The academic and professional attention to the large synergies hidden in horizontal collaborations is increasing. This study attempts to address the impact of collaborative transport on transportation lead-time and lead-time variability through empirically investigating a group of SMEs involved in a collaborative distribution network. Data was collected for seven pre-cooperation and eight cooperative orders over a period of 14 months. The results of Mann-Whitney U-test show a significant average reduction of 30.8% in the duration of lead times. Lead-time variability was also found to be reduced as the result of changes in the coefficient of variances and the Bartlett’s test for homogeneity of variances. Horizontal collaboration in transport could eventually lead to reduced lead times and lower variability of lead time which results in reduced supply chain costs. This can be achieved by means of direct routing and avoiding multi-transshipment routes which reduces the uncertainty and variability by diminishing the number of stages in the transport chain. Thus, effective lead-time management is considered a source of competitive advantage as it can reduce supply chain costs by lowering inventory levels, but is also capable of improving performance and customer service by offering improved product quality service levels.
The Interoceanic corridor of Mexico stands as a pivotal infrastructure project poised to significantly enhance Mexico's national and regional economy. Anticipated to start the operations in 2025 under the auspice of the national government, this corridor represents a strategic counterpart to the Panama Canal, which faces capacity constraints due to climate change and environmental impacts. Positioned as a promising alternative for transporting goods from Asia to North America, this corridor will offer a new transport route, yet its real operational capacity and spatial impacts remains uncertain. In this paper, the authors undertake a preliminary, informed analysis leveraging publicly available data and other specific information about infrastructure capacities and economic environment to forecast the potential throughput of this corridor upon full operationalization and in the future. Applying simulation techniques, the authors simulate the future operations of the corridor according to different scenarios to offer insights into its potential capacity and impacts. Furthermore, the paper delves into the opportunities and challenges that are inherent in this project and gives a comprehensive analysis of its potential impact and implications.
MULTIFILE
To achieve emission reduction targets and to improve local air quality of cities, the uptake of Electric Freight Vehicles (EFV) is essential. Knowledge concerning why companies do adopt EFV is lacking. Research about the diffusion of innovations and the market of EFV shows that frontrunner companies with an innovative or early adopting mindset are adopting (or willing to adopt) EFV. Increase in demand of EFV by such companies can help take a step forward towards mass production of EFV and eventually reduction in purchase cost of EFV. The main objective of this paper is to get insights into the decision-making attributes of frontrunner companies. A qualitative approach was used and 14 interviews were conducted among frontrunner companies delivering goods in the city of Amsterdam. Results show that innovators and early adopters are all motivated by socially or environmentally positive effects of EFV. Strategic motives played a role for all companies who already adopted EFV. All companies wanted to adopt EFV but technical limitations, due specialrequirements for the goods transported, are a reason to not adopt EFV. Getting insights into the preferences of frontrunner companies, the (local) authorities can adjust their policy, schemes and sustainability campaigns to attract more companies adopting EFV. Manufacturing companies can use the insights from this research to adapt their vehicle technology to answer needs of the potential customer for faster adoption rate.
