Copyright (c) 2013 Dublin Institute of Technology All rights reserved. http://arrow.dit.ie/nitlcon Recent documents in Conference papers en-us Wed, 15 May 2013 11:27:56 PDT 3600 http://arrow.dit.ie/nitlcon/68 http://arrow.dit.ie/nitlcon/68 Mon, 04 Mar 2013 08:10:53 PST This research study illustrates the importance of sustainable purchasing practices for organizations in the U.S. distribution industry and answers several important questions: what is the current awareness of U.S. organizations regarding sustainable purchasing practices; to what extent are U.S. organizations evaluating, selecting, and retaining suppliers based upon sustainable purchasing practices; and to what extent are sustainable purchasing practices being implemented by the U.S. organizations under study? With an ever increasing global economy, is it critically important for organizations to put in place sustainability practices; the biggest impact organizations can make is often in an organization’s purchasing department. The researcher begins by explaining the reasoning for conducting the research, and then builds the readers’ understanding of sustainability in a supply chain environment. It then moves to the subject of how sustainable purchasing can be an advantageous method for bringing about “triple bottom line” savings to an organization. This section is followed by the researcher’s methodology and ending results for a survey conducted to examine the current awareness and implementation of sustainable purchasing practices among U.S. plumbing, heating, cooling and piping (PHCP) distribution firms who participated in the study.

]]> Frank Palisi et al. http://arrow.dit.ie/nitlcon/67 http://arrow.dit.ie/nitlcon/67 Mon, 02 Apr 2012 07:13:19 PDT In the context of green supply chain management, green purchasing has received increased attention over the past decade and the strategic importance of introducing green aspects into purchasing practices has been recognised. Despite this growing importance, little has been written in relation to purchasing green transport and logistics services. Considering the strong environmental impact associated with transport and logistics activities, much remains to be learned concerning buyer’s practices when sourcing more sustainable services from third party logistics companies (3PLs). The aim of this paper is to explore practices of buying green transport and logistics services in three different European countries (Italy, Ireland and Sweden) using a multiple case study research approach. The paper analyses how general environmental company ambitions and environmental purchasing practices are reflected when green transport and logistics services are purchased. The results of the paper indicate that while the case companies show a relatively high concern of green issues at company level, a lower importance is attributed to green issues at the purchasing function level. When green concerns in purchasing transport and logistics services are analysed the level of importance decrease dramatically. It emerges a conflicting attitude among the overall company level and the purchasing of transport and logistics services. This suggests that there is the potential for improvements especially in the area of green collaboration in buyer and supplier relationships.

]]> Pietro Evangelista et al. http://arrow.dit.ie/nitlcon/66 http://arrow.dit.ie/nitlcon/66 Wed, 31 Aug 2011 03:25:07 PDT In a world where freight transport is increasing, efficiency is essential. Transport by rail is characterised by its low fuel consumption per tonne. This mode of transport became extremely important during the last century but unfortunately it has been losing its importance in the logistics sector with the passing of time. However, we are currently witnessing an important transformation in the railway sector throughout Europe. This has been promoted by the European Union, with a significant allocation of resources to this issue. With the objective of increasing the volume of goods transported by rail, European nations are conducting a transformation process of their infrastructure and rolling stock. In Ireland, the outlook for rail freight is not very positive since its market share has been dangerously decreasing. This paper presents an analysis of the current situation in the Republic of Ireland. The research is based on a range of secondary sources, as well as on a series of semi-structured interviews carried out by the authors with current rail freight customers. A focus group comprising rail freight experts was also used to identify possible future scenarios.

]]> Juan Carlos Carrasco Gimenez et al. http://arrow.dit.ie/nitlcon/65 http://arrow.dit.ie/nitlcon/65 Mon, 18 Jul 2011 07:39:20 PDT After a proliferation of logistics e-Marketplaces during the dot.com boom of 1998-2000, there has been a high rate of failure and survivals are developing much more slowly than expected. This is the case of aviation industry where a large number of B2B e-Marketplaces emerged according to the focus of aviation companies’ strategies on electronic B2B in the late 1990s. However, the current use of e-Marketplaces in the industry is low and many of them have ceased trading. The traditional e-Marketplaces model have been characterised by poor quality of portals and the lack of technical standards. Such an approach is unsustainable in today’s competitive scenario. Improvements in websites quality attributes may strongly contribute to simplify the website functionalities by users and speed-up communication with all supply chain parties. In such context, it appears of critical importance to develop models for the evaluation of e-Marketplaces web sites. This paper, after a discussion about the development of e-Marketplaces in the transport and logistics service industry and its application in the aviation industry, proposes a multi-criteria model for assessing e-Marketplaces portals that has been subsequently applied to three different types of aeronautic B2B e-Marketplaces.

]]> Edward Sweeney et al. http://arrow.dit.ie/nitlcon/64 http://arrow.dit.ie/nitlcon/64 Mon, 18 Jul 2011 07:39:19 PDT Edward Sweeney http://arrow.dit.ie/nitlcon/63 http://arrow.dit.ie/nitlcon/63 Mon, 18 Jul 2011 07:39:17 PDT ICT has triggered many changes in the logistics service industry. New technology is reshaping the organisation and structure of this industry as ICT impacts significantly on the operations of 3PLs. Within this process, while large 3PLs are gaining substantial benefits from technology usage, the nature of changes resulting from ICT usage in small 3PLs remains unclear. This is critical particularly for those markets populated by a high number of small 3PLs such as the Italian logistics industry. From the research point of view, there is still a gap in the literature where the role of technological capability in small 3PLs are seriously underestimated. This gives rise to the need to develop investigation in this area. This paper presents the preliminary results of a case study analysis on ICT usage in a sample of 7 small Italian 3PLs. The results highlight some of the barriers to effective ICT implementation, as well as some of the critical success factors.

]]> Pietro Evangelista et al. http://arrow.dit.ie/nitlcon/62 http://arrow.dit.ie/nitlcon/62 Mon, 18 Jul 2011 07:39:16 PDT This paper investigates what is happening in Ireland at the moment regards outsourcing. It looks into the literature review and the survey conducted. The research took place over a period of two years, initially as a literature review, and then the survey was conducted through the mediums of e-mail and the postal service. The survey analysis found that Ireland was the most likely place for Irish companies to outsource to, and that nearly 40 percent of the companies that have been surveyed have started on their latest outsourcing initiative since 2004. This indicates that outsourcing is still important on the Island on Ireland, and is important management strategy in terms of SCM (supply chain management). It further shows that Irish companies have confidence in the fact that outsourcing can help their companys’ in some way. The purpose of the literature review and the survey was to come up with an outsourcing roadmap for companies that are considering outsourcing. It builds on what is already in the literature to provide what is felt a comprehensive guide for companies that outsource.

]]> Aoife O'Riordan et al. http://arrow.dit.ie/nitlcon/61 http://arrow.dit.ie/nitlcon/61 Mon, 18 Jul 2011 07:39:14 PDT It is well accepted that ICT and Internet technology have the potential to facilitate firms’ innovation processes as it offers new and more effective support to conduct business operations. This is particularly true in the context of Extended Enterprise (EE) concept where new technologies are critical in ensuring the effective integration of physical and information flows among participating companies (Dresner et al., 1999). The role of third party logistics providers (3PLs) in logistics outsourcing has evolved along the last few years (McKinnon, 1999). Such companies are transforming their business configuration from simple transport service providers to supply chain integrators. Internet technology (e.g. website) may play an important role in this process as it allows managing information exchange with customer and other supply chain partners more effectively (Evangelista, 2007). Despite this, there is research which indicates that logistics service companies have 2 Capitolo secondo not placed enough importance on the use of websites (Ellinger, et al., 2003; Lynagh, et al. 2001). This paper presents the result of an empirical investigation conducted on the website content of a sample of 153 small Italian logistics service companies. The main aim of the survey is to provide a fresh picture about company website. In particular, it is aimed at assessing the role of 3PLs website in supporting new firms organisational configurations (e.g. EE). The analysis is carried out using a 3PLs taxonomy that distinguishes companies on the basis of the breath of service provided combined with a well recognised model of Internet adoption in the logistics service sector (. The results of the survey allow managerial implications for small 3PLs companies to be drawn and future research directions in this field to be identified.

]]> Pietro Evangelista et al. http://arrow.dit.ie/nitlcon/60 http://arrow.dit.ie/nitlcon/60 Mon, 18 Jul 2011 07:39:13 PDT This paper assesses the effect of non-physicality of a digital product - software - on SCM practice. A number of in-depth, one-on-one interviews were held in 8 software companies that predominantly supply to enterprise customers on a global scale. The aim was to explore distribution challenges within software supply chains and how companies are addressing these challenges. The research has identified three different classes of software distribution models: One, which tends to rely on traditional physical infrastructures and paradigms, and two others that better exploit the properties of the digital products.

]]> Colm Ryan et al. http://arrow.dit.ie/nitlcon/59 http://arrow.dit.ie/nitlcon/59 Mon, 18 Jul 2011 07:36:56 PDT Pietro Evangelista et al. http://arrow.dit.ie/nitlcon/58 http://arrow.dit.ie/nitlcon/58 Mon, 18 Jul 2011 07:36:54 PDT For companies competing in highly dynamic markets, innovation is considered a fundamental component of a successful business as it allows companies to sustain profit margins, sales growth and reduce competitors’ pressures. Information and communication technology (ICT) is essential innovation enablers especially in service companies. The focus of the paper is on the analysis of the role of ICT in innovation processes of small third-party logistics service providers (3PLs). On the basis of quantitative evidence emerging from a recent survey carried out on the Italian 3PL market, the paper analyses how ICT is used to support innovation and the factors the inhibit/facilitate the usage of ICT in such companies. Implications for supply chain innovation management are derived from the research and managerial perspectives.

]]> Pietro Evangelista et al. http://arrow.dit.ie/nitlcon/57 http://arrow.dit.ie/nitlcon/57 Mon, 18 Jul 2011 07:36:52 PDT Pietro Evangelista et al. http://arrow.dit.ie/nitlcon/56 http://arrow.dit.ie/nitlcon/56 Mon, 18 Jul 2011 03:57:05 PDT The Irish economy experienced a tremendous increase in economic growth during the 1990s and early 21st Century (Celtic Tiger). This economic boom was export driven and the Irish Road Haulage Industry transported the majority of products produced at some stage, if not a number of stages in the logistics tunnel. In recent times there has been somewhat of a growing unease in the road haulage industry in relation to increasing costs, squeezing already tight profit margins. A report commissioned by the Department of Public Enterprise illustrated that 48% of hauliers identified themselves as needing training in the area of cost calculation (Indecon, 1999). As a result, many hauliers are unable to accurately analyse costs; this can lead to incorrect management decisions in relation to pricing and rate setting, with the potential to significantly erode profitability levels. The Indecon report stated, “this is an area where there is very little information in the industry”(Indecon, 1999: 95). This research attempts to analyse current costing practices/models in the Irish Road Haulage Industry in order to improve understanding of the current capabilities of Hire and Reward operators in relation to financial management. The first step of the research methodology was an intensive search for pertinent literature, from which a limited amount of information was obtained. Primary research was undertaken through the use of a structured postal questionnaire. Empirical evidence of the current financial management capabilities of Irish road haulage hire and reward operators obtained from the research instrument is contrasted and compared with the 1998 EU Directive 98/76/EC stating the current minimum competency levels in order to gain a certificate of professional competency (OJEC, 1998).

]]> Eoin Plant et al. http://arrow.dit.ie/nitlcon/55 http://arrow.dit.ie/nitlcon/55 Mon, 11 Apr 2011 06:55:08 PDT There is a lack of research investigating the interaction and reciprocal influences between the buyer perspective and the supplier of transport and logistics services. Studies on the buyer perspective analyse the selection criteria to buy 3PL services, while research focused on green 3PL services examine initiatives undertaken by these companies to provide more environmentally sustainable services. The objective of this paper is to fill this void through an explorative case study analysis on the environmental attitude of 3PL companies in order to derive relevant implications for buyer’s behaviour. The results provide useful guidelines to buyers for understanding awareness, initiatives as well as drivers and barriers affecting 3PLs’ sustainability initiatives.

]]> Pietro Evangelista et al. http://arrow.dit.ie/nitlcon/54 http://arrow.dit.ie/nitlcon/54 Mon, 21 Mar 2011 05:02:01 PDT Edward Sweeney http://arrow.dit.ie/nitlcon/53 http://arrow.dit.ie/nitlcon/53 Wed, 16 Mar 2011 07:40:32 PDT This paper investigates three case studies with regards their outsourcing initiatives from an Irish perspective, the benefits and problems they encountered, the contracts they have constructed, and where they have outsourced and the reasons behind them. The research took place over a period of two years, and the information for the case studies was gleaned from a number of sources including: published papers about the companies, the company websites, annual financial reports, the questionnaire they filled out, and interviews with key decision making personnel in the company. Follow up interviews were conducted where it was felt they were required. Key findings were that: it is very important to have the outsourcing initiative driven from the top down, and it is imperative to construct a contract that promotes a relationship based on mutual trust and respect, the use of Ireland for outsourcing, and the benefits and problem companies have experienced.

]]> Aoife O'Riordan et al. http://arrow.dit.ie/nitlcon/52 http://arrow.dit.ie/nitlcon/52 Tue, 15 Mar 2011 07:41:40 PDT Claudia-Maria Wagner et al. http://arrow.dit.ie/nitlcon/51 http://arrow.dit.ie/nitlcon/51 Tue, 08 Mar 2011 08:20:27 PST Maurizio Caiazzo et al. http://arrow.dit.ie/nitlcon/45 http://arrow.dit.ie/nitlcon/45 Sat, 22 Jan 2011 03:46:40 PST Edward Sweeney http://arrow.dit.ie/nitlcon/42 http://arrow.dit.ie/nitlcon/42 Sat, 22 Jan 2011 03:19:02 PST Edward Sweeney