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Purpose – – The purpose of this paper is to reflect on the editorial operations underpinning the Journal of Humanitarian Logistics and Supply Chain Management in light of the review process and the quality of articles. It further outlines the articles in the special issue and relates them to the scope of the journal. Design/methodology/approach – – The editorial processes of the journal are analysed and reviewed. Findings – – The journal draws on a variety of research streams in humanitarian logistics; it is concluded that there is a need to stress the importance of research with managerial insights for humanitarians still further. Research limitations/implications – – Humanitarian logistics is an emerging field and, unsurprisingly, there is still a lack of good empirical research and research with rigor as well as relevance. Based on submission statistics it can be concluded that the field has already reached a global dimension. Practical implications – – There is still a lack of empirical studies in humanitarian logistics research regardless of methods. However, an explicit discussion of managerial implications alongside theoretical conclusions would be essential in order to lead to any social and practical implications of the research. Social implications – – These reflections on the editorial processes of JHLSCM as a new journal are used to raise the transparency of these processes. Originality/value – – The article shows how global the field of humanitarian logistics research has become, already, throughout the first year of the journal.

Purpose – – The purpose of this paper is to present a brief overview of the field of humanitarian logistics and supply chain management and outline the scope of the new Journal of Humanitarian Logistics and Supply Chain Management (JHLSCM). It further aims to highlight the variety of humanitarian logistics research and summarize the articles in the inaugural issue. Design/methodology/approach – – Results from an e‐mail survey with editorial board members are presented. The survey is used to further shape the scope of JHLSCM. Findings – – The journal draws on a variety of research streams in humanitarian logistics. This is seen as its richness but also as a challenge. Research limitations/implications – – Humanitarian logistics is an emerging field. There is still a lack of good empirical research and research with rigor as well as relevance. More research needs to be done in developing countries and by researchers from these. Practical implications – – Even though there has been collaboration between humanitarian and commercial organizations, there is also a need to establish humanitarian‐academic partnerships to improve training, education, as well as research – which should ultimately manifest itself in an improvement of practice. Social implications – – Humanitarian logistics research needs to rediscover its aim to serve beneficiaries. Originality/value – – This paper is an introduction to the inaugural issue of a new journal, JHLSCM.

This paper aims at reviewing the current state of transport infrastructure in the Baltic States, listing - their main developments and challenges. The interest in the Baltic states originates from two distinct perspectives: their importance as a new market within the EU and their transit function for trade with Russia. Combining these views leads to forecasts of raising trade volumes that the transport infrastructure in the Baltic states must consider. Recent developments, however, point to another direction. In essence, it is questioned how long the Baltic States will be able to function as a gateway for other EU member states to the Russian market. The paper therefore discusses new logistics trends, mainly focusing on the importance of supply chain management (SCM) and a supply chain orientation in providing future opportunities for the transport sector and logistics service providers in the Baltic states.

Purpose - The overall aim of the research presented is to improve blood supply chain management in order to use the scarce resource of blood more efficiently. Computer simulation is used as a tool for increasing efficiency in blood supply chains. Design/methodology/approach - An application of discrete event simulation modeling in the health-care sector, more specifically in the area of blood transfusion services. The model has been refined in cooperation with medical expertise as it is vital that practitioners are closely involved so that the model can be tested against their understanding as it develops. Findings - Decision makers can make better and less risky decisions regarding changes in the blood supply chain based on the knowledge created by simulation experiments. Simulation modeling can be used to make complex and chaotic systems comprehensible and more efficient. In health care, this means that scarce resources can be allocated better, and thereby simulation can aid in increasing the overall quality of health care. Research limitations/implications - Models are simplifications and there is no guarantee that they will be valid, however, when used sensibly, simulation models and modeling approaches provide an important tool to managing risk and uncertainty in health care supply chains. Practical implications - Earlier calculations and improvement efforts of blood supply chain in focus were based on "gut feeling". Through applying simulation to this complex system, the dynamics of blood supply chain was more easily understood by the medical expertise. Originality/value - There is a lack of work on computer simulations of blood supply chains, a challenge which this work has taken up on. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]