Third Party Logistics Essay

The third party logistics (TPL) and fourth party logistics (FPL) act as a support system for companies to effectively formulate and manage their supply chain process.

Due to the large quantity of freight and the long distance that it must travel to arrive to its destination exporters and importers alike have found logistic service providers essential to engage in international trade (Rodriguez, Comtois, Slack, 2013). While some Logistics service providers focus only on the area of transportation others specialize in freight consolidation, distribution management, and warehousing (Robinson, 2014). They have enough market knowledge, information and communication systems to offer supply chain solutions tailored to the specific needs of any company be it small or large (Rodriguez, Comtois, Slack,

LeSaint Logistics is a third party logistics of PPG Inc. This organization is mostly an automotive paint distribution warehousing company, though they do store and ship for other companies like 3M. LeSaint Logistics employs roughly 1000 people directly. Some locations have PPG employees working alongside LeSaint employees. There are different levels of management and supervision throughout the organization. Typically at the warehouse level there are three supervisors; one in receiving, one in shipping, and another in customer service. They report directly to the warehouse distribution center (DC) manager, who manages the entire warehouse. The DC then reports to the regional distribution center manager, who then reports to the Vice-President

Over time, new healthcare reform measures were causing fundamental changes in reimbursement for services to hospitals and IDNs. Consequently, healthcare providers had to establish financial stability. This opened the door for third-party logistics providers (3PLs) to establish a strong presence in the healthcare industry. 3PLs? offered solutions to mitigate transportation and supply chain expenses that streamlined the order-to-delivery process and reduced expenses.

Despite the third- party logistics was an improvement studies area in a recent business market, the studies of this area still existed some arguments and limitation (Marasco, 2008). The literature review in TPL studies based on a comprehensive literature review, which including some relevant research paper and journal paper published within the period 1990 to recent years (Selviaridis and spring, 2007). Some existing studies focus on the benefits and limitation of TPL services for company management. Leahy (1995) and other scholars were defined as the TPL is usually associated with the providing of multiple services rather than just isolation transport functions (Leahy et al., 1995). Therefore, some other research believes that the TPL services can reduce the total

The selected business functions that outsource to a third party has become a common practice in the corporate world. The function of logistics is often to outsourced and providing logistics service companies have evolved into providing a vast range of logistics functions including inventory management, transportation services and warehousing services. The companies which provides logistics services on contract to other companies are known as Third Party Logistics Providers ( 3PLs).

The term “3PL” means third party logistics. A 3PL provider does not produce a product, but handles all aspects of supply chain such as transportation, warehousing, inventory control, distribution, financial services, and etc. for another company’s product.

A total of 228 SME’s (85.1 percent) answered that they Never had Reverse logistics for the reasons of ‘End of useful life’. 36 SME’s (13.4 percent) responded that sometimes material moved in reverse direction for reason of ‘End of useful life’. 4 SME’s (1.5 percent) said this reverse movement happens mostly for this reason.

Abstract this paper introduces ways and advantages of third-party logistics enterprise servicing manufacturing enterprise, analyses supply-chain of manufacturing enterprise and further studies for the organization structure of third-party logistics enterprise servicing manufacturing enterprise, to seek to the enterprise organization structure which has the best combination in third-party logistics enterprise with manufacturing enterprise. Keywords: Third-party logistics enterprise, Manufacturing enterprise, Organization structure 1. Current Situation of Foreign Funds in China Insurance Industry Following the rapid development of third-party logistics enterprises and industrial structure entering the mid-term of industrialization in our country,

In recent years, Third Party Logistics (3PL) service providers play a very important role in a supply chain of an organization. A brief literature review is given in this section of the paper. Tate (1996) identified seven factors (compatibility, deep understanding of a partner's business needs, open communications, commitment, fairness, flexibility, and trust) that improved long- term relationship between 3PL and their customers. Logan (2000) used agency theory to help in bonding 3PL/customers relationships. It is postulated that, cost reduction and services improvement criteria are most expected by clients to avoid conflicts with their 3PL. Fawcett and Smith (1995) identified five criteria’s to evaluate the 3PL performance,

However, as one looks to the future, technology will play an essential role in enabling the desired changes. Technology will help make feasible the new logistic capabilities needed to support future industrial concepts and the type of efficient, responsive logistic system that business forces will demand”.[1] Traditionally, China is a country with relatively weak formal institutions; more importance is given to informal constraints, e.g. personal relationships. As a result, Chinese companies rely upon a network-based strategy of growth, based on personal trust and informal agreements among managers. These are important considerations for managers when forming business relationships and designing their supply chains in China. “Although customers are spending more on average for logistics outsourcing, the percentage of budget devoted to outsourcing logistics, and the services outsourced, haven’t changed dramatically over the past several years. Companies continue their general tendency to outsource relatively commoditized services”.[2] As a result of the market shift from cost-driven to quality-driven in the near future, the strategies for logistics service providers will include: more flexibility, quicker handling, better price stability, higher transparency and increased professionalism, in order to meet the challenges. “The next five years will see a significant increase in outsourcing activity. 3PLs will be the main beneficiaries of this process and as the

Tom Lippet, sales representative for DuPont Engineering Polymers (DEP), felt uneasy as he drove to his appointment at GARD (Automotive Manufacturing (GARD). GARD is one of DEP’s biggest customers. In the past, sales deals with GARD had proceeded smoothly. Oftentimes competitors were not even invited to bid on the GARD business. Mike O’Leary, purchasing agent at GARD, claimed that was because no competitor could match DEP’s product quality.

Blanchard (2006) defined third party logistics as, “A single entity that coordinates all the logistics requirements for a given company/agency.” Today’s world business environment has become so competitive that companies in order to be successful in the market must deal with different resources for satisfying their customer need. In the past decade or so the competitive global market has made a big influence in the growing for external business. Third party logistics providers are more and more employing external companies for inventory management, transportation, warehousing, and other value added activities for customer services. Third party logistics ultimate goal is to provide a competitive advantage to the organization for which they are serving. According to Cardinal Logistics (2012), “Third-Party Logistics is an effective way to reduce operational costs, and allow a company to focus on their core competencies.

Indeed use of third-party logistics (3PL) firms in transportation helps firms to meet complexities of global trade, worldwide increased competition, as well as the constant downward pressure in terms of prices and margins. This is in a bid to build up better logistic systems that can fulfill their needs for better services at a lower cost. Among the reasons as to why companies use 3PL firms is to outsource non-strategic activities which enables organizations to concentrate on the major competencies as well as to exploit external logistics expertise, (Ivan Su Hertz, Susanne, 2009). These third party firms have the capability of developing unique assets, acquiring the necessary resources and achieving superior logistics performance using 3PL relations. Companies therefore find it efficient and effective method of achieving the needed service with no engaging so much in investing new capabilities and in assets upon entering into a relationship with 3PL firms.

Being a major airline in the world with flight destinations to over 150 countries in the world, Qatar airline prides itself as a major airline with a huge name across the globe. Being ranked as the best airline in 2014 and the second best airline in 2015, the airline is among the elite companies in the industry. With such a title alongside tied to its name, when the airline underperforms or fails to meet the expected standards held by the shareholders then change is inevitable. It is with this background that I am here today standing before you. With the changes in the industry and the lack of improved performance by the airlines the board thought it was time for change.