources of competitive advantage with new product development rapidly becoming the focal point in the quest for sustained growth and profitability. The essence of today′s new product development strategies is the simultaneous development of the new product and the accompanying manufact…
Since the creation of the Single Market on 1 January 1993 there has been much discussion about the future of Europe and the significance of issues such as monetary union, federalism and continued moves to harmonization. But what has been the impact on business? To what extent has business restructured its manufacturing and logistics operations to meet the specific needs of the one European mark…
Although barriers to free trade across the European Union (EU) have been dismantled since the Single European Act was signed, some still remain which are likely to hinder UK distribution operators’ strategic developments in Europe. Regrouping and consolidation of the larger distribution operators are under way. UK distribution operators have moved towards closer integration of Continental Eur…
Owing to the consolidation and globalization of the paper industry, manufacturing units have keen interest to focus on particular product groups. While this specialization will create opportunities for scale economics in production, management of supply chains becomes increasingly challenging, as one particular manufacturing unit serves a number of different sales locations. The aim of this pap…
The ever-changing environment in which ports operate has put strong pressure on the role of port authorities. The evolution of port governance has so far mainly been analysed in qualitative terms, through expert knowledge and case studies. This article fills a research gap in providing a quantitative analysis of port governance in Europe, using data from a major survey, which the European Sea P…