Robert Mason - Academia.edu (original) (raw)
Papers by Robert Mason
International Journal of Logistics Research and Applications, 2008
One way in which companies can obtain competitive advantage is through customising their logistic... more One way in which companies can obtain competitive advantage is through customising their logistics operations to particular market segments. A challenge for businesses pursuing this strategy is to develop a performance measurement (PM) system that enables the differing objectives of divergent distribution channels to be met. However, this issue has not been fully addressed in the literature, with the one
International Journal of Retail & Distribution Management, 2007
PurposeThe paper aims to analyse the reasons behind the leadership shown by a case study retailer... more PurposeThe paper aims to analyse the reasons behind the leadership shown by a case study retailer through the introduction of factory gate pricing (FGP) within the grocery sector. Further, there is an evaluation of the transport management techniques used to support FGP and the operational benefits gained.Design/methodology/approachThe research is based around a single case study of a UK grocery retailer, which has adopted FGP. A range of data sources has been collected during a project with the retailer. Techniques used include process mapping, interviews, workshops and company presentations.FindingsStrategically, the introduction of FGP has provided economies for the retailer strengthening its position in the market. Four main transport management techniques have been deployed to achieve this, generating reductions in transport and inventory costs while improving customer service levels. There are also some issues that need addressing, in relation to the need for a single point of...
International Journal of Production Economics, 2004
Many academics have studied the steel industry with the aim of implementing improvements in the s... more Many academics have studied the steel industry with the aim of implementing improvements in the sector. Although these provide snapshots of the structure of the supply chain, the evolution that has occurred is less well understood. This paper studies, primarily using process ...
Introduction Ports act as a natural decoupling point in the supply chain and hence represent the ... more Introduction Ports act as a natural decoupling point in the supply chain and hence represent the most convenient place to position inventory and undertake customising activities. This approach has been termed port centric logistics. This paper examines the issue of port centric logistics’ location, and asks the fundamental question: is it best for distribution centre activities to be sited at a sea port, or at a location some distance inland? Whether or not to take a port centric approach based at specific sea ports or at inland locations is an important strategic decision for logistics organisations. Two case studies from the UK are examined and critically compared. In each, a different solution was adopted in practice – in Case 1 a sea port was selected for the provision of port-centric operations, while in Case 2 port centric activities were located to an inland location. The reasons behind each decision are suggested, assessed and debated. For each case, the importance of system...
Supply Chain Management: An International Journal, 2015
Purpose – The paper aims to develop a supply chain-driven model horizontal logistics collaboratio... more Purpose – The paper aims to develop a supply chain-driven model horizontal logistics collaboration (HLC). HLC initiatives can fail. To improve the chance of success, a thorough consideration of the potential issues involved, such as seeking supply chain partners’ support, ensuring access to information/data security and assessing whether an HLC model could bring improvements to a wide range of supply chain metrics rather than reductions in distribution costs only, needs to be understood before deciding to proceed with such an initiative. Design/methodology/approach – A two-stage methodology is deployed. As part of Stage 1, a series of 20 semi-structured interviews with senior managers from retailers, retailers’ suppliers and logistics service providers were undertaken. Subsequently, in Stage 2, a focus group with practitioners from retailers and logistics service providers was run to verify the findings gathered during Stage 1. Four elements of a new HLC project being considered are...
Overall Vehicle Effectiveness (OVE) is an aggregate measure of vehicle performance for road freig... more Overall Vehicle Effectiveness (OVE) is an aggregate measure of vehicle performance for road freight transportation. OVE classifies activities as either adding value to the end customer, or non-value adding, waste. We show that OVE erroneously awards higher values to less efficient routes when a vehicle delivers to multiple destinations. This "round-trip problem" arises because OVE does not completely distinguish value from waste during freight movement. To solve the problem, a new component, route efficiency, is introduced to the OVE equation. This measures the actual route against the optimal route in terms of energy usage, so that a more efficient route will receive a higher rating. To achieve this effectively, the optimal delivery route needs to be computed in advance. This is a NP-hard combinatorial optimisation problem, commonly known as the travelling salesperson problem (TSP). The OVE measure is then re-classified to include revised components that measure delivery, time efficiency, quality and route efficiency to produce a Modified OVE -MOVE performance measure.
Collaborative initiatives are taking an increasingly important role in optimising freight transpo... more Collaborative initiatives are taking an increasingly important role in optimising freight transport. Th e paper focuses on this phenomenon in road freight and asks, why collaboration is, in our view, becoming more in vogue, and, what the various forms of collaboration are? It is recognised by many that if value chains are to be better integrated and assets more fully utilised a new mind-set of more openness to integrate and cooperate is demanded. Transport, once viewed as discrete to the rest of the supply chain, needs to be understood and operated as an integral cog in inter - linked value chains. This competitive setting for effective transport and logistics operations is increasingly being influenced by developments in information communication technology (ICT) . They are creating a new operational landscape for collaborative logistics systems. It is further argued that there are opportunities through taking a more collaborative approach to alleviate the pressures faced by the ro...
Over the last three years research carried out within the ITeLS 1 programme has studied the oppor... more Over the last three years research carried out within the ITeLS 1 programme has studied the opportunities to better integrate freight transport into supply chains. Developments in technology are having a profound effect on the performance capabilities and behaviour of supply chains and how transport can be managed within them. For instance, technological enhancements, which enable accurate and real time
B2B e-commerce is not new. Electronic Data Interchange (EDI), an early form of e -commerce, has b... more B2B e-commerce is not new. Electronic Data Interchange (EDI), an early form of e -commerce, has been used by larger corporations for a couple of decades, facilitating a smoother flow of goods and information through the supply chain (Preston 1992). What is new, and what this research focuses upon, are the developments in "doing business electronically" that have emerged, primarily
With sustainability increasingly driving government policy, there is a need to improve the enviro... more With sustainability increasingly driving government policy, there is a need to improve the environmental performance of the transport industry. In order to monitor this, appropriate performance indicators are required. The aim of this paper is to identify potential measures and consider the level they should be measured at. To do this, interviews were carried out with senior personnel from two
This study focuses on the road freight transport industry and examines the extent to which Intern... more This study focuses on the road freight transport industry and examines the extent to which Internet freight exchanges and the use of information communication technology (ICT) processes are affecting general haulage in the UK. Recent surveys suggest that there is scope within the road transport industry to improve the efficiency in terms of fill rates and empty running. Any improvements may also help to alleviate the pressures faced by the UK industry of driver shortages, new legislation, such as the working time directive, and increasing road congestion. After explaining the main characteristics of the road transport industry, as well as the key issues surrounding the emergence of e-commerce, the paper summarises and assess information and opinions gathered from the haulage operators'b
The International Journal of Logistics Management, 2006
Purpose This paper aims to develop a framework that rationalises transport flexibility into dif... more Purpose This paper aims to develop a framework that rationalises transport flexibility into different types. In this way the role of the flexibility types in delivering specific strategic logistics outcomes can be determined. Design/methodology/approach The authors undertake a synthesis ...
Supply Chain Management: An International Journal, 2007
... The University of Hull, Hull, UK. Roger Boughton, MultiServ. Logistics, Willenhall, UK. Abstr... more ... The University of Hull, Hull, UK. Roger Boughton, MultiServ. Logistics, Willenhall, UK. Abstract. Purpose The purpose of this paper is to focuss on customer driven supply chains and what this means for the management of freight transport, a key process in the supply chain as it ...
Production Planning & Control, 2013
This paper aims to develop the construct of freight transport flexibility. Specifically, it explo... more This paper aims to develop the construct of freight transport flexibility. Specifically, it explores the notion of freight transport flexibility from the perspective of the major liner operators in the container shipping industry. The research is designed around a structured methodology to system enquiry, namely the ‘understand, document, simplify, optimise’ (UDSO) approach. Within this, the method deployed to examine the
International Journal of Production Economics, 2008
ABSTRACT This paper introduces, defines and explores a new term, mass customised distribution. Ma... more ABSTRACT This paper introduces, defines and explores a new term, mass customised distribution. Mass customised distribution is all about the logistics support for the supply chain (irrespective of the nature of production). It identifies the under-pinning principles behind mass customisation, such as the use of economies of scope rather than scale and the importance of modularisation and standardisation and then translates these constructs onto distribution related activities. A categorising typology of the mass customised distribution concept is then provided based on time, space, information and process constructs supported by discussion and examples. The trade off between the opportunities to reduce asset costs through economies of scope versus the need for distributors to remain customer focussed in terms of offering better overall value is then explored.
International Journal of Production Economics, 2007
... While the traffic to the local shop has reduced to a few vehicles, the distance that the prod... more ... While the traffic to the local shop has reduced to a few vehicles, the distance that the product now travels has significantly increased, borne out by the statistics discussed above. ... Developments inICT e-commerce are having a profound impact on the availability and ...
International Journal of Logistics, 2006
Over the last 3 years, research carried out by Cardiff University has studied the opportunities t... more Over the last 3 years, research carried out by Cardiff University has studied the opportunities to integrate freight transport better into supply chains. The paper stems from this work. After asserting the principal reasons why better transport integration is important, it charts a range of diagnostic tools that were deployed. The tools represent a menu of instruments that aim to
International Journal of Retail & Distribution Management, 2007
Many academics have studied the steel industry with the aim of implementing improvements in the s... more Many academics have studied the steel industry with the aim of implementing improvements in the sector. Although these provide snapshots of the structure of the supply chain, the evolution that has occurred is less well understood. This paper studies, primarily using process ...
International Journal of Logistics Research and Applications, 2008
One way in which companies can obtain competitive advantage is through customising their logistic... more One way in which companies can obtain competitive advantage is through customising their logistics operations to particular market segments. A challenge for businesses pursuing this strategy is to develop a performance measurement (PM) system that enables the differing objectives of divergent distribution channels to be met. However, this issue has not been fully addressed in the literature, with the one
International Journal of Retail & Distribution Management, 2007
PurposeThe paper aims to analyse the reasons behind the leadership shown by a case study retailer... more PurposeThe paper aims to analyse the reasons behind the leadership shown by a case study retailer through the introduction of factory gate pricing (FGP) within the grocery sector. Further, there is an evaluation of the transport management techniques used to support FGP and the operational benefits gained.Design/methodology/approachThe research is based around a single case study of a UK grocery retailer, which has adopted FGP. A range of data sources has been collected during a project with the retailer. Techniques used include process mapping, interviews, workshops and company presentations.FindingsStrategically, the introduction of FGP has provided economies for the retailer strengthening its position in the market. Four main transport management techniques have been deployed to achieve this, generating reductions in transport and inventory costs while improving customer service levels. There are also some issues that need addressing, in relation to the need for a single point of...
International Journal of Production Economics, 2004
Many academics have studied the steel industry with the aim of implementing improvements in the s... more Many academics have studied the steel industry with the aim of implementing improvements in the sector. Although these provide snapshots of the structure of the supply chain, the evolution that has occurred is less well understood. This paper studies, primarily using process ...
Introduction Ports act as a natural decoupling point in the supply chain and hence represent the ... more Introduction Ports act as a natural decoupling point in the supply chain and hence represent the most convenient place to position inventory and undertake customising activities. This approach has been termed port centric logistics. This paper examines the issue of port centric logistics’ location, and asks the fundamental question: is it best for distribution centre activities to be sited at a sea port, or at a location some distance inland? Whether or not to take a port centric approach based at specific sea ports or at inland locations is an important strategic decision for logistics organisations. Two case studies from the UK are examined and critically compared. In each, a different solution was adopted in practice – in Case 1 a sea port was selected for the provision of port-centric operations, while in Case 2 port centric activities were located to an inland location. The reasons behind each decision are suggested, assessed and debated. For each case, the importance of system...
Supply Chain Management: An International Journal, 2015
Purpose – The paper aims to develop a supply chain-driven model horizontal logistics collaboratio... more Purpose – The paper aims to develop a supply chain-driven model horizontal logistics collaboration (HLC). HLC initiatives can fail. To improve the chance of success, a thorough consideration of the potential issues involved, such as seeking supply chain partners’ support, ensuring access to information/data security and assessing whether an HLC model could bring improvements to a wide range of supply chain metrics rather than reductions in distribution costs only, needs to be understood before deciding to proceed with such an initiative. Design/methodology/approach – A two-stage methodology is deployed. As part of Stage 1, a series of 20 semi-structured interviews with senior managers from retailers, retailers’ suppliers and logistics service providers were undertaken. Subsequently, in Stage 2, a focus group with practitioners from retailers and logistics service providers was run to verify the findings gathered during Stage 1. Four elements of a new HLC project being considered are...
Overall Vehicle Effectiveness (OVE) is an aggregate measure of vehicle performance for road freig... more Overall Vehicle Effectiveness (OVE) is an aggregate measure of vehicle performance for road freight transportation. OVE classifies activities as either adding value to the end customer, or non-value adding, waste. We show that OVE erroneously awards higher values to less efficient routes when a vehicle delivers to multiple destinations. This "round-trip problem" arises because OVE does not completely distinguish value from waste during freight movement. To solve the problem, a new component, route efficiency, is introduced to the OVE equation. This measures the actual route against the optimal route in terms of energy usage, so that a more efficient route will receive a higher rating. To achieve this effectively, the optimal delivery route needs to be computed in advance. This is a NP-hard combinatorial optimisation problem, commonly known as the travelling salesperson problem (TSP). The OVE measure is then re-classified to include revised components that measure delivery, time efficiency, quality and route efficiency to produce a Modified OVE -MOVE performance measure.
Collaborative initiatives are taking an increasingly important role in optimising freight transpo... more Collaborative initiatives are taking an increasingly important role in optimising freight transport. Th e paper focuses on this phenomenon in road freight and asks, why collaboration is, in our view, becoming more in vogue, and, what the various forms of collaboration are? It is recognised by many that if value chains are to be better integrated and assets more fully utilised a new mind-set of more openness to integrate and cooperate is demanded. Transport, once viewed as discrete to the rest of the supply chain, needs to be understood and operated as an integral cog in inter - linked value chains. This competitive setting for effective transport and logistics operations is increasingly being influenced by developments in information communication technology (ICT) . They are creating a new operational landscape for collaborative logistics systems. It is further argued that there are opportunities through taking a more collaborative approach to alleviate the pressures faced by the ro...
Over the last three years research carried out within the ITeLS 1 programme has studied the oppor... more Over the last three years research carried out within the ITeLS 1 programme has studied the opportunities to better integrate freight transport into supply chains. Developments in technology are having a profound effect on the performance capabilities and behaviour of supply chains and how transport can be managed within them. For instance, technological enhancements, which enable accurate and real time
B2B e-commerce is not new. Electronic Data Interchange (EDI), an early form of e -commerce, has b... more B2B e-commerce is not new. Electronic Data Interchange (EDI), an early form of e -commerce, has been used by larger corporations for a couple of decades, facilitating a smoother flow of goods and information through the supply chain (Preston 1992). What is new, and what this research focuses upon, are the developments in "doing business electronically" that have emerged, primarily
With sustainability increasingly driving government policy, there is a need to improve the enviro... more With sustainability increasingly driving government policy, there is a need to improve the environmental performance of the transport industry. In order to monitor this, appropriate performance indicators are required. The aim of this paper is to identify potential measures and consider the level they should be measured at. To do this, interviews were carried out with senior personnel from two
This study focuses on the road freight transport industry and examines the extent to which Intern... more This study focuses on the road freight transport industry and examines the extent to which Internet freight exchanges and the use of information communication technology (ICT) processes are affecting general haulage in the UK. Recent surveys suggest that there is scope within the road transport industry to improve the efficiency in terms of fill rates and empty running. Any improvements may also help to alleviate the pressures faced by the UK industry of driver shortages, new legislation, such as the working time directive, and increasing road congestion. After explaining the main characteristics of the road transport industry, as well as the key issues surrounding the emergence of e-commerce, the paper summarises and assess information and opinions gathered from the haulage operators'b
The International Journal of Logistics Management, 2006
Purpose This paper aims to develop a framework that rationalises transport flexibility into dif... more Purpose This paper aims to develop a framework that rationalises transport flexibility into different types. In this way the role of the flexibility types in delivering specific strategic logistics outcomes can be determined. Design/methodology/approach The authors undertake a synthesis ...
Supply Chain Management: An International Journal, 2007
... The University of Hull, Hull, UK. Roger Boughton, MultiServ. Logistics, Willenhall, UK. Abstr... more ... The University of Hull, Hull, UK. Roger Boughton, MultiServ. Logistics, Willenhall, UK. Abstract. Purpose The purpose of this paper is to focuss on customer driven supply chains and what this means for the management of freight transport, a key process in the supply chain as it ...
Production Planning & Control, 2013
This paper aims to develop the construct of freight transport flexibility. Specifically, it explo... more This paper aims to develop the construct of freight transport flexibility. Specifically, it explores the notion of freight transport flexibility from the perspective of the major liner operators in the container shipping industry. The research is designed around a structured methodology to system enquiry, namely the ‘understand, document, simplify, optimise’ (UDSO) approach. Within this, the method deployed to examine the
International Journal of Production Economics, 2008
ABSTRACT This paper introduces, defines and explores a new term, mass customised distribution. Ma... more ABSTRACT This paper introduces, defines and explores a new term, mass customised distribution. Mass customised distribution is all about the logistics support for the supply chain (irrespective of the nature of production). It identifies the under-pinning principles behind mass customisation, such as the use of economies of scope rather than scale and the importance of modularisation and standardisation and then translates these constructs onto distribution related activities. A categorising typology of the mass customised distribution concept is then provided based on time, space, information and process constructs supported by discussion and examples. The trade off between the opportunities to reduce asset costs through economies of scope versus the need for distributors to remain customer focussed in terms of offering better overall value is then explored.
International Journal of Production Economics, 2007
... While the traffic to the local shop has reduced to a few vehicles, the distance that the prod... more ... While the traffic to the local shop has reduced to a few vehicles, the distance that the product now travels has significantly increased, borne out by the statistics discussed above. ... Developments inICT e-commerce are having a profound impact on the availability and ...
International Journal of Logistics, 2006
Over the last 3 years, research carried out by Cardiff University has studied the opportunities t... more Over the last 3 years, research carried out by Cardiff University has studied the opportunities to integrate freight transport better into supply chains. The paper stems from this work. After asserting the principal reasons why better transport integration is important, it charts a range of diagnostic tools that were deployed. The tools represent a menu of instruments that aim to
International Journal of Retail & Distribution Management, 2007
Many academics have studied the steel industry with the aim of implementing improvements in the s... more Many academics have studied the steel industry with the aim of implementing improvements in the sector. Although these provide snapshots of the structure of the supply chain, the evolution that has occurred is less well understood. This paper studies, primarily using process ...