LOGISTICS CLUSTERS. DELIVERING VALUE AND DRIVING GROWTH (original) (raw)
Warehouses Consolidation in the Logistic Clusters: Food Industrys Case
Polish Journal of Management Studies, 2016
The globalization is affecting the economic development of world. Internet provided a dramatic increase in information and money transaction speed, therefore small markets are also growing rapidly in the international markets. The focus of this paper is on a cluster of companies with logistics intensive activity. This includes mainly logistics services providers, such as transportation companies, warehousemen, third party logistics companies, also distributors, forwarders and retailers, as well. The logistic clusters can be used to provide the competitive advantage for the small markets, however, the main singularities of small market are related to the partial freight distribution problem. Manufacturers tend to buy raw materials in low quantities that may dramatically increase the price per pallet. In the article a methodology proposed by the authors' offers to combine different types of warehouses and transportation methods. A case study was conducted in a small market's food industry that amplifies the possibilities of logistic cluster usage in a food industry. Taking into account the analysed information, it was concluded that warehouses consolidation processes in the logistic clusters can dramatically reduce the cost of food supply chain. Moreover, the implementation of a consolidation warehouse in a logistic cluster can provide environmental and economic benefits, which makes the cluster more attractive. Additionally, the most important factors in food supply chain, such as distribution network of flow from food suppliers to customers combining transportation quantity and ordering size together with controlled temperature conditions by using refrigerated compartments in order to optimize logistic costs, were indicated. As the result, the guidelines to the improvement of warehouses consolidation process in the logistic clusters for the food industry have been developed. In the future partial freight optimization network will be modelled in order to properly evaluate the economical possibilities of logistic cluster usage in the food industry.
Regional Benefits of Logistic Clusters: A Study of Scale Development
Opus uluslararası toplum araştırmaları dergisi, 2021
Businesses in the same industry and companies that provide support to these industries, tend to cluster geographically in order to gain various advantages. These formations, which are named the "cluster", create value by producing goods and services, and represent the entire value chain at interrelated industry groups, from suppliers to end products, including support services. As a driving force for regional development, clusters provide industrial, sectoral, social, and environmental benefits to their regions by their common geographical location, purpose-built infrastructures, collaborations, and common goals. There are many studies in the literature emphasizing the critical importance of regional clustering at both micro and macro levels. However, no systematic study on scale development has been found. This article is aimed to develop a scale for the Benefits of Logistics Clusters and to fill this gap in the literature.In the study, 259 companies, that are members of Kahramanmaraş Chamber of Commerce and engaged in foreign trade activities in different sectors, were determined and data were obtained from these companies by questionnaires. The sample size is calculated as 155 and156 questionnaires were collected. The sample size is calculated as 155 and156 questionnaires were collected. To develop the Benefits of Logistic Clustering (BLC) scale firstly the data were tested with exploratory factor analysis in SPSS; Then to validate the four factors are obtained, confirmatory factor analysis was performed with AMOS. Finally, the reliability and validity of the scale were analyzed, and found that the BLC scale was reliable and valid.
European Planning Studies, 2019
Although the benefits of horizontal collaboration have been well documented in the literature, research has yet to offer a detailed understanding of the mechanisms that firms employ to create successful horizontal collaboration. Further, the role of logistics clusters in facilitating horizontal collaboration is crucial but not clear yet. This paper addresses these gaps. In order to address the research objectives, we employ a systematic literature review methodology. As a result of this process, one hundred thirty-three (133) papers published in leading academic journals were systematically analyzed. These studies are reviewed under the theoretical lenses of the transaction cost economics (TCE) and the derived identification of governance mechanisms (i.e. joint value propositions, informal governance, formal governance and information exchange) to achieve successful horizontal collaboration. Further, we provide a detailed description of how logistics clusters can facilitate and promote the development of such mechanisms, illustrated with companies' best practices. As a result, several testable research propositions are put forth.
Cluster Model of Supply Chains Management and Development of Transport-logistics Infrastructure
Cluster Model of Supply Chains Management and Development of Transport-logistics Infrastructure, 2018
The article focuses on the strategic role and peculiarities of the cluster innovative structures formation for ensuring competitiveness and economic development. Based on the generalization of the cluster theory evolution and taking into account the current state of the world economic development, the expediency of a new fundamentally approach to the formation and development of clusters as an effective form of supply chain management and ensuring their competitiveness have been substantiated. The place of clusters infrastructure type in the supply chains management has been determined. The characteristic of modern properties, strategic role, goals and priority tasks of transport-logistics clusters of an innovative type in providing the transport-logistic infrastructure development and formation of perfect supply chains have been presented. The systematic presentation presents the advantages, disadvantages, and risks of cluster organizational management forms and their impact on the competitiveness of supply chains. The efficiency of cluster structures has been analyzed. The directions and sources for obtaining synergistic effect from the interaction of supply chain participants in cluster structures have been determined. The probability of obtaining the "value added" effect in cluster structures has been proved. The strategic prospects of transport-logistics clusters development in Ukraine have been determined.
Logistics agglomeration in the US
Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, 2014
Governments around the world are investing significant resources in the development of logistics clusters. This paper develops a methodology for identifying them and applies it to answer several lingering questions in the context of the US. It contributes to a more general debate in the general industrial clusters literature: while many authors see industrial clusters growing, others see them dispersing. To answer this and related questions in the context of logistics clusters the paper first analyzes the prevalence of such clusters using a two-index methodology to identify clusters in the US. Evidence of increasing concentration of the logistics industry in clusters in the US over time is tested and documented. In addition, some evidence that logistics activities in counties inside clusters show higher growth than counties outside clusters is found.
2015
China's shift toward accelerated economic growth in central and western provinces and increasing levels of personal income and consumption are all consistent with the need for rail-enabled Integrated Logistics Centers (ILCs). Yet, while hundreds of logistics clusters have been developed in China over the past few years, modern, international standard rail-and multimodal-transport enabled ILCs are less common. Close, long-term collaboration between public sector authorities and private sector specialized firms, such as real estate developers, have proven effective in the development of North America's focused network of ILCs critical to facilitating transcontinental and other freight itineraries. This model can succeed in China as well. Integrated Logistics Centers (ILCs)-wellconnected clusters of multimodal transport, logistics, light assembly, manufacturing, and supporting services-play an increasingly important role in the logistics networks of North America and Western Europe. In the particular case of the U.S. logistics system, the most comparable to China based on lengths of haul, ILCs have facilitated "mini land bridge" (i.e., transcontinental) and other domestic and international long-haul containerized shipments supported by the country's rail intermodal network. 1 This has allowed shippers and logistics service providers to operate extended supply chains more efficiently, despite the increased operational complexity posed by longer distances, multiple modes, and several cargo hand-off points. But the role ILCs have played goes well beyond reducing logistics costs for firms. North American ILCs have become strategic tools for local and state governments to generate employment, stimulate economic activity, strengthen regional competitiveness,
Clusters and supply chain management: challenges and obstacles
2014
Purpose: This paper provides an insight into cluster supply chain (CSC) management by identifying challenges and obstacles in the design, implementation and improvement of CSC. This evaluation aims to propose future research directions for the management of CSC. Research Approach: A systematic review of published research on CSC management between 2006 and 2013 is conducted in order to round up previous research in this area and identify the gaps in the design, implementation and management of CSC; up on which the paper closes with a proposed agenda for future work. Findings and Originality: There is a limited understanding of the supply chain cluster concept and the implementation of its practices in addition to the lack of studies that focused on how to model, manage and improve the performance of CSC. Therefore, this paper would contribute to knowledge by providing an insight into CSC management and identifying future research directions for developing SC cluster theories in orde...
Analysing Logistics Flows in Industrial Clusters Using an Enterprise Input-Output Model
Interdisciplinary Information Sciences, 2008
Industrial clusters provide an interesting example of local systems of production that are facing global competition. The firms' processes acquire raw materials, convert them into final products, and deliver final products to retailers. Short and long range transfers of materials and energy are becoming crucial for clusters' competitiveness. Logistics activities have a particular importance for geographic clusters where production activities and residences are remarkably diffused and this results in high mobility and environmental problems. The coordination of transport demand implies a new integration and organization of logistics not only to reduce costs and enhance management control, but also to reduce their impact on the environment.