Summary Project objectives This study fits into a larger research project on logistics collaboration and outsourcing decisions. The final objective of this larger project is to analyze the logistics collaboration decision in more detail to identify thresholds in these decisions. To reach the overall objectives, the first step is to get a clearer picture on the chemical and logistics service providers industry, sectors of our study, and on logistics collaboration in these sectors. The results of this first phase are presented in this report. Project Approach The study consists of two parts: literature review and five case studies within the chemical industry. The literature covers three topics: logistics collaboration, logistics outsourcing and purchasing of logistics services. The five case studies are used to refine the theoretical findings of the literature review. Conclusions Main observations during the case studies can be summarized as follows: Most analyzed collaborative relationships between shippers and logistics service providers in the chemical industry are still focused on operational execution of logistics activities with a short term horizon. Supply management design and control are often retained by the shippers. Despite the time and cost intensive character of a logistics service buying process, shippers tendering on a very regular basis. The decision to start a new tender project should more often be based on an integral approach that includes all tender related costs. A lower frequency of tendering could create more stability in supply chains. Beside, it will give both, shippers and LSPs, the possibility to improve the quality of the remaining projects. Price is still a dominating decision criterion in selecting a LSP. This is not an issue as long as the comparison of costs is based on an integral approach, and when shippers balance the cost criterion within their total set of criteria for sourcing logistics services. At the shippers' side there is an increased awareness of the need of more solid collaboration with logistics service providers. Nevertheless, in many cases this increased awareness does not actually result in the required actions to establish more intensive collaboration. Over the last years the logistics service providers industry was characterized by low profit margins, strong fragmentation and price competition. Nowadays, the market for LSPs is changing, because of an increasing demand for logistics services. To benefit from this situation a more pro-active role of the service providers is required in building stronger relationships with their customers. They should pay more attention on mid and long term possibilities in a collaborative relation, in stead of only be focused on running the daily operation.
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Cities all over the world are rethinking their mobility policies in light of environmental and quality of life objectives. As space is one of cities’ scarcest resources, mobility’s spatial footprint is increasingly scrutinized as externality to mitigate. Similar to passenger transport, goods transport is envisioned to shift towards efficient and zero emission mobilities. To achieve an urban logistics system that eliminates inefficiencies and fossil fuels, the logistics sector requires space to unload, cross-dock, consolidate and stock goods closer to their destinations. Such a ‘proximity logistics’ is however at odds with ‘logistics sprawl’, the historic outward migration pattern of logistics facilities. With policies and planning, cities can support the (re)integration of logistics facilities in urban areas to facilitate and enable the shift to an efficient urban logistics system. Logistics still being a largely neglected policy subject in many cities, knowledge on how to approach this (re)integration is hardly available. Therefore, we compare two pioneering cities: Rotterdam and Paris. Both cities have an established track record in advancing urban logistics policies and are spearheading the practice of planning for logistics. Based on interviews and policy analyses, we develop best practices on how to address the integration of urban logistics facilities for cities.
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There is a lot of attention for the reduction of city logistics' emissions. But also if city logistics' vehicles are zero emission, the vehicles remain present in urban areas. Zero emission vehicles also occupy valuable urban space during unloading on the road and on sidewalks. Despite the spatial impact of city logistics, it is rarely considered in spatial planning. Based on four case studies, we explore possibilities to actively integrate city logistics in spatial planning policies and practices in order to reduce nuisance, but also to enhance efficiency of deliveries. In the end, spatial planning determines the physical urban conditions in which city logistics operations are taking place for many years. From the results we distil a research agenda to bridge the gap between city logistics as a traffic issue and its integration in spatial planning policies.
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BCLivinglab combines the supply chain and logistics physical infrastructure of training centres (ROCs), research institutes and companies throughout the Netherlands, with the expertise and virtual infrastructure of blockchain specialists from BlockLab. Companies, especially SMEs, in supply chain and logistics will use this unique combination of physical facilities and the expert network to experiment with and develop blockchain applications. BCLivinglab is easily accessible for companies, due to its close proximity (distributed facilities) and low threshold procedures. It will make blockchain technology accessible for companies, thus supporting innovation and improving the competitive advantage of the Dutch supply chain and logistics sector.
The growing demand for both retrofitting and refitting, driven by an aging global fleet and decarbonization efforts, including the need to accommodate alternative fuels such as LNG, methanol, and ammonia, offers opportunities for sustainability. However, they also pose challenges, such as emissions generated during these processes and the environmental impacts associated with the disposal of old components. The region Rotterdam and Drechtsteden form a unique Dutch maritime ecosystem of port logistics, shipbuilding, offshore operations, and innovation facilities, supported by Europe’s largest port and world-class infrastructure connecting global trade routes. The Netherlands’ maritime sector, including the sector concentrated in Zuid-Holland, is facing competition from subsidized Asian companies, leading to a steep decline in Europe’s shipbuilding market share from 45% in the 1980s to just 4% in 2023. Nonetheless, the shift toward climate-neutral ships presents economic opportunities for Dutch maritime companies. Thus, developing CE approaches to refitting is essential for promoting sustainability and addressing the pressing environmental and competitive challenges facing the sector and has led companies in the sector to establish the Open Joint Industry Project (OJIP) called Circolab of which this PD forms the core.
