A model for identification of the supply chain information gaps to be reduced by using the smart transportation management systems

Paper in proceeding, 2010

The purpose of this paper is to create a model for identification of the supply chain information gaps to be reduced by using the Smart Transportation Management (STM) systems. The information gap is considered as the difference between the value level of the supply chain information and support level of the STM systems for the supply chain information. Literature studies are conducted to identify the elements of the STM systems and the valuable types of information for transportation and material handling of products in a supply chain. Empirical studies by using interviews and documentations as sources of empirical data are conducted to show how the model could be applied. Interviews with different actors of Swedish industrial supply chains (suppliers, manufacturers, logistics service providers, retailers and customers) are conducted to identify the value of different types of information in a supply chain. Interviews with logistics managers of Swedish industrial and retailing companies and reviewing the documents of companies are accomplished to find the support level of the STM systems for different supply chain information types. The result of this study is useful for information operators of companies to identify the information gaps that could be reduced by using the STM systems. This paper is useful as a decision support for practitioners to develop the STM systems according to the value of the information that such systems support for actors of the supply chains.