International Journal of Physical Distribution & Logistics Management

Jack Barry

2004 International Journal of Physical Distribution & Logistics Management

doi: 10.1108/09600030410567469

The breadth and scope of supply chain risks have broadened significantly in recent years. Even prior to the 2001 terrorist attacks, the creep of risks and uncertainties were widening with increased globalization, widening political reach by leading countries, and the rise of market producing and consuming economies. This article raises some essential supply chain questions as well as some that have impact on the field from outside of it.

Larry C. Giunipero; Reham Aly Eltantawy

2004 International Journal of Physical Distribution & Logistics Management

doi: 10.1108/09600030410567478

Supply managers must manage many risks in their increasingly competitive environments. Traditionally this meant buffering against uncertainties, which sub‐optimized operational performance. Risk management can be a more effective approach to deal with these uncertainties by identifying potential losses. This conceptual study proposes that situational factors‐ degree of product technology, security needs, the relative importance of the supplier, and the purchasers’ prior experience with the situation should be taken into consideration when determining the level of risk management in the supply chain. Doing so can avoid unforeseen losses and lead to better anticipation of risks.

John F. Mills; Vojta Camek

2004 International Journal of Physical Distribution & Logistics Management

doi: 10.1108/09600030410567487

During the 1990s the “information age” spawned a new breed of enterprises devising business models unheard of previously. One aspect of this changing business environment has been the trend in disintermediation observed in many industries. Where many recent papers see disintermediation as a phenomenon related to online transactions, this paper defines it more broadly as the removal or a weakening of an intermediary within a supply chain. This paper attempts to explain why disintermediation of distributors/import agents often occurs at the growth phase of a product's lifecycle, highlighting possible opportunities and outcomes for distributors threatened by disintermediation. The paper uses a downturn in a company's fortune to illustrate the case and to provide a potentially generic analytical tool for small distributors that will almost inevitably face a conflict of interests with their suppliers, which leads to disintermediation pressure.

Göran Svensson

2004 International Journal of Physical Distribution & Logistics Management

doi: 10.1108/09600030410567496

The article examines companies' perception of corporate vulnerability in supply chains. The areas, the causes and the contingency planning of corporate vulnerability in upstream and downstream supply chains are examined. The study is based on qualitative data, and it differs from other studies on the vulnerability construct in supply chains in that most have been quantitative. An insight of the research is that sub‐contractors in the automotive industry tend to be limited to myopic and vertical views of the key areas, and to the causes and contingency planning of corporate vulnerability in the upstream and downstream supply chains.

G.M. Giaglis; I. Minis; A. Tatarakis; V. Zeimpekis

2004 International Journal of Physical Distribution & Logistics Management

doi: 10.1108/09600030410567504

Vehicle routing (VR) is critical in successful logistics execution. The emergence of technologies and information systems allowing for seamless mobile and wireless connectivity between delivery vehicles and distribution facilities is paving the way for innovative approaches to real‐time VR and distribution management. This paper investigates avenues for building upon recent trends in VR‐related research towards an integrated approach to real‐time distribution management. A review of the advances to‐date in both fields, i.e. the relevant research in the VR problem and the advances in mobile technologies, forms the basis of this investigation. Further to setting requirements, we propose a system architecture for urban distribution and real‐time event‐driven vehicle management.