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PurposeWe examine how design and implementation practices for supply chain performance management that have proven successful in commercial organisations apply to humanitarian organisations (HOs) to guide the process of designing and implementing performance management in humanitarian organisations.Design/methodology/approachWe identify from the literature ten successful practices regarding the design and implementation of supply chain performance management in commercial businesses. We apply these, using action research over a four-year period, at Médecins sans Frontières (MSF) Belgium and draw conclusions from this.FindingsWe find that tools and techniques, such as workshops and technical sheets, are essential in designing and implementing supply chain performance measurement projects at HOs. Furthermore, making a link to an IT project is crucial when implementing performance measurement systems at HOs. Overall, our case study shows that performance management practices used in business can be applied and are relevant for humanitarian supply chains.Originality/valuePrevious research has argued that there are few empirical studies in the domain of performance management at humanitarian organisations. To the best of our knowledge, this paper is the first to provide a longitudinal understanding of the design and implementation of supply chain performance measurement at HOs.

Die globale humanitare Logistik in Not- und Krisensituationen sieht sich einer Reihe von Herausforderungen wie steigender Anzahl und Schwere von Katastrophensituationen, steigender Komplexitat der globalen Transportnetzwerke sowie gegenuber. In dieser Situation wird in umfassender Weise der Versuch unternommen, erfolgreiche Konzepte der Betriebswirtschaftslehre auch auf wesentliche Bereich der humanitaren Logistik mit in der Regel Non-Profit-Settings zu ubertragen. Dies gilt auch fur den Bereich der betrieblichen Leistungsmessung, der in diesem Kapitel ausfuhrlich in der Bezugsetzung zu den Spezifika humanitarer Logistikkonzepte erlautert wird. Verschiedene Handlungsoptionen und Konzepte in Hinblick auf die besonderen Anforderungen der humanitaren Logistik werden vorgestellt und eingeordnet, offene Forschungsfragen und Entwicklungspunkte benannt. Damit stellt dieses Kapitel ein Beispiel dafur da, wie fundierte betriebswirtschaftliche Forschung einen konkreten Beitrag zur Verbesserung der Situation von Menschen in Notlagen bereitstellen kann.

Dieses Kapitel identifiziert und diskutiert die grundlegenden Ansatze, die die Planung und Umsetzung der Innenstadtbelieferung in Europa des Logistikdienstleisters DACHSER SE leiten.

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to establish criteria for evaluating strategic partners in a network of logistics service providers (LSPs) to show how analytical network process (ANP) can be used to identify the weights of these criteria on a case-specific basis, and to investigate whether the ANP model can be used as a starting point to evaluate strategic partners for other LSP networks.Design/methodology/approachBased on a literature review of vertical cooperation, the authors develop an overview of criteria for the evaluation of partners in a network of LSPs. The authors then apply ANP at LSP1 to validate the criteria, identify weights for these criteria and to validate model outcomes. Furthermore, the authors investigate whether the ANP model developed for LSP1 can be applied to another LSP with similar characteristics (LSP2). In-depth interviews are used to draw conclusions on the modeling approach and the model outcomes.FindingsThe research shows that evaluation criteria for partners in vertical partnerships between shippers and LSPs are applicable to LSP partners in horizontal partnership networks. The ANP model with criteria weights provides a good starting point for LSPs to customize the evaluation framework according to their specific needs or operating environments.Originality/valueLimited research is available on evaluating LSP partners in horizontal partnerships. To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this paper is the first to bring forward horizontal LSP partner evaluation criteria to develop an ANP model for LSP partner evaluation and to apply this to two cases, and to provide a starting point for evaluating partners in similar horizontal LSP networks.

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to identify the value of fourth-party logistics (4PL) services in a humanitarian supply chain. Furthermore, it shows a framework for a fourth-party humanitarian logistics concept. Design/methodology/approach – The research paper presents a framework of fourth-party humanitarian logistics based on the four core components described by Christopher (2005) which was evaluated with a nonlinear approach called analytical hierarchy process (AHP). The AHP method explores qualitative and quantitative decision-making criteria in case of solving multi-attribute and complex problems. In total, seven experts from academia and practice have contributed to this research, resulting in a better understanding of the decisive needs of humanitarian supply chain actors for implementing and integrating a 4PL concept. Findings – The research shows an increased value for humanitarian supply chain actors of establishing a 4PL concept. The results present a positive influence of 4PL in complex disasters environments and provide key drivers for increasing and simplifying collaboration between the humanitarian supply chain actors. Research limitations/implications – Future research has to consider different disaster types and needs to further emphasize the added value for beneficiaries of implementing a 4PL concept in a humanitarian supply chain environment. Further research should preferably also consider case studies in order to analyse challenges, drawbacks and benefits of this concept (qualitative and quantitative factors) in a real-life humanitarian supply chain setting. Practical implications – The research offers managerial insights into the use of a 4PL concept in the humanitarian supply chain environment to improve efficiency due to an improved collaboration between the humanitarian supply chain actors. Originality/value – The research paper investigates an under-researched topic in the humanitarian supply chain environment. For humanitarian supply chain actors outsourcing their activities to a 4PL service provider could secure collaboration, increase service levels as well as efficiency and therefore create additional value.

Purpose – The purpose of the research paper is to provide the humanitarian logistics community with an overall picture about competencies and skills in humanitarian logistics and if there is a lack of professionalization of the logistics function in humanitarian context from an international perspective. Further this research elaborates practical approaches how the skills and competencies can be enhanced and developed for international education programs. Design/methodology/approach – An empirical survey as approach was used. Hereby a descriptive analysis provides in a comprehensive way education, skills and competencies in humanitarian logistics. The respondents are from different countries and continents as well as from different humanitarian sector, e.g. humanitarian organizations (HOs), logistics service providers, military services and researchers. Findings – In general, the findings of the research paper present valuable insights of mandatory contents of education in humanitarian logistics as well as competencies and skills on different levels based on European Qualification Framework (EQF). This research paper explores these and offers suggestions to improve and promote market and professional competencies and skills for the humanitarian logistics sector and to minimize their impacts. Research limitations/implications – The field survey was due to access and motivation restriction mainly answered by academics in the field of humanitarian logistics or by leadership personnel with very high academic merits (MA/PhD). Further the objective of this research paper was purposefully limited to describing the education requirements, not gap analysis with existing education offers or development of new curricula content – this should be a task for further research setups. Practical implications – Specific requirements regarding negotiation and legal competences are named in the survey as well as the objective of specific, country-related adaptions and the time schedule form of education trainings in humanitarian logistics (during a professional career with as much time absent for learning as feasible). Social implications – The paper highlights the increasing demand and still existing gap regarding education and training in humanitarian logistics in the field. All included institutions and persons have to re-evaluate their prioritization and budgeting in order to support further education and training for personnel in humanitarian logistics according to the results of the survey and addressing the need of logisticians in the humlog management and operations. Originality/value – This paper adds to the knowledge about the implications of education and training and measurement of skills and competencies based on EQF for theory and practice. Further the humanitarian logistics community requires rudimentary humanitarian logistics education to enhance the logistics operation in case of disaster toward the affected people.

Recently performance measurement in humanitarian supply chains has become a key driver to ensure efficiency and effectiveness of operations and overall sustainability. The purpose of this paper is to evaluate current performance measurement systems from the commercial sector for their applicability to the specificities of the humanitarian supply chain sector. In doing so, we adapt the evaluation criteria for an ‘appropriate’ performance measurement system from Caplice and Sheffi (1995) to the humanitarian supply chain context and apply them to well-known performance measurement framework from the commercial sector (Balanced Score Card, SCOR Model and Performance Prism). Findings indicate that the analyzed performance measurement frameworks have some potential to enable effective and efficient performance measurement of supply chains in the humanitarian aid sector in light of the established criteria.

This research paper aims to demonstrate an innovative cooperation logistics concept for different humanitarian logistics phases, namely preparedness, response and recovery in particular for the response phase. Starting of the present lack of cooperation among actors in humanitarian relief chains worldwide the authors argue to build a cooperation logistics concept for German humanitarian organizations by using the Shapley value and showing the allocation of savings among possible partners of a centralized humanitarian distribution hub. The achieved savings and reduction of the logistics costs should be used for investment in relief goods and therefore in saving more lives as well as serving more beneficiaries in disaster cases. Furthermore, the cooperation between different humanitarian organizations would ensure the transit time of the required delivery time of 24/48 h and significantly would reduce transport and logistics costs because of bundling synergies.

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to provide a system for the performance evaluation of humanitarian supply chains. The system will help humanitarian organizations (HOs) to make better decisions, improve their performance, and provide accountability, as well as helping them measure their operational performance during disaster response and reconstruction projects. Design/methodology/approach – A holistic and implementable performance measurement system was developed to measure the operational performance of HOs during disaster response and reconstruction projects. The system is divided into five categories with several key performance indicators (KPIs) being identified for each; identifiers are qualitative and quantitative, as well as financial and non-financial. Findings – Empirical testing of the system demonstrated the low use of existing performance indicators in humanitarian supply chains and the possible added value for HOs to improve their operational efficiency. Social implications – The performance measurement system could help HOs improve their operations and resource allocation. Originality/value – The paper is one of the first research contributions in which a sample of developed KPIs is empirically tested in various HOs. Prior to this paper, a limited number of articles examined the performance of HOs, and no defined system of KPIs existed. By analyzing real results in the field of the humanitarian projects and applying the proposed performance measurement system, it will be possible to define a set of best approaches to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of humanitarian supply chains.

Der Beitrag diskutiert die Frage, welche Entwicklungen und Innovationen insbesondere im Schnittfeld von demografischer Entwicklung, Urbanisierung und Logistiksystemen erwartet werden konnen. Dazu werden neben den Beschreibungen der drei Bereiche insbesondere demografieabhangige Forschungsthemen der Logistik wie die Elektromobilitat oder die „neue“ City-Logistik vorgestellt und auf ihr Innovationspotenzial hin analysiert. Daraus werden Gestaltungsthesen abgeleitet: Nachhaltigkeit und Elektromobilitat hangen ins-besondere in urbanen Raumen von „added service“-Angeboten fur altere Menschen ab; interaktive „social transport networks“ auf Web 2.0-Basis werden die Stadte erobern; der stadtische Einzelhandel wird sich rund um Online-Auslieferungen neu organisieren; der urbane Raum wird weiterhin Impulsgeber fur Transport und Innovationssysteme sein.

Der Baumarkteinzelhandel ist mit einem Jahresumsatz von 38,2 Mrd. Euro eine bedeutende Branche in Deutschland und ein wichtiger Betreiber flachendenkender Beschaffungs-und Logistiksysteme. Durch globale und regionale Veranderungen wird weiterhin ein hoher Kosten- und Wettbewerbsdruck erwartet, welchem auch durch eine gesteigerte Effizienz in den Logistikprozessen begegnet werden muss. Der Beitrag stellt die nicht-parametrische Effizienzanalyse der Data Envelopment Analysis fur reale Betriebsdaten zu Logistikkosten, Lieferzeiten und Servicegraden aus diesem Branchensegment vor und zeigt deren Einfluss im Hinblick auf konkrete handlungsleitende Aussagen auf. Gleichzeitig werden Logistikkonzepte wie Beschaffungsbundelung, Cross Docking und Outsourcing in ihrem inharenten Potenzial fur Effizienzverbesserungen quantitativ bestatigt. Damit verweist dieses Beispiel einer praktischen Implementierung der Data Envelopment Analysis darauf, dass diese Methodik aus dem bisher eher wissenschaftlichen Umfeld auch fur den operativen Einsatz betrieblicher Benchmarkinganalysen bei logistikaffinen Unternehmen geeignet ist.