Integrated Logistics Platform The context of the port relational exchanges and systematic integration
Doctoral thesis, 2012
With relentless global competition, the cutting edge of today’s business environment
remains fully fledged within a vastly evolving market. For this, the port industry is
confronted with challenges and opportunities at the same time. Challenges are
evident in the ongoing logistics-restructured environment, and in the quest to keep
the port efficient connecting node in supply chains. On the other hand, opportunities
arise from a plethora of new scholarly articles addressing the port within themes of
logistics, supply chain management (SCM), and value-adding chains. This evolving
need brought the concept of an integrated logistics platform to life, which is the focus
of this thesis. The purpose of this thesis is to explore the port industry in order to
develop an integrated logistics platform concept through the identification of key
elements and mechanisms for systematic integration as well as barriers that hinder
the adoption of the concept.
Increasingly, many researchers have admitted the changing role(s) of the ports within
supply chains; and thereby it is not restricted to the traditional role of simple point of
transshipment. To reflect on this, different theories and methods were used to explore
major port involvement in supply chains, and more importantly, to derive relevant
value-adding attributes that have linking functions. The interrelated nature of the
SCM framework (network structure, business process, and management components)
played a major role in identifying key elements and mechanisms that support the
logistics platform’s systematic integration.
Remarkably, the provision of distribution and value-added logistics activities within
the gateway position of major seaports has become a source of competitive
advantage and an important business model. An integrated logistics platform concept
is one of these strategies aiming to integrate the sea/land interfaces with the inlandlogistics
equation. The capability of integrating different forms of interfaces relies on
the port organization to: support supply chain coordination in which all memberfirms
work closely as if one single domain, adopt key business process integration by
identifying linkages to logistics activities, and to enhance system optimization that
allows supply chain visibility for the entire system.
supply chain management
logistics platform
competitive advantage
port industries
transportation.
interfaces