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2015. Horizontal logistics collaboration for enhanced supply chain performance: an international retail perspective. ABSTRACTPurpose -Horizontal logistics collaboration (HLC) initiatives can fail. To improve the chance of success a thorough consideration of the potential issues involved, such as seeking supply chain partners' support, ensuring access to information / data security and assessing whether a HLC model could bring improvements to a wide range of supply chain metrics rather than reductions in distribution costs only, needs to be understood before deciding to proceed with such an initiative. To support this, the paper aims to develop a supply chain-driven model for HLC.Design Methodology and Approach -A two-stage methodology is deployed. As part of Stage 1, a series of 20 semi-structured interviews with senior managers from retailers, retailers' suppliers and logistics service providers were undertaken. Subsequently, in Stage 2, a focus group with practitioners from retailers and logistics service providers was run to verify the findings gathered during Stage 1. Four elements of a new HLC project being considered are investigated by supply chain champions across the UK Fast Moving Costumer Goods industry, namely consideration factors, required synergies, enablers, and anticipated output metrics.Findings -When considering whether or not to embark on a HLC project, the supply chain requirements need to be taken into account and potential supply chain performance benefits projected. The paper identified several consideration factors; synergies and enablers that support the development of HLC projects are identified, such as legislation, trust among partners, common suppliers and delivery bases, capable 3PL and an effective commercial model, including a fair sharing of benefits.Research Limitations and Implications -The research provides new understanding in accounting for the needs of the supply chain when considering a HLC initiative involving leading players from the retail sector.Practical Implications -The importance of taking a supply chain approach when evaluating the feasibility of HLC is demonstrated. HLC arrangements among competing supply chains need to be designed and run by taking account of all supply chain partners, namely suppliers, 3PLs and customers (in this case, retailers).Originality and Value -The contribution is threefold: i) identification of outset consideration factors, ideal required synergies, actioning enablers and wider supply chain metrics of HLC; ii) development of a supply chain-driven model for HLC, which includes in the decision-making whether or not to adopt a horizontal logistics collaboration model, wide supply chain metrics such as stock levels of finished products and shelf availability, inventory, working and fixed capital, and product waste in addition to distribution costs; and, iii) the proposal of a new definition for HLC which challenges published definitions.

For AuthorsIf you would like to write for this, or any other Emerald publication, then please use our Emerald for Authors service information about how to choose which publication to write for and submission guidelines are available for all. Please visit www.emeraldinsight.com/authors for more information. About Emerald www.emeraldinsight.comEmerald is a global publisher linking research and practice to the benefit of society. The company manages a portfolio of more than 290 journals and over 2,350 books and book series volumes, as well as providing an extensive range of online products and additional customer resources and services.Emerald is both COUNTER 4 and TRANSFER compliant. The organization is a partner of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) and also works with Portico and the LOCKSS initiative for digital archive preservation.*Related content and download information correct at time of download. Design/methodology/approach -This research adopts a multiple case study approach with three leading UK grocery retailers as exemplars of fast-moving consumer goods retailers, conducted using multiple data collection techniques including interviews, system demonstrations, onsite observations and the use of archive information. Findings -ICT solutions have a direct positive impact on CO 2 emissions reduction but opportunities to further reduce CO 2 emissions are perceived as lying beyond retailers' own distribution networks. These opportunities are not fully utilised due to the complexities of collaborative ICT provisions and retailers' reluctance to share information with competitors.Research limitations/implications -A limitation of the study is that it is exploratory and only three cases were examined. Even though these three retailers represent over 60 per cent of the UK grocery retail sector, other retailers may deploy significantly different ICT applications. Practical implications -The research provides an overarching insight for businesses on how to leverage the existing and emerging information technologies for environmental and economic benefits. Originality/value -While sustainability issues have received increasing attention recently, the role of ICT in freight transport for CO 2 emissions reduction has not been investigated in depth and its impact is largely unknown. This research advances understanding about how ICT contributes CO 2 emissions reductions and provides a framework for further investigation.

The purpose of this study is twofold: to improve understanding on how the synergetic relationship between lean and green practices is operationalized and how innovative practices are fostered in workplace through integrated lean and green approaches. The Resource-based view (RBV) of the firm, and in particular, the concept of complementarity is used as a theoretical lens to achieve the purpose of the study. Following an inductive theory building approach using exploratory case study methodology in two manufacturing organizations in the UK, the authors conduct twelve semi-structured interviews with cross-functional team involved in integrated lean and green practices. The outcomes of the study evidence several examples of innovation fostered through synergetic lean and green implementation, though the integration requires customization depending upon the operations profile of selected cases, e.g. high volume/ low variety versus low volume and high variety setting. Our study also reported the possibility of creation of environmental value alongside economic value, e.g. eco-friendly products are cheaper to produce through integrated lean and green practices in design and service delivery processes. Cross-functional collaboration and collaboration with suppliers are key to promote innovation within operations and supply chains. Following a theory building approach, authors propose two testable hypotheses for future research.

A major inhibitor to supply chain customer value delivery is uncertainty, which yields increased total operational costs. Given transport often connects companies to their customers, effective transport operations can enable the delivery of customer value. Our aim is to establish a supply chain uncertainty model that explicitly incorporates transport operations. Our model has its origin from previous works on the logistics triad. We identify that uncertainty can potentially originate from five different sources: shipper, customer, control systems, carrier and externally. The results of this paper inform further empirical research into the area of transport uncertainty and hence logistics flexibility as a means for accommodating such uncertainty. The research also highlights the root causes of inefficiency within freight transport, which often has a causal relationship with environmental performance.

Purpose -The implementation of sustainable supply chain management (SCM) calls for an acknowledgement of uncertainty inherent in complex environment. Confucianist societies form social networks (guanxi networks) into which people are born and continuously develop their social activities. These then influence economic behaviours and business practices in the workplace. The objective of this study is to explore how these social networks influence the implementation of sustainable supply chain management (SCM). In doing so, this study critically investigates the constructs of guanxi networks, their impact on flow of supply chain capital, and how this leverages the implementation of sustainable SCM.Design/methodology/approach -Two systematic literature reviews are conducted to understand the constructs of social networks in Confucianist cultures and to investigate the flow of supply chain capitals in guanxi networks. The review also analyses recorded evidence related to the economic, social and environmental responsibilities of sustainability to reveal the current state of the literature and research gaps. Propositions and a framework are developed to guide future research in this area.Findings -The constructs of ganqing, renqing, xinren and mianzi in guanxi networks have expanded the contexts of social networks in Western literature. Guanxi networks increase the flow of supply chain capital and generate trust between players, thus enhancing capabilities to implement sustainable SCM. Guanxi networks also create the mechanism of network governance with which to increase sustainable SCM implementation under the institutional logics of sustainability.Research limitations -The conceptual framework and justification are based on the review of current studies in the field. Future empirical study is encouraged to test the propositions, both in Confucian cultures and other countries with culture of informal social networks.Originality/value -Social networks are socially constructed concepts. Therefore, the constructs of guanxi networks have developed the knowledge of Western-based social networking theory. Arguments from a social network perspective provide an alternative answer to explain increased behavioural commitment and companies' investment in sustainable SCM. This study helps practitioners understand the logic of this social norm and to use it to maximise operation outputs, including sustainable SCM implementation.

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to assess the extent to which the measures outlined in frameworks for guiding CO2e emissions reduction in road freight transport in the academic literature are actually being realised at a practical level. Design/methodology/approach – A qualitative evaluation is carried out of the transport-related CO2e measurement and reduction initiatives in the German logistics sector through ten case study logistics service providers. For each, senior managers are interviewed with the findings synthesised through content-analysis. The initiatives are evaluated against an accepted leading framework model used to categorise CO2e emissions reduction initiatives. Findings – The investigated firms, although at different evolutionary stages, understand that logistics and ecology do not, for the most part, contradict each other and both need to be considered in their companies’ long-term planning. The framework used to categorise CO2e emissions reduction initiatives in logistics provision is largely confirmed, but also refined. Research limitations/implications – The research reaffirms and refines frameworks developed to encourage and assess green logistics practice, in a specific country's (Germany) logistics industry. Practical implications – The analysis shows strong evidence that the options identified in theory are also valid for the German logistics service provider companies that were investigated. Most of the participating companies apply many of the operational options to reduce the environmental impact, although no one company is pursuing all the possible initiatives. Originality/value – There is a lack of empirical studies which assess the application of green logistics initiatives identified in academic literature to practice. This paper contributes to filling this gap.

Purpose International supply chains can be severely disrupted by failures in international logistics processes. Therefore, an understanding of international logistics risks, or causes of failure, how these may interact with each other and how they can be mitigated are imperatives for the smooth operation of international supply chains. The purpose of this paper is to specifically investigate the interactions between international logistics risks within the prevailing structures of international supply chains and highlights how these risks may be inter-connected and amplified. A new dynamic supply chain logistics risk analysis model is proposed which is novel as it provides a holistic understanding of the risk event interactivity. Design/methodology/approach The paper applies interpretive structural modelling to data collected from a survey of leading supply chain practitioners, in order to analyse their perspectives of risk elements and interactions. The risk elements and their contextual relationship were derived empirically through the use of focus groups and subsequent Delphi study. The two stages of the research rely on experts’ views on risk events and clusters and the level of interactions among those clusters. Findings A key finding of this research is that supply chain practitioner’s perception of risk consists of inter-connected four levels: value streams risks; information and relationship risks; risks in international supply chain activities; and external environment. In particular, since level 2 risk creates feedback loops of risks, risk management at level 2 can dampen the amplification effect and the strength of the interactions. Practical implications Several managerial implications are drawn. First, the research guides managers in the identification and evaluation of risk events which can impact the performance of their international logistics supply chain operations. Second, evidence is presented that supports the proposition that the relationships with trading partners and LSPs, and the degree of logistics information exchange, are critical to prevent, or at least mitigate, logistics risks which can substantially affect the responsiveness of the international supply chain. Originality/value The main contribution to knowledge that this study offers to the literature on supply chain risk management is the development of a supply chain logistics risk analysis model which includes both risk elements and interactions. The research demonstrates the importance of taking into account risk interactions in the process of identification and evaluation of risk events.