LOGISTICS CLUSTERS. DELIVERING VALUE AND DRIVING GROWTH (original) (raw)
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Logistics clusters : prevalence and impact
2014
Governments around the world are investing significant resources in the development and expansion of logistics clusters. This dissertation analyzes the cluster phenomenon focusing on four topics. First, it develops a methodology to identify clusters and applies it to the context of the US. By analyzing the case of logistics clusters, this thesis contributes to a more general debate in the industrial clusters literature: while many authors see industrial clusters growing, others see them dispersing. 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 in counties outside clusters is found. Second, this thesis studies the relationship between freight accessibility and logistics employment in the US. It develops an accessibility measure based on a gravity model, focusing on four different modes of transportation: ro...
Attributes of a Mature Logistics Cluster
MODERN SOLUTIONS IN PRODUCTION AND WAREHOUSING
Background: The chapter is devoted to the analysis and identification of the characteristics of a mature logistics cluster. First, the essence of the logistics cluster was presented, indicating its ambiguous understanding in the literature on the subject. Maturity was recognized as one of the stages of the logistics cluster life cycle. In contrast to the typical presentation of this cycle, the need to take into account outside the technical area also the political and cultural areas from which the factors shaping the life cycle of a logistics cluster originate was pointed out. Because a mature logistics cluster is a perfect cluster, therefore the features and conditions of perfect logistics were indicated as necessary to achieve this maturity. Methods: Literature studies are of fundamental importance. On their basis, the meaning of basic concepts and processes was identified and developed. Results: The final result is a summary of the typical attributes of a mature logistics cluster. Conclusions: A mature logistics cluster is characterized by typical attributes in three areas. In the technical area, it is efficiency and economically effective implementation of the logistics function. In the political area, this is efficacy corporate governance and a high level of organizational integration. In the cultural area, it is the professionalism and innovation of human resources.
A New Business Model -The Proposition of a Logistics Cluster in Romania
The importance of logistics in the business environment is very high, but logistics is not just transportation from point A to point B or storage, as perceived by most of the time. Logistics involves providing optimum solutions both on the operational level and at the strategic level. The evolution of the concepts of logistics has been transposed in practice through what is called the logistics cluster, both at European level and globally. But, unfortunately, Romania had not drawn up a strategy or a legislative framework for this. In the following we would like to propose a conceptual business model, allowing the development of strategies in this field. After a short literature review in this area, we propose a theoretical model, which takes into account relevant quantifiable elements to illustrate the need for the formation of logistics clusters at a national level. After the presentation of the steps proposed to form a cluster, and also the conceptual matrix, we present our vision of what entai ls the foundation of a logistics cluster at the regional level, the implications on the business environment and the benefits of this form of organization. Last but not least, after the analysis of the model and a subsequent case study that will follow in the future, we consider this model relevant to be transposed into a national strategy in the field of logistics clusters.
International Journal of Production Economics, 2016
Collaboration and the provision of value added services are key benefits for companies located within logistics clusters. We hypothesize that within the context of logistics clusters, further agglomeration within the more defined logistics parks and the availability of training opportunities enhance those benefits. We control for the effect of firm size in the projected relationships and propose that firm size positively impacts the degree of benefits obtained. Based on data from a survey conducted in the Zaragoza (Spain) Logistics Cluster, and using structural equation modeling, we demonstrate that further agglomeration into a logistics park positively impacts collaboration, and more specifically transportation capacity sharing. We also demonstrate that training positively impacts collaboration between cluster residents, both in terms of transportation capacity sharing and resource sharing, as well as the provision of value added services. These causal relationships are the same for big and small firms. Finally, we confirm that larger firms show higher levels of collaboration and value added services. Implications for managers and policy makers are provided.
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.